Blended (2018) is Sharon M. Draper's novel about an eleven-year-old girl named Isabella. At the start of the novel, Isabella is still reeling from the recent news of her parent's divorce. Because of their divorce, Isabella also has to adjust to a new schedule: one week, she lives with her mom; the next, she lives with her father, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend's brother. In both of those houses, Isabella deals with two different worlds. When she is with her father, she lives in an elite, all-white neighborhood. When she lives with her mom, she lives in a smaller, more mixed-race neighborhood. While balancing her personal life, Isabella deals with her racial identity and being caught between two worlds.
Draper wrote Blended so that she could deliver a complex story and themes to a younger audience. Blended quickly became a staple in middle school classrooms and libraries across the United States, signifying its quality and profound impact. Professional reviewers also loved the novel. Kirkus Reviews said that the book "offers readers a stark look at the apartheidlike reality that exists for black people in America." The Washington Informer said that the book is "fun, profanity-free, and relevant now."
