Maria Padian has written another beautiful story. This time it's about Izzy, a girl who is half Puerto Rican, half-white, and trying to figure out where she fits in the world. Her father died 6 years ago, and her family has moved 6 times since then, her mother trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Izzy goes to a Catholic private school but lives in a mobile home neighborhood, and she spends a lot of time keeping the worlds separate. Her family is given a great opportunity in having a house from Habitat for Humanity, but it would involve some of her worlds colliding. Add in a budding flirtation with a boy who her best friend also has her eye on, and you've got a great story with drama and heart.

It did not surprise me at all that Izzy would act the way she did. A lot of people hide their backgrounds to make people think more highly of them. I also liked Izzy's struggle with the fact that her mother and younger brother speak much better Spanish than she does, based on their respective ages when both parents were alive. A lot to chew on in this one.