Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio new-release and a bold dissection of

and a bold dissection of the mechanisms and cultural representations of psychological abuse

she finds that the familiar walls are haunted by more than just bitter memories and lockdown stress

From the three-time Coretta Scott King Honor winning author of The Skin I'm In comes a poignant story about a southern girl far from home at an elite girls boarding school in the north

But if Clara can find the key to opening her heart

it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her there

Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio new-release and a bold dissection ofA middle school girl discovers a connection between her home in the Philippines and her new home in the U. S. through a special garden in this sweet and heartfelt novel [that] explores how bumpy beginnings can offer chances for new growth (The New York Times) A National Council of Teachers of English Recommended Book Twelve year old Isabel is the new kid in her San Francisco middle school. Its the first time in many years that shell be living with her