79 pages 2 hours read

Sharon M. Draper

Blended

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Symbols & Motifs

The Cashmere Sweater

The $495 baby-blue cashmere sweater that so transfixes Izzy when she and Imani stroll through Prestige, the upscale dress shop at the mall, symbolizes Izzy’s introduction to the reality of racial profiling. Until the confrontation with store security, Izzy has been aware only that she was biracial and that her olive skin reflected a decidedly nonthreatening racial identity. Izzy, at the threshold age of 11, had lived a sheltered life in matters of race. Her parents professed a love for each other that had nothing to do with racial differences. In fact, her parents were able to provide her with a protective home life in middle- and upper-class neighborhoods and public schools where the kind of blatant racism that John Mark confesses he grew up with was simply not in evidence. Until she goes into the fancy dress shop, Izzy has never felt threatened or vulnerable simply because of her racial identity.

When Izzy realizes as the two innocently walk about the displays that they are being tailed by a security guard, Izzy initially thinks the guard is following them to help with their selections until the guard says: “This is a store for those who…can afford” (172). The

blurred text

blurred text

Related Titles

By Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Copper Sun

Sharon M. Draper

Copper Sun

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Darkness Before Dawn

Sharon M. Draper

Darkness Before Dawn

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Forged By Fire

Sharon M. Draper

Forged By Fire

Sharon M. Draper

Plot Summary

logo

Just Another Hero

Sharon M. Draper

Just Another Hero

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

November Blues

Sharon M. Draper

November Blues

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Out of My Heart

Sharon M. Draper

Out of My Heart

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Romiette and Julio

Sharon M. Draper

Romiette and Julio

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Stella by Starlight

Sharon M. Draper

Stella by Starlight

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Tears of a Tiger

Sharon M. Draper

Tears of a Tiger

Sharon M. Draper

Plot Summary

logo

The Battle of Jericho

Sharon M. Draper

The Battle of Jericho

Sharon M. Draper

Teaching Guide + Study Guide

logo

We Beat the Street

George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, Sharon M. Draper

We Beat the Street: How A Friendship Pact Led to Success

George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, Sharon M. Draper