Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Honest, warm story of family, identity, police brutality.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a powerful read that addresses complex issues such as racism, police brutality, and the struggles of divorce through its main character, Isabella, a biracial girl facing real-world challenges. While many found it inspiring and relatable, some expressed concerns about its mature themes and violence, suggesting it may be better suited for older children.
- mature themes
- emotional impact
- relatable character
- strong messages
- age recommendation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In BLENDED, Isabella's mom is white and her dad is black, and when they divorce she feels like there will always be two sides of her pulled in different directions. Two houses, two families, two backpacks, two different sets of rules, two different kids: Izzy and Isabella. Just when it looks like things couldn't get any crazier, Isabella's friend is targeted at school, and a routine trip ends in horror.
Is It Any Good?
This novel is a perfect mixture of a coming-of-age story, identity development, family dynamics, and social commentary. Blended offers a compelling, nuanced reflection on age-old questions made modern: Who am I? Where do I belong? What makes a family? Why do people judge others on factors beyond their control? Family dynamics change and shift, often leaving kids lost in the cracks. Author Sharon Draper captures these feelings with sensitivity and humor. She's also unafraid to tackle police brutality in the age of social media -- what that means for victims, and what it means for kids just trying to figure out who they are and how they fit in the world.
Kids will enjoy Blended for its realistic portrayal that makes them think but doesn't talk down to them. Adults will love it because it's a great catalyst for discussions on difficult topics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the portrayal of co-parenting in Blended. How does the custody arrangement Isabella's parents have affect her? Do you or do you have friends that experience the same thing? How do you communicate your needs and feelings to family, especially in difficult situations?
What's the role of social media in identifying police brutality? How do videos help? How do they hurt? Do you think people would still talk about the issue if there weren't videos highlighting it?
How important is it to respect someone's identity and be careful of stereotyping that person? What are some stereotypes people might apply to you? Your friends? How unfair and off-base would their labels be?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
- Publication date : October 30, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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