Review by Booklist Review
Poor Isabel Beane. She's part of a big, boisterous family in which everyone else is consumed with their special interests, and their home is full of "havoc and hubbub and hullaballoo"--all things that make quiet Isabel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, her teacher is focused on an important test, and a new girl, Monica, knows just how to get classmates to exclude Isabel. "Worry moths" bringing anxious thoughts flutter faster and faster until Isabel feels practically invisible, but when her parents and teachers finally notice something's wrong, Isabel has a chance to get the help she needs. In short, lilting lines from Isabel's perspective, Pla balances Isabel's struggles with subtle yet lovely levels of humor and offers a thoughtful, sensitive depiction of anxiety and autism. Side characters are nicely multifaceted, even Monica; though Pla doesn't excuse Monica's actions, Pla still helps readers understand her behavior. De Regil's nostalgic illustrations perfectly pair with the whole package, and young readers will appreciate and cheer the outcome, whether or not they themselves have ever felt invisible.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Small, quiet" Isabel Beane doesn't feel like she fits in. She tries her best to please others, even practicing smiling at home, "so people would know she was nice/ and good and friendly." Attempts to befriend classmate Monica result in a cruel dismissal and claims by Monica that Isabel is too different. She's further crushed upon learning that she's the only girl in class who's not invited to Monica's birthday party. Isabel's mother insists that she's "too sensitive" and must learn to speak up for herself. She struggles trying to meet her mother's expectations, make friends, and do well in school, contending with heartbreak and disappointment when her efforts don't net success, but unexpected events soon change everything for Isabel and force Monica to face the consequences of her actions. Sensorial verse alternates between Isabel's and Monica's POVs. Though Isabel's experiences are at times framed as learning opportunities for Monica, the challenges that she faces in navigating mounting anxieties are sensitively depicted in this touching story by Pla (The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn) that celebrates identity, friendship, and finding inner strength. An endnote offers "useful starting points, about anxiety and/or autism." Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8--12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary. (July)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A quiet, anxious young girl finds her voice. With five rambunctious siblings at home, a bully at school, and a formidable teacher who puts an outsize emphasis on "Extremely Important Testing," Isabel Beane is more worried than ever; fading into the background feels easy--and safer. The worry-moths she imagines inside her are making her stomach hurt all the time, although Mama tells her it's all in her head. As Isabel deals with the "Too-Muchness" of the world, she tries to figure out how to get Mama to understand her and how to win back her classmates, whom new girl Monica has turned against her. When the stomach pain feels different one day, it culminates in Isabel finally being heard and learning more about herself. Told in compelling free verse and peppered with black-and-white illustrations, this heartfelt and accessible tale showcases neurodivergence, specifically anxiety and autism. Although the focus is mostly on lovable Isabel, the narrative sometimes shifts to Monica, providing insight into her cruel behavior. These moments add tension to the story, but the tale truly shines when Isabel is in the spotlight. Readers may not feel as forgiving as Isabel toward the ineffectual adults in her life who initially fail to listen to her, but the clarity and paths to solutions offer much-needed optimism. Isabel and Monica are cued white. Final art not seen. A compassionate insider's perspective of neurodivergence. (information on anxiety and autism, resources) (Verse fiction. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
