Age: 4th-middle school
Identity: Biracial (black and white)
Music: Pianist
Tough Issue: Divorce, racism,

Spoiler

police shooting

Every week, Isabella is shuttled between her mom and dad's house--leaving her feeling without a home of her own. As she is torn between these two relationships and these two worlds, she's also experiencing the after effects of a hate crime at her school against her best friend. Isabella tries to juggle her identity struggles throughout the book: am I white or black? Dad's Isabella or Mom's Izzy? But holding her together through these confusing times is her love for playing the piano and her anticipation of a major recital.

A LOT is happening in this book which left everything feeling a little underdeveloped--including the police shooting at the end. It was bold of Draper to have the most important event of the book get ruined by a police shooting--much like someone's life is ruined--or terminated--by such an event.

And if you didn't know slime was a thing, after the 10th mention in this book, you do now.