Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango

 

Over the weekend, I read Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango. This realistic fiction novel in verse is about Iveliz Margarita Snow Medina, a twelve-year-old seventh-grade girl who is coping with depression and anger issues. After her grandmother Mimi moves in from Puerto Rico, Iveliz is determined to make this school year better than the year before. She wants to make a new friend and stop getting in trouble at school, but it is challenging, especially when people keep saying things that make her mad and frustrated. Life isn't much easier at home either. Although Mimi has Alzheimer's, she doesn't understand why Iveliz needs to take medication for her mental health issues. While she is able to write her thoughts down in the new journal that her mom Mami gave her, she struggles to explain her feelings to others and sometimes keeps secrets.

Although the title reminded me of a show I watched when I was a kid (Clarissa Explains It All), I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I liked how the pages actually looked like a lined journal and the illustrations were a nice touch, but the story itself ended up being so much more. This book was heartbreaking and, at times, a little heavy. Iveliz is really struggling and she doesn't think others will understand, so she bottles it up inside and lashes out when everything gets to be too much. While I enjoyed how Iveliz bonded with Mimi through gardening, it really frustrated me how she didn't understand how medication was helping Iveliz. I wasn't surprised when their relationship reached the boiling point. Additionally, I could understand the challenges that Iveliz faced with making and maintaining friendships because she has miscommunication issues with her friend Amir and new friend Akiko when explaining her thoughts and feelings doesn't come easily to her. What broke my heart the most was the major reveal of what happened to Iveliz to cause her depression. I knew something huge had happened, but I wasn't exactly sure what because the hints were vague. Overall, I did enjoy reading Iveliz Explains It All because Iveliz herself is likeable and her story shows how both medication and therapy can help a young person who is dealing with depression. The backmatter includes an author's note and resources. I'd recommend this book to anyone, but especially middle school students who feel alone in their struggles.