It's MMGM with a review of Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla pictures by Tania de Regil

Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla, pictures by Tania de Regil 
Publisher:  Quill Tree Books
Format:   E-ARC
Number of pages:  208
Source:  Blue Slip Media
Publishing: July 9th, 2024

Opening Line:  "Isabel Beane was a small, quiet girl who lived in a little gray house on Maple Lane." 

Isabel is one of the six Beane children.  Her siblings can be loud, rowdy, squabble, and generally are full of hullabaloo.  Ian, who was once patient and helpful to Isabel when she felt overwhelmed or struggled to find her words, has since started junior high and grown preoccupied with his new friends.  Feeling increasingly left behind and invisible both at home and school, Isabel's "worry-moths" have multiplied. She worries about the upcoming testing that Mrs. Pickel is preparing them for.  She worries about trying to please Monica, so she'll be friends with her.  When Isabel confides in her mother about feeling disliked at school and her constant stomachaches, her mother dismisses her by saying not to be so sensitive.

Monica is the new girl, smart, popular, and confident.  She likes to tell everyone else what to do.  But Mrs. Pickel doesn't like how chatty she is so now she has to sit in the back of the room next to Isabel.  Monica thinks that Isabel is just too different and is reluctant to spend time with her, even going so far as to exclude her from her birthday sleepover.   But Monica's father is one to notice things, and he notices Isabel's absence from the guest list.  Despite Monica promising to invite Isabel, she persuades her that a noisy party wouldn't suit her anyway.  

Isabel interprets Monica's concern for her dislike of loud noises and shyness as a sign that Monica now wants to be friends with her.  Isabel decides to reciprocate with a kind gesture.  She dedicates herself to drawing a picture of them as friends, putting all of her effort into making it just right.  Wanting no one to feel left out, she even makes one for all the other girls in her class.  However, her pictures don't quite receive the reception that she had planned, and Isabel then discovers that she was deliberately excluded from Monica's party.

On the dreaded testing day, Isabel's stomachache takes a terrible turn for the worse, leading to her sudden hospitalization.  The surgeon performing the operation is none other than Monica's father, who after chatting with Isabel's parents finds out that Monica was untruthful about inviting Isabel to her party.  While in the hospital, Isabel fully opens up to her mother about her worry-moths, difficulties with the girls at school and how sometimes everything can be too much.  With Isabel's issues now out in the open, and everyone receptive to listening they can begin to be resolved.

I like how the story focuses on two girls who initially seem to be complete opposites.  Isabel is quiet, timid and anxious, while Monica is outgoing, dislikes the silence of her house now that her mom passed away, and feels isolated.  Additionally, it's heartwarming that Isabel's concerns and stomach pains were finally acknowledged by her mother and that she came to understand that she needs to listen to her daughter more, that there were valid reasons for her worries and stomachaches.  

I appreciated the transformation that Isabel's classmates made, specifically how the girls in her class regretted excluding Isabel from the party, and how Monica began to realize that she'd been pretty mean.  The story includes multiple strategies and tangible, practical tips to help with anxiety, like implementing a quiet time hour at home, and particular actions Isabel could take to prevent her from feeling overwhelmed at school. 

Creating the get-well card, was a special moment in the book.  Isabel's classmates realized that they didn't really know much about her and that they should because they've been together since kindergarden.  As they started to talk about her more and more, they discovered her interests and preferences and began to see that she's an important part of their class.  Isabel's teacher even makes a change by throwing a winter party and making an effort to smile more.  This is a wonderful story told in verse, featuring beautiful illustrations and a powerful message about the importance of self-advocacy, truly not to be overlooked. The book concludes with valuable resources on anxiety and autism, including specific links to organizations' websites.

**A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review**    

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE