Blended focuses on the experiences of Isabella, a biracial girl dealing with her parent's divorce and navigating societal challenges. The narrative explores Isabella's struggles with identity, belonging, and the emotional toll of divorce, which are presented against the backdrop of a society grappling with racial injustice.
At the novel's start, readers witness Isabella's discomfort and frustration with the constant transition between the households of her divorced parents. Her week-by-week split between the homes signifies the division she experiences in her identity, which is also bisected along racial lines. This sense of division is further amplified as each parent embarks on new relationships, each with different cultural implications for Isabella.
Isabella's struggles extend beyond her home life; at school, she confronts the realities of being biracial in a society where people are often categorized by their racial background. She also experiences the typical trials and tribulations of pre-adolescence, such as managing friendships and navigating a budding crush. However, the story takes a dramatic turn when she and her friend Darren witness a distressing act of police violence, adding another dimension to her understanding of societal prejudices and her identity.
This narrative is about Isabella's experiences and how she grows and matures through these experiences. She becomes more reflective, understanding, and self-aware, reaching a point of acceptance of her complex, blended identity towards the end of the story. Furthermore, the change in Isabella's parents' attitudes indicates an awareness of their daughter's emotional strain and a willingness to adjust to her well-being.
In terms of the novel's portrayal of racism and social injustice, the incident of police brutality serves as a crucial plot point that pushes Isabella and her parents to confront the realities of systemic racism. The responses to this event, from fear and shock to determination and action, highlight the urgency and complexity of addressing these societal issues.
