#MMGM: Novels in Verse--Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
Iveliz wants more than anything to put the past behind her. In power free verse, the author tells Iveliz's story in her own words. Despite the tragedy that has defined her life for the last two years, Iveliz believes that things are looking up. The arrival of her Puerto Rican grandmother whose Alzheimer's requires she leave her home, complicates things more than Iveliz could have ever expected. The reader quickly realizes that Iveliz's claims about everything being okay aren't really accurate. Her explosions of anger at school lead to multiple suspensions. Her belief that nobody listens to her and her refusal to even consider confiding in either her mother or her therapist make it clear that Iveliz's struggles with her mental health. Eventually, Iveliz reveals the tragedy that continues to haunt her and the guilt that she's allowed to consume her. Her grandmother's arrival adds to the stress Iveliz feels and even increases the guilt when Mimi wanders off. Her grandmother's disapproval of the medical treatment Iveliz is receiving doesn't help the situation. Eventually, Iveliz's struggles come to a head and she's left needing to either open up or shatter completely.
I really loved this book. At first I found Iveliz's voice that of a snarky teen who refuses to consider that any adult knows better than she. But as I kept reading, I realized that Iveliz's reasons for not trusting anyone, even her best friend, are rooted in the tragedy that continues to eat her alive with guilt. I felt such compassion for this girl whose guilt was so deep-rooted that she refused to talk about it. The conflict with her mother and grandmother as well as her struggles at school are all a symptom of all the thoughts and feelings she's keeping buried inside. Poetry is the perfect vehicle for conveying the emotional struggles that Iveliz herself doesn't fully understand. The mixture of Spanish and English works for this story because of Iveliz's biracial identity. Most of the Spanish phrasing meanings can be understood in context.
A stunning, heart-wrenching story about a girl coming to terms with her PTSD and learning to trust those her want to help her, if only she will let them. Like so many novels in verse, this one carries the reader into the heart of the character providing a chance to develop empathy. Highly recommended.
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