Blended

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Pre-Reading “Icebreaker”

In Blended, Izzy’s divorced parents have a shared custody arrangement: Izzy lives with her mother one week, her father the next. What are some of the impacts she probably experiences as a result of this back-and-forth schedule, both logistically and emotionally? Do you think it is it better for a middle schooler to live in one home with one parent and see the other on a limited basis, or to share two homes as Izzy does? Discuss your reasoning.

Teaching Suggestion: Depending on the personal backgrounds of students in the class, consider introducing this prompt by discussing what is meant by The Dynamics of Family and briefly overviewing the ways in which this theme is quickly apparent in the novel. Tell students as they begin reading to look for the metaphor that explains how Izzy feels about the shared custody arrangement (she observes that a bird builds one nest in one tree—not two nests in two trees).

Personal Response Prompt

Izzy is biracial yet is not entirely sure what that means to her. How can biracial parents nurture a blend of cultural and racial identities in their biracial child? Use any cultural expression—music, food, holidays, stories, religion, role models, family, or a combination—to help explain your case.

Teaching Suggestion: This question can be used to introduce the novel’s theme of The Implications of Biracial Identity; Izzy struggles at times with her identity as both Black and white and senses that others might try to see her as one or the other—like when she is expected to check the standardized test box identifying her race.

Post-Reading Analysis

An emotional turning point for Izzy comes when she and her Black friend Imani are escorted out of the high-end dress store in the mall. How does the guard’s reaction to Izzy and Imani fit the description of racial profiling your class discussed in Pre-Reading Context Short Answer #1? How might his request reflect on the store owners, the brand, or the company? Do you think Imani’s response and Izzy’s reaction are appropriate in the given circumstances?

Teaching Suggestion: After students have a chance to respond, review other ways in which the theme of The Persistence of Racism is evident in the novel.