Isabel Beane is a preteen girl that experiences the world in a different way than her friends. She worries about many things that causes her stomach to hurt and that she calls worry moths. She has had the same group of friends since kindergarten that accept her as she is, but when a new girl comes to her school, she, Monica, convinces Isabel’s friends to ignore her and act like she is invisible. The adults in her life never listen to her and just tell her to “get over it, it’s all in her head”. Until one day, her pain is real and she ends up in surgery with appendicitis. During this time, her mom listens to her worries and her very kind doctor, the dad to the new girl, explains to her that she has a neurodivergent brain that is extra sensitive.
As a speech pathologist, I really rooted for Isabel. But I was very disappointed with the adults in her life that chose to ignore her needs. As it all worked out in the end, early intervention to help children on the spectrum is so critical to their overall emotional development.
I think this book does a great job of explaining Isabel’s differences and her needs when she gets overstimulated. I also like how the kids started talking about their own stemming behaviors as it is true, we all do something to help calm us.
I would like to thanks #netgalley and #harpercollinspublisher for the advanced ARC.

Isabel is a neurodivergent girl living in a loud, hectic family. She is being bullying at school by Monica and would like to desperately like to be one of Monica’s friends. . She complains of stomach aches that her mother brushes aside until it gets bad at school. The doctor treating Isabel is none other than Monica’s father. Follow Isabel as she tries to cope with issues at home and at school.

This is a definite must for libraries and middle grade classrooms! It is a definite read for everyone for 4/5th grade up and adult. I highly recommend this book!!

"Invisible Isabel" is a middle grade novel in verse by Sally J. Pla with illustrations by Tania de Regil. Isabel Beane sometimes feels invisible in her house that she shares with her parents and 5 boisterous siblings. At school being invisible is a strategy she employs to try and seem less different, more attentive, and less fidgety. She tries to explain to her parents how she worries a lot, and how that worry causes stomachaches. The description of Isabel's anxiety as manifesting itself like "worry-moths" is really powerful. She worries about disappointing her stern teacher, Mrs. Pickel, especially now that they have started preparing for a big standardized test. One of those worries is her lack of friendships at school, This year a new popular girl, Monica, has created a clique which actively excludes her. Pla includes chapters that illuminate Monica's home life, shedding light on why she is angry and how that anger leads to meanness against Isabel. When Isabel has to go to the hospital for emergency surgery, Monica and Isabel's paths are brought together which results in important changes for both girls. Isabel is a wonderful portrayal of a young girl with neurodiversity, who learns to speak up for herself and ask for what she needs. As a teacher one of my favorite scenes is when the other children in Isabel's class are making her get well cards and they realize that are really seeing her for the first time. I recommend this book for school libraries, classroom collections, and home bookshelves. It is beautifully written and illustrated and also quite moving.

Another excellent book by Pla showing Isabel as a neuro-divergent girl who is experiencing some bullying from Monica at school and some stomach pains that her mom brushes aside. When the stomach issues become serious and Isabel is hospitalized, the doctor treating Isabel volunteers his daughter, Monica, to bring Isabel her schoolwork. Isabel tells the doctor her worries and when Isabel and Monica talk, Monica apologizes. Back at school Isabel meets with a counselor where she is given some accommodations to help her anxiety.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel. This sweet story tells of Isabel who is struggling as a neurodivergent kid in a class and family who haven't yet learned how to support her challenges. I liked the story, and the way her divergence was treated in the end. This is perfect for lower middle grade readers and up.

Sally J. Pla has given us a beautiful story about being different. Isabelle is a character you can’t help but root for and while I wanted to shake both her parents, her friends and her er teacher at different points, Pla empowers her characters to change, to be seen, to be heard, to forgive and to love in authentic ways.

This was a sweet and encouraging book about a neurodivergent girl named Isabel. There are some difficult topics such as bullying and mental health issues but this could provide a good way for a parent or a friend to discuss these issues. I was not a huge fan of the artwork but it didn't take away from the book.