1 of 1 copy available
Eleven-year-old Isabella's parents are divorced, so she has to switch lives every week: One week she's Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, and her son Darren living in a fancy house where they are one of the only black families in the neighborhood. The next week she's Izzy with her mom and her boyfriend John-Mark in a small, not-so-fancy house that she loves.
Because of this, Isabella has always felt pulled between two worlds. And now that her parents are divorced, it seems their fights are even worse, and they're always about HER. Isabella feels even more stuck in the middle, split and divided between them than ever. And she's is beginning to realize that being split between Mom and Dad is more than switching houses, switching nicknames, switching backpacks: it's also about switching identities. Her dad is black, her mom is white, and strangers are always commenting: "You're so exotic!" "You look so unusual." "But what are you really?" She knows what they're really saying: "You don't look like your parents." "You're different." "What race are you really?" And when her parents, who both get engaged at the same time, get in their biggest fight ever, Isabella doesn't just feel divided, she feels ripped in two. What does it mean to be half white or half black? To belong to half mom and half dad? And if you're only seen as half of this and half of that, how can you ever feel whole?
It seems like nothing can bring Isabella's family together again—until the worst happens. Isabella and Darren are stopped by the police. A cell phone is mistaken for a gun. And shots are fired.
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
October 30, 2018 -
Formats
-
OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781508258780
- File size: 164505 KB
- Duration: 05:42:43
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 610
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
-
Reviews
-
Author Sharon Draper narrates this thoughtful story of identity. Now that it's been a few years since her parents' divorce, 11-year-old Izzy has found a way to make alternating weeks with Mom and Dad work. However, her growing awareness of her own biracial identity is starting to complicate her understanding of the world and her family. Izzy's perceptive voice lies at the heart of this powerful story, which explores the prevalence and impact of racism--from overt actions to microaggressions. While Draper lightens her deep, slightly raspy voice and effectively plays with inflection during dramatic moments, the overall production has the feel of a good read-aloud rather than a memorable performance. Still, this is a worthwhile and engaging listen for children and adults alike. A.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
-