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How to Build a Heart
One young woman’s journey to find her place in the world as the carefully separated strands of her life — family, money, school, and love — begin to overlap and tangle.
All sixteen-year-old Izzy Crawford wants is to feel like she really belongs somewhere. Her father, a marine, died in Iraq six years ago, and Izzy’s moved to a new town nearly every year since, far from the help of her extended family in North Carolina and Puerto Rico. When Izzy’s hardworking mom moves their small family to Virginia, all her dreams start clicking into place. She likes her new school—even if Izzy is careful to keep her scholarship-student status hidden from her well-to-do classmates and her new athletic and popular boyfriend. And best of all: Izzy’s family has been selected by Habitat for Humanity to build and move into a brand-new house. Izzy is this close to the community and permanence she’s been searching for, until all the secret pieces of her life begin to collide.
How to Build a Heart is the story of Izzy’s journey to find her place in the world and her discovery that the choices we make and the people we love ultimately define us and bring us home.
All sixteen-year-old Izzy Crawford wants is to feel like she really belongs somewhere. Her father, a marine, died in Iraq six years ago, and Izzy’s moved to a new town nearly every year since, far from the help of her extended family in North Carolina and Puerto Rico. When Izzy’s hardworking mom moves their small family to Virginia, all her dreams start clicking into place. She likes her new school—even if Izzy is careful to keep her scholarship-student status hidden from her well-to-do classmates and her new athletic and popular boyfriend. And best of all: Izzy’s family has been selected by Habitat for Humanity to build and move into a brand-new house. Izzy is this close to the community and permanence she’s been searching for, until all the secret pieces of her life begin to collide.
How to Build a Heart is the story of Izzy’s journey to find her place in the world and her discovery that the choices we make and the people we love ultimately define us and bring us home.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2020
22 people are currently reading
3608 people want to read
About the author
Maria Padian
8 books136 followersI'm a reader and an author: not a critic or a reviewer! I believe in the power of stories. So while I definitely have my opinions about the things I read, my primary goal is to share great books and promote literature, which is one of my great, abiding passions.
That said, I'm no longer going to affix stars to the books I read. I'll offer a comment or two, and maybe if I'm deliriously in love and can't contain my excitement I color in five of those stars ... but as a creator of stories I well know what goes into writing a book, and can't possible assign a "number" to anyone's work. I'm in awe of anyone brave enough to put it out there. Carry on!
To learn more about the books I've written, visit my website at http://www.mariapadian.com
That said, I'm no longer going to affix stars to the books I read. I'll offer a comment or two, and maybe if I'm deliriously in love and can't contain my excitement I color in five of those stars ... but as a creator of stories I well know what goes into writing a book, and can't possible assign a "number" to anyone's work. I'm in awe of anyone brave enough to put it out there. Carry on!
To learn more about the books I've written, visit my website at http://www.mariapadian.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
August 21, 2019
❥ 4 / 5 stars
[ e-ARC received from NetGalley ]
When I first saw the cover and its title, I did not have any ideas what the story would be about. I thought it might be a typical young adult novel focusing on teenage love but actually, the story itself was much more than that. It had that part, of course. But that was not the main idea of the story that the author wanted to portray to readers. Family and friends are.
How to Build a Heart follows 16-year-old Isabella Crawford, known as Izzy. After her father had died in Iraq six years ago, Izzy, her mother and her little brother had to move their houses several times until this time when they came to Virginia. Her family finally had been selected by Habitat for Humanity to have a real house which meant they didn’t need to move to any places again but certainly, it came with conditions...
However, that was not the only story that happened in the book. The other story started when Roz, Izzy’s best friend, had a crush on Sam Shackelton, aka Hot Sam. It might not seem important or relate to Izzy’s life but not so long after, it was. On the day the St. Veronica’s a cappella group, the school’s a cappella group that Izzy was one of the members, held up an audition to find new members, Audrey Shackelton, Sam’s sister, appeared to be one of the auditionees who eventually got a spot to be a new member of VC. And after that day, the friendship between Izzy and Audrey was gradually developing which meant she had a chance to be closer to Sam. But the problem was.... How would she tell Roz about that?
In summary, I really had a good time reading this book and would like to recommend it to other readers who love young adult novels. Even though Izzy’s life isn’t similar to my life, I can easily relate to her and learnt many things from her life. I think others will more or less enjoy this one as I do.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing this e-ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.
[ e-ARC received from NetGalley ]
When I first saw the cover and its title, I did not have any ideas what the story would be about. I thought it might be a typical young adult novel focusing on teenage love but actually, the story itself was much more than that. It had that part, of course. But that was not the main idea of the story that the author wanted to portray to readers. Family and friends are.
How to Build a Heart follows 16-year-old Isabella Crawford, known as Izzy. After her father had died in Iraq six years ago, Izzy, her mother and her little brother had to move their houses several times until this time when they came to Virginia. Her family finally had been selected by Habitat for Humanity to have a real house which meant they didn’t need to move to any places again but certainly, it came with conditions...
However, that was not the only story that happened in the book. The other story started when Roz, Izzy’s best friend, had a crush on Sam Shackelton, aka Hot Sam. It might not seem important or relate to Izzy’s life but not so long after, it was. On the day the St. Veronica’s a cappella group, the school’s a cappella group that Izzy was one of the members, held up an audition to find new members, Audrey Shackelton, Sam’s sister, appeared to be one of the auditionees who eventually got a spot to be a new member of VC. And after that day, the friendship between Izzy and Audrey was gradually developing which meant she had a chance to be closer to Sam. But the problem was.... How would she tell Roz about that?
In summary, I really had a good time reading this book and would like to recommend it to other readers who love young adult novels. Even though Izzy’s life isn’t similar to my life, I can easily relate to her and learnt many things from her life. I think others will more or less enjoy this one as I do.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing this e-ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2020
4.5 stars.
When you’re getting pulled in a million different directions, how can you decide the right path?
Finding your own way, finding who you truly are can be difficult, especially for a teenager. Izzy tries to be a dutiful daughter, a good sister, a loyal friend, but she wants so much more. Her family’s life has been affected since her Marine father died 6 years ago, and she’s tired of moving into increasingly smaller and more depressing places.
But things are finally starting to fall into place. She’s a member of the popular a capella singing group at her school, and her family has been selected to get a house through Habitat for Humanity. And when she becomes friends with the group’s newest recruit, Aubrey, it comes with a side benefit: the girl’s handsome brother, a star athlete at another high school.
After a while though, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the pieces of her life together. She doesn’t want her friends—or Aubrey’s brother—to know her family is poor and that she's on scholarship, she doesn’t want her best friend to know she’s been spending time with someone she also has a crush on, and she wants to understand why her father’s family never contacts them.
When things come to a head, Izzy must find her own way and become the person she’s meant to be. Along the way she’ll find allies in unlikely places and anger and jealousy in others. But she’ll have to act fast before everything falls apart.
I really enjoyed How to Build a Heart . I found it so engaging and well-written. It’s so nice to read a YA book that isn’t entirely full of angst or seriously depressing situations, yet there was still a lot of emotion in the story. Maria Padian is a terrific writer. She had me hooked on this story from the first page, and I read it in just a matter of a few hours.
I’ve been looking forward to this since winning the book in a giveaway on Bookstagram. Thanks so much to Algonquin Young Readers for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
When you’re getting pulled in a million different directions, how can you decide the right path?
Finding your own way, finding who you truly are can be difficult, especially for a teenager. Izzy tries to be a dutiful daughter, a good sister, a loyal friend, but she wants so much more. Her family’s life has been affected since her Marine father died 6 years ago, and she’s tired of moving into increasingly smaller and more depressing places.
But things are finally starting to fall into place. She’s a member of the popular a capella singing group at her school, and her family has been selected to get a house through Habitat for Humanity. And when she becomes friends with the group’s newest recruit, Aubrey, it comes with a side benefit: the girl’s handsome brother, a star athlete at another high school.
After a while though, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the pieces of her life together. She doesn’t want her friends—or Aubrey’s brother—to know her family is poor and that she's on scholarship, she doesn’t want her best friend to know she’s been spending time with someone she also has a crush on, and she wants to understand why her father’s family never contacts them.
When things come to a head, Izzy must find her own way and become the person she’s meant to be. Along the way she’ll find allies in unlikely places and anger and jealousy in others. But she’ll have to act fast before everything falls apart.
I really enjoyed How to Build a Heart . I found it so engaging and well-written. It’s so nice to read a YA book that isn’t entirely full of angst or seriously depressing situations, yet there was still a lot of emotion in the story. Maria Padian is a terrific writer. She had me hooked on this story from the first page, and I read it in just a matter of a few hours.
I’ve been looking forward to this since winning the book in a giveaway on Bookstagram. Thanks so much to Algonquin Young Readers for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
January 24, 2020
My friends at Algonquin Books told me about How to Build a Heart about a year ago, and I have been highly anticipating it ever since. You see, like many of us, as a sixteen-year-old I felt lost. My family had moved the year before, one of many moves. I am drawn to stories like this because they are deeply relatable, which makes them comforting, even healing at times. I found those things in the beauty of Maria Padian’s storytelling.
Izzy’s father passed away six years ago, and ever since, her family has moved from town to town, but never close enough to her extended family in North Carolina and Puerto Rico.
This time the family lands in Virginia. Here Izzy finds some peace. She likes her new school, and her family is selected by Habitat for Humanity to receive a new house. As soon as Izzy feels at home, secrets come out in the open.
How to Build a Heart covers heavy and important topics like racism, abuse, and mental health. It’s a timely story with so much goodness in it, too. I’m keeping all the secrets… a secret.
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider for any reason, there is much to relate to in Izzy’s story. How to Build a Heart is poignant, comforting, and inspiring with a lovable main character and an overall feel-good vibe.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Izzy’s father passed away six years ago, and ever since, her family has moved from town to town, but never close enough to her extended family in North Carolina and Puerto Rico.
This time the family lands in Virginia. Here Izzy finds some peace. She likes her new school, and her family is selected by Habitat for Humanity to receive a new house. As soon as Izzy feels at home, secrets come out in the open.
How to Build a Heart covers heavy and important topics like racism, abuse, and mental health. It’s a timely story with so much goodness in it, too. I’m keeping all the secrets… a secret.
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider for any reason, there is much to relate to in Izzy’s story. How to Build a Heart is poignant, comforting, and inspiring with a lovable main character and an overall feel-good vibe.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
March 11, 2021
“i thought you were big uncle charlie’s daughter. and he never ran from anything.”
honestly, i had absolutely no idea what to expect going into the story. of course i had read what the book was roughly about, but it was so much more than that. the first half was super quick, i pretty much flew through the story! it then started to drag a lot, which impacted my reading experience and enjoyment quite a bit. nevertheless, the writing was great and got me really invested in our protagonist izzy and later on some side characters as well that we got to know throughout the story.
i related really well with izzy’s struggles and her just being lost. she has to deal with lots of difficult things, such as racism, poverty and grief. other topics that don’t directly affect izzy but are important aspects of the novel as well are domestic abuse and mental health, so please be aware of that going into this. i thought the depiction of all these things was done really well that sometimes you almost forget that this is all a fictional piece of work, because everything was so realistic and these are all issues we have to face in real life as well. the storyline with habitat for humanity was so refreshing! i’ve never read about anything like it before and also didn’t know it was an actual organization until after finishing the book, so that was something i have really enjoyed to see included.
another point is the romance! it didn’t take over the importance of the story, but more so remained on the side while not being neglected. it always kind of irritates me when the plot suddenly goes dead because the romance is the main focus, so i really liked that this wasn’t the case here. above all, the story highlights the importance of friendship, family and honesty. also, the ending got me emotional and yelling out loud.
thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
→ 4 stars
honestly, i had absolutely no idea what to expect going into the story. of course i had read what the book was roughly about, but it was so much more than that. the first half was super quick, i pretty much flew through the story! it then started to drag a lot, which impacted my reading experience and enjoyment quite a bit. nevertheless, the writing was great and got me really invested in our protagonist izzy and later on some side characters as well that we got to know throughout the story.
i related really well with izzy’s struggles and her just being lost. she has to deal with lots of difficult things, such as racism, poverty and grief. other topics that don’t directly affect izzy but are important aspects of the novel as well are domestic abuse and mental health, so please be aware of that going into this. i thought the depiction of all these things was done really well that sometimes you almost forget that this is all a fictional piece of work, because everything was so realistic and these are all issues we have to face in real life as well. the storyline with habitat for humanity was so refreshing! i’ve never read about anything like it before and also didn’t know it was an actual organization until after finishing the book, so that was something i have really enjoyed to see included.
another point is the romance! it didn’t take over the importance of the story, but more so remained on the side while not being neglected. it always kind of irritates me when the plot suddenly goes dead because the romance is the main focus, so i really liked that this wasn’t the case here. above all, the story highlights the importance of friendship, family and honesty. also, the ending got me emotional and yelling out loud.
thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
→ 4 stars
January 28, 2020
How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian deals with a lot of issues. Friendship, families, mother daughter relationships, sibling relationships, loss of a parent and many more. This story really touched my heart and brought a lot of different emotions out of me. It made me happy and it made me sad. I loved the writing and I was so into the story from the beginning. It also has some trigger warnings abuse, racism, bullying and depression. I want to thank Netgalley and Algonquin Young readers for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
May 19, 2020
Read the full review at Elgee Writes
My thoughts
I was glad that romance was not the main focus of How to Build a Heart, even though it was a romance book. It is a family drama/reunion story, and I loved it as much. I liked the older females in the book and Izzy’s relationship with her newfound cousin.
I didn’t like the main friendship in How to Build a Heart so much that I ended up not liking both Izzy and Roz. Izzy doesnt tell Roz anything and made it a point to keep Roz away from her life. And Roz in other hand was always mean to Izzy and literally threw a stone at her over a boy. Whoa!
And they got over their fight so easily? Well, I didn’t buy that one at all. Despite not loving the characters, I loved the writing style which was compelling and fast flowing.
Things that worked for me
The writing was perfect and I didn’t put the book down even once.
How to Build a Heart deals with difficult topics like poverty, racism, and grief and did a great job at it.
I love a book with a good family reunion and How to Build a Heart has one!
Things that didn’t work for me
Izzy and Roz were both difficult to like right from the beginning. And it got only tougher.
I found it difficult to adore Izzy and Sam, as Izzy had nothing in common with Sam.
Bottom-line
How to Build a Heart is a coming of age tale of a Latin American girl that discusses economic inequity, racism, friendship and of course love. I will definitely look out for more from the author.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Instagram |
My thoughts
I was glad that romance was not the main focus of How to Build a Heart, even though it was a romance book. It is a family drama/reunion story, and I loved it as much. I liked the older females in the book and Izzy’s relationship with her newfound cousin.
I didn’t like the main friendship in How to Build a Heart so much that I ended up not liking both Izzy and Roz. Izzy doesnt tell Roz anything and made it a point to keep Roz away from her life. And Roz in other hand was always mean to Izzy and literally threw a stone at her over a boy. Whoa!
And they got over their fight so easily? Well, I didn’t buy that one at all. Despite not loving the characters, I loved the writing style which was compelling and fast flowing.
Things that worked for me
The writing was perfect and I didn’t put the book down even once.
How to Build a Heart deals with difficult topics like poverty, racism, and grief and did a great job at it.
I love a book with a good family reunion and How to Build a Heart has one!
Things that didn’t work for me
Izzy and Roz were both difficult to like right from the beginning. And it got only tougher.
I found it difficult to adore Izzy and Sam, as Izzy had nothing in common with Sam.
Bottom-line
How to Build a Heart is a coming of age tale of a Latin American girl that discusses economic inequity, racism, friendship and of course love. I will definitely look out for more from the author.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Instagram |
September 29, 2019
review to come! i loved this so much.
September 20, 2019
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This YA novel is well written and will appeal to young teens and older "teens at heart" who worry about fitting in, falling in love and finding (and keeping) a stable home. In this story, Izzy Campbell's life is one huge tragic upheaval, constantly on the move from one place to the other after her father is killed.in Iraq. Her family finally gets to settle down in one place, thanks to Habitat for Humanity, and Izzy's hopes of establishing a life with friends and growing roots now has a chance. But she soon faces difficult choices involving the in crowd at school and how she wants to be perceived by her peers.
Izzy's friend, Roz, another troubled teen, really likes Sam, the hot rich boy in town. But Izzy and Sam can't seem to help the growing attraction between them: oh oh, the dreaded teenage triangle! You will find many of the usual YA tropes here, and there could have been more dialogue and character building, but this still made for an entertaining read. I rate it a 3.5 out of 5.
This YA novel is well written and will appeal to young teens and older "teens at heart" who worry about fitting in, falling in love and finding (and keeping) a stable home. In this story, Izzy Campbell's life is one huge tragic upheaval, constantly on the move from one place to the other after her father is killed.in Iraq. Her family finally gets to settle down in one place, thanks to Habitat for Humanity, and Izzy's hopes of establishing a life with friends and growing roots now has a chance. But she soon faces difficult choices involving the in crowd at school and how she wants to be perceived by her peers.
Izzy's friend, Roz, another troubled teen, really likes Sam, the hot rich boy in town. But Izzy and Sam can't seem to help the growing attraction between them: oh oh, the dreaded teenage triangle! You will find many of the usual YA tropes here, and there could have been more dialogue and character building, but this still made for an entertaining read. I rate it a 3.5 out of 5.
December 12, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eArc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars ⭐
Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect. Although I had read the synopsis, I wasn't too sure what the main focus of this story would be so I was prepared to love it.
How to Build a Heart is about a teenage girl named Izzy whose father, a marine, died a few years back and, for that reason, her family has had to move towns every year. This year, they are given the chance to build their own house with the support of Habbit for Humanity and Izzy has to juggle that, her new popular boyfriend and her complicated relationships with her best friend and her extended family.
This story didn't have much of an emotional impact on me which is surprising since it focuses on themes, such as racism, family and friendship, which usually have that effect; that being said, the discussions revolving these subjects are treated with care and I took something out of most of them. I very much appreciated the conversations between Izzy and her mother regarding who your true family is and how being blood related isn't everything as well as the one about race as Izzy is Puerto Rican and has light brown skin and her mother is dark-skinned. On the other hand, there's an incident involving Izzy's best friend which I found incredibly serious, but it's basically brushed off at the end without a proper apology or real consequences considering the severity of the situation.
In addition, I think the characters could have been much more fleshed out, the only ones I see as three-dimensional are the protagonist and her best friend. The romance really didn't work for me, the love interest is like a slice of white bread - so dull, no personality other than being popular saying that Izzy is not like other girls, and having a sister, Aubrey, who's struggled with mental ilness. Speaking of, I liked Aubrey and I think she was written realistically, specifically when it comes to how much she latched onto Izzy since she is quite shy.
The writing wasn't terrible by any means, but, in my opinion, it can use some tweaking because there are a few expressions and sentences that I believe are unnecessary and/or don't make sense. For example, a character drinks a fizzy beverage and the author describes how drinking it feels and compares it to an ocean wave which I found odd.
Although this book won't stick with me, I don't regret reading it as I took something out of the exploration of the aforementioned themes. I would recommend it to YA contemporary readers who enjoy stories focusing on teens navigating their ever-changing lives and the challenges they face along the way.
3 stars ⭐
Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect. Although I had read the synopsis, I wasn't too sure what the main focus of this story would be so I was prepared to love it.
How to Build a Heart is about a teenage girl named Izzy whose father, a marine, died a few years back and, for that reason, her family has had to move towns every year. This year, they are given the chance to build their own house with the support of Habbit for Humanity and Izzy has to juggle that, her new popular boyfriend and her complicated relationships with her best friend and her extended family.
This story didn't have much of an emotional impact on me which is surprising since it focuses on themes, such as racism, family and friendship, which usually have that effect; that being said, the discussions revolving these subjects are treated with care and I took something out of most of them. I very much appreciated the conversations between Izzy and her mother regarding who your true family is and how being blood related isn't everything as well as the one about race as Izzy is Puerto Rican and has light brown skin and her mother is dark-skinned. On the other hand, there's an incident involving Izzy's best friend which I found incredibly serious, but it's basically brushed off at the end without a proper apology or real consequences considering the severity of the situation.
In addition, I think the characters could have been much more fleshed out, the only ones I see as three-dimensional are the protagonist and her best friend. The romance really didn't work for me, the love interest is like a slice of white bread - so dull, no personality other than being popular saying that Izzy is not like other girls, and having a sister, Aubrey, who's struggled with mental ilness. Speaking of, I liked Aubrey and I think she was written realistically, specifically when it comes to how much she latched onto Izzy since she is quite shy.
The writing wasn't terrible by any means, but, in my opinion, it can use some tweaking because there are a few expressions and sentences that I believe are unnecessary and/or don't make sense. For example, a character drinks a fizzy beverage and the author describes how drinking it feels and compares it to an ocean wave which I found odd.
Although this book won't stick with me, I don't regret reading it as I took something out of the exploration of the aforementioned themes. I would recommend it to YA contemporary readers who enjoy stories focusing on teens navigating their ever-changing lives and the challenges they face along the way.
February 8, 2021
How do you find your way in the world if you don't know who you are?
Izzy Crawford and her family have been constantly on the move since her father died in combat. Her mother is a hard working single mother but does not have family around to help her. Her side of the family is still and Puerto Rico and Izzy's father's family is not present. Izzy has one friend that lives in their mobile home park but her mom does not approve of her. She thinks Roz is a bad influence. When she starts making friends in her new school she is nervous about them learning that she is poor. She feels uncomfortable in her own skin. As she tries to figure out where she fits in she tries to be what she thinks each person wants her to be. When her family is awarded a house through Habitat for Humanity she feels that the publicity will cause all of her lies to blow up in her face. She has to find a way to tell the truth. To her friends. To her Mom. And to herself.
How to Build a Heart is a YA that deals with the definition of family and identity. It is a beautiful story about community. My favorite character was Mami. She was so strong, loving and passionate. Her pearls of wisdom set the tone for novel. She talks to Izzy about friendships and family and racism. When Izzy comes to her hurt she shows patience and insight. Her compassion for others is evident when she discusses prejudice. She explains that most racists have an issue not with color, but with difference period. Whether it be the color of your skin, what church you go to or what state you live in, if you are different they fear you. Despite the fact that she personally had been targeted, she showed grace in rising above the circumstances and looking at that person who hurt her objectively.
I found that there were a lot of positive messages here for teenagers and would definitely recommend this book.
Izzy Crawford and her family have been constantly on the move since her father died in combat. Her mother is a hard working single mother but does not have family around to help her. Her side of the family is still and Puerto Rico and Izzy's father's family is not present. Izzy has one friend that lives in their mobile home park but her mom does not approve of her. She thinks Roz is a bad influence. When she starts making friends in her new school she is nervous about them learning that she is poor. She feels uncomfortable in her own skin. As she tries to figure out where she fits in she tries to be what she thinks each person wants her to be. When her family is awarded a house through Habitat for Humanity she feels that the publicity will cause all of her lies to blow up in her face. She has to find a way to tell the truth. To her friends. To her Mom. And to herself.
How to Build a Heart is a YA that deals with the definition of family and identity. It is a beautiful story about community. My favorite character was Mami. She was so strong, loving and passionate. Her pearls of wisdom set the tone for novel. She talks to Izzy about friendships and family and racism. When Izzy comes to her hurt she shows patience and insight. Her compassion for others is evident when she discusses prejudice. She explains that most racists have an issue not with color, but with difference period. Whether it be the color of your skin, what church you go to or what state you live in, if you are different they fear you. Despite the fact that she personally had been targeted, she showed grace in rising above the circumstances and looking at that person who hurt her objectively.
I found that there were a lot of positive messages here for teenagers and would definitely recommend this book.
February 4, 2021
4 stars
Filled with heart, acapella, drama, and the complexities of young people in love, this was a sweet and engaging read. It gives you the feels, you know?
Writing: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★ 1/2
Enjoyment: ★★★★
Izzy Crawford is just trying to belong. Having spent the past six years moving from town to town to town with her mother after her father died in Iraq, Izzy's tired of feeling like she can't put down roots.
Things change when Izzy starts going to school in Virginia. She's keeping her scholarship status on the down low and she's attempting to play it cool, but high school has other plans. When you've got roots, you've got ties. And some ties get complicated.
Izzy finds herself juggling her school life—she's in an acapella group and getting closer to one of the hottest athletes in school, Sam, which is made more complicated by the fact that Izzy's friend Roz likes him too. If that's not enough, she's also experiencing one of the most exciting things that her family has ever experienced—they've been selected by Habit for Humanity to receive a brand new home.
However, Izzy can't keep all the elements in her life from spinning into each other forever. It's all going to overlap soon. Is she ready to lay down roots and roll with the seasons?
I thought this was a powerful and moving YA novel. Sometimes a YA contemporary reads for its audience and doesn't transcend its age bracket for adults... How to Build a Heart is not one of those reads. There are lessons, fun, and love to be had in these pages and the author shares them beautifully for all ages. Izzy's story of fitting in and growing into her own personhood was a lot of fun. Plus, Maria Padian's writing is amazing. So read it for the writing voice alone.
Recommended for all! Haha. But in all honesty, I really enjoyed this one. Will definitely keep an eye on Maria Padian's future works.
Thank you to Algonquin Books for Young Readers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Filled with heart, acapella, drama, and the complexities of young people in love, this was a sweet and engaging read. It gives you the feels, you know?
Writing: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★ 1/2
Enjoyment: ★★★★
Izzy Crawford is just trying to belong. Having spent the past six years moving from town to town to town with her mother after her father died in Iraq, Izzy's tired of feeling like she can't put down roots.
Things change when Izzy starts going to school in Virginia. She's keeping her scholarship status on the down low and she's attempting to play it cool, but high school has other plans. When you've got roots, you've got ties. And some ties get complicated.
Izzy finds herself juggling her school life—she's in an acapella group and getting closer to one of the hottest athletes in school, Sam, which is made more complicated by the fact that Izzy's friend Roz likes him too. If that's not enough, she's also experiencing one of the most exciting things that her family has ever experienced—they've been selected by Habit for Humanity to receive a brand new home.
However, Izzy can't keep all the elements in her life from spinning into each other forever. It's all going to overlap soon. Is she ready to lay down roots and roll with the seasons?
I thought this was a powerful and moving YA novel. Sometimes a YA contemporary reads for its audience and doesn't transcend its age bracket for adults... How to Build a Heart is not one of those reads. There are lessons, fun, and love to be had in these pages and the author shares them beautifully for all ages. Izzy's story of fitting in and growing into her own personhood was a lot of fun. Plus, Maria Padian's writing is amazing. So read it for the writing voice alone.
Recommended for all! Haha. But in all honesty, I really enjoyed this one. Will definitely keep an eye on Maria Padian's future works.
Thank you to Algonquin Books for Young Readers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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2020-release
June 11, 2019Thank you, NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers, for sending me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review! :)
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January 7, 2020Izzy attends a private Catholic school on scholarship, and she works hard to keep the fact she lives with her family in a mobile home park secret. So when her family is selected as recipients for a Habitat for Humanity home, as much as she's excited about finally being able to be in a stable home for a long period of time, she does not want to be involved in the publicity or fundraising where others may see her.
Izzy is half Puerto Rican, and her father died during his military service. Since his passing, she, her mother, and her little brother have bounced place to place. She hasn't made a lot of strong ties anywhere, though her friendship with neighbor Roz is as close to a real relationship she has. So when she and Roz begin falling for the same guy -- one who goes to the county high school, lives in McMansionville, and is in no way in either of their leagues -- it's a shock that Izzy goes all out to make a connection with him. And she does so through his little sister.
This is a story about family, made and found. It's about grief and loss, as well as about what it feels like to put up a facade about the realities of your life. Izzy is strong-willed and hard-headed, and at times, she's downright unlikable. But her situation makes her exceptionally easy to empathize with and root for. As much as it doesn't always feel good to want for her to get with the boy of her dreams, it's clear early on they have a pretty powerful connection, even before readers know why it is Aubrey attends the same high school as Izzy.
Readers looking for a book about growing up between cultures, about connecting with one's roots, and about economic disadvantages will love this thoughtful, heart-rendering read. Padian's prose is smooth and engaging, offering just enough depth to set the scene but not overdoing it with jewelry best left tucked away. At the heart are the relationships and characters, each of which are well-rendered, full, and complex. Add this book, too, to the list of books about the challenges of friendship, as well as friendship breakups/makeups. Personally, I kind of hated Roz because of everything that Izzy shared about her, but, as a good writer does, I was reminded that I was only getting Izzy's side of the story and Roz had so much to really appreciate and connect with, too.
Izzy is half Puerto Rican, and her father died during his military service. Since his passing, she, her mother, and her little brother have bounced place to place. She hasn't made a lot of strong ties anywhere, though her friendship with neighbor Roz is as close to a real relationship she has. So when she and Roz begin falling for the same guy -- one who goes to the county high school, lives in McMansionville, and is in no way in either of their leagues -- it's a shock that Izzy goes all out to make a connection with him. And she does so through his little sister.
This is a story about family, made and found. It's about grief and loss, as well as about what it feels like to put up a facade about the realities of your life. Izzy is strong-willed and hard-headed, and at times, she's downright unlikable. But her situation makes her exceptionally easy to empathize with and root for. As much as it doesn't always feel good to want for her to get with the boy of her dreams, it's clear early on they have a pretty powerful connection, even before readers know why it is Aubrey attends the same high school as Izzy.
Readers looking for a book about growing up between cultures, about connecting with one's roots, and about economic disadvantages will love this thoughtful, heart-rendering read. Padian's prose is smooth and engaging, offering just enough depth to set the scene but not overdoing it with jewelry best left tucked away. At the heart are the relationships and characters, each of which are well-rendered, full, and complex. Add this book, too, to the list of books about the challenges of friendship, as well as friendship breakups/makeups. Personally, I kind of hated Roz because of everything that Izzy shared about her, but, as a good writer does, I was reminded that I was only getting Izzy's side of the story and Roz had so much to really appreciate and connect with, too.
August 28, 2019
***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of HOW TO BUILD A HEART by Maria Padian in exchange for my honest review.***
Izzy Crawford feels like an outsider. As a scholarship student at a private school her friends don’t know she lives in a trailer park or that her family is building a Habitat for Humanity house, a place to finally call home. Izzy likes the same boy her as neighbor friend Roz and she doesn’t want Sam to know her family circumstances.
The teen years would be so much easier if kids realized that *everyone* feels different and out of place. Whether for income, religious, family issues, race, sexual orientation, imposter syndrome, worries about being seen as *less than* is a virtually universal experience. Izzy worries about socioeconomic class, Perfect Sam thinks if he was a better brother, his sister wouldn’t have become depressed, like many teens, they see false flaws in themselves. Maria Padian subtly illustrates this as an opportunity for Izzy’s growth.
Izzy and Roz’s friendship, which opened the story, was the weakest and least believable part of HOW TO BUILD A HEART, in fact, I wondered if the book was for me due to my strong dislike for Roz. I couldn’t see why Izzy saw her friend’s stalking behavior as badass. The sympathetic issues in Roz’s life felt like added drama for the sake of throwing another issue into the mix and redeem her character.
HOW TO BUILD A HEART is a feel good, yet predictable story without tension. I never worried Izzy’s story wouldn’t have a happy ending and sometimes that’s just what I need in a book.
Izzy Crawford feels like an outsider. As a scholarship student at a private school her friends don’t know she lives in a trailer park or that her family is building a Habitat for Humanity house, a place to finally call home. Izzy likes the same boy her as neighbor friend Roz and she doesn’t want Sam to know her family circumstances.
The teen years would be so much easier if kids realized that *everyone* feels different and out of place. Whether for income, religious, family issues, race, sexual orientation, imposter syndrome, worries about being seen as *less than* is a virtually universal experience. Izzy worries about socioeconomic class, Perfect Sam thinks if he was a better brother, his sister wouldn’t have become depressed, like many teens, they see false flaws in themselves. Maria Padian subtly illustrates this as an opportunity for Izzy’s growth.
Izzy and Roz’s friendship, which opened the story, was the weakest and least believable part of HOW TO BUILD A HEART, in fact, I wondered if the book was for me due to my strong dislike for Roz. I couldn’t see why Izzy saw her friend’s stalking behavior as badass. The sympathetic issues in Roz’s life felt like added drama for the sake of throwing another issue into the mix and redeem her character.
HOW TO BUILD A HEART is a feel good, yet predictable story without tension. I never worried Izzy’s story wouldn’t have a happy ending and sometimes that’s just what I need in a book.
April 11, 2019
My overall vibe from this story was that it was a poignant tale about a mixed cultured girl learning about who her tribe was and finding a place to belong. I can see this story appealing to a wide variety of people. It was told beautifully and really hit upon key aspects of mixed cultured teens and the struggles that they go through. Their displaced feelings, for example. Izzy, the main character, was quirky and lovable and won me over in the first chapter. I'll be keeping my eye on this author. <3
Would I recommend this book? Definitely.
Disclaimer: I recieved an ARC (advanced review copy) from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. <3
Would I recommend this book? Definitely.
Disclaimer: I recieved an ARC (advanced review copy) from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. <3
August 31, 2019
How to build a heart is one of the best feel good books I’ve read in a while. I’m telling you, this is the book we’ve been waiting for.
It’s kind of stereotypical; poor girl, rich boy and lots of prejudice, but it feels so good. It’s comfortable and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
The characters are built up nicely, you know just enough about them and they seem very realistic. The scenes are good, the story is tied together very well and I’ve enjoyed every second of this book
It’s kind of stereotypical; poor girl, rich boy and lots of prejudice, but it feels so good. It’s comfortable and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
The characters are built up nicely, you know just enough about them and they seem very realistic. The scenes are good, the story is tied together very well and I’ve enjoyed every second of this book
February 2, 2021
Relatable
Emotional
Heart wrenching
This is one of the best YA books I have read in quite a while.
You will root for Izzy as you read this coming-of-age story about race, grief and loss, economic disadvantages, families found and made, and first loves. If you have ever felt like an outsider, didn’t quite fit in, feel less than, then you will relate and find yourself immersed into the characters in this book.
Izzy Crawford with her mami, a nurse aide, and younger brother had been struggling and constantly on the move, never settling down since her father, a marine died six years ago while in service. As a scholarship student in a Catholic school, and living in a mobile home park, Izzy strives to keep their situation a secret especially with Sam whom she is developing an attachment to.
Knowing that their family is looking to finally settle down, Izzy’s mami applies for Habitat for Humanity. Izzy finds that secrets can be hard to keep especially among those you love.
Padian writes a heart wrenching story and gives a powerful voice to young adults trying to find themselves amidst disadvantages, difficulties and struggles. Deftly written, full of emotion and heart, this is one I highly recommend.
Emotional
Heart wrenching
This is one of the best YA books I have read in quite a while.
You will root for Izzy as you read this coming-of-age story about race, grief and loss, economic disadvantages, families found and made, and first loves. If you have ever felt like an outsider, didn’t quite fit in, feel less than, then you will relate and find yourself immersed into the characters in this book.
Izzy Crawford with her mami, a nurse aide, and younger brother had been struggling and constantly on the move, never settling down since her father, a marine died six years ago while in service. As a scholarship student in a Catholic school, and living in a mobile home park, Izzy strives to keep their situation a secret especially with Sam whom she is developing an attachment to.
Knowing that their family is looking to finally settle down, Izzy’s mami applies for Habitat for Humanity. Izzy finds that secrets can be hard to keep especially among those you love.
Padian writes a heart wrenching story and gives a powerful voice to young adults trying to find themselves amidst disadvantages, difficulties and struggles. Deftly written, full of emotion and heart, this is one I highly recommend.
January 20, 2020
Starting this book off, my expectations immediately lowered because I found the friendship between our MC Izzy and her best friend Roz to be a little over the top. Once I found my way into more of the story though, I absolutely loved the family dynamics as well as the romance and the new friendship we find between Izzy and another character.
This book wasn't perfect. There's a lot of lying in this book and I think there's also a little bit too much forgiveness towards one character. I understood all of the reasoning and meaning behind the idea that this person is dragging you down and I don't feel like we got a true resolution from that.
With that said, this book pulled at my heart strings in so many ways and I felt like for the most part, all of these characters felt extremely real. I loved the scenes towards the end with lots of extra characters.
Trigger Warnings for this book:
-abuse
-gun violence
-parent death (off page)
-drug/alcohol abuse
This may not be a complete list, but these are what stood out to me. I say definitely give this a chance. It wasn't perfect, but it was extremely good!
This book wasn't perfect. There's a lot of lying in this book and I think there's also a little bit too much forgiveness towards one character. I understood all of the reasoning and meaning behind the idea that this person is dragging you down and I don't feel like we got a true resolution from that.
With that said, this book pulled at my heart strings in so many ways and I felt like for the most part, all of these characters felt extremely real. I loved the scenes towards the end with lots of extra characters.
Trigger Warnings for this book:
-abuse
-gun violence
-parent death (off page)
-drug/alcohol abuse
This may not be a complete list, but these are what stood out to me. I say definitely give this a chance. It wasn't perfect, but it was extremely good!
November 8, 2019
Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down.
In many ways, this was a very relatable book. Izzy is a young girl trying to find herself and fit in a place where she doesn't feel like she belongs. She hides her true self in order to be accepted by the different relationships in her life. She is estranged from her dad's side of the family, feels like her friendship with her best friend Roz must always be hidden from her mom and her school friends, hides the fact that she lives in a mobile park, and now has to hide a budding romance with Sam, a boy Roz has a crush on. Everything is about to fall apart on her when her mom gets approved to get a house through a charity, Habitat for Humanity.
Izzy was easy to like at the start of the book but as the book progressed I really began to dislike her. She is selfish, rude, inconsiderate and ashamed of where she comes from. I found her to be a disloyal friend, even up until the end of the book. She did not feel a need to apologize for falling for Sam, the boy Roz has a serious, stalking crush on. She also kept Roz separate from the girls in her school choir, ashamed of who Roz is. Despite me not liking her, Izzy felt like a real character with real reactions to the issues she felt she was facing.
I feel like I have to mention this because I was approached to read this book based on having read "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter". There are two scenes within the book that really bothered me. In one, Roz's mom insults Izzy's mom by calling her a Mexican whore. Izzy's mom is not exactly offended by being called a whore, but is highly offended to be called Mexican, feeling the need to make sure Roz's mom knows she is Puerto Rican and not Mexican. No need to correct her though on being called a whore, just on being called Mexican. I wasn't sure why this needed to be in a book that in my opinion centered around minorities and that could be a positive image for many young readers. It therefore felt a little deceiving to be approached for this book because of a previous reading selection that was based on minorities. The second incident in the book that gets brought up is about Izzy's mom being referred to as black. I wasn't sure why this came across as offensive to Izzy but I felt like it should have been addressed properly.
I did enjoy reading Izzy's story and hated when it came to an end. I don't think I was ready to leave some of these characters just yet and would love to see what happens to them moving forward.
And great cover. I love it.
I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down.
In many ways, this was a very relatable book. Izzy is a young girl trying to find herself and fit in a place where she doesn't feel like she belongs. She hides her true self in order to be accepted by the different relationships in her life. She is estranged from her dad's side of the family, feels like her friendship with her best friend Roz must always be hidden from her mom and her school friends, hides the fact that she lives in a mobile park, and now has to hide a budding romance with Sam, a boy Roz has a crush on. Everything is about to fall apart on her when her mom gets approved to get a house through a charity, Habitat for Humanity.
Izzy was easy to like at the start of the book but as the book progressed I really began to dislike her. She is selfish, rude, inconsiderate and ashamed of where she comes from. I found her to be a disloyal friend, even up until the end of the book. She did not feel a need to apologize for falling for Sam, the boy Roz has a serious, stalking crush on. She also kept Roz separate from the girls in her school choir, ashamed of who Roz is. Despite me not liking her, Izzy felt like a real character with real reactions to the issues she felt she was facing.
I feel like I have to mention this because I was approached to read this book based on having read "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter". There are two scenes within the book that really bothered me. In one, Roz's mom insults Izzy's mom by calling her a Mexican whore. Izzy's mom is not exactly offended by being called a whore, but is highly offended to be called Mexican, feeling the need to make sure Roz's mom knows she is Puerto Rican and not Mexican. No need to correct her though on being called a whore, just on being called Mexican. I wasn't sure why this needed to be in a book that in my opinion centered around minorities and that could be a positive image for many young readers. It therefore felt a little deceiving to be approached for this book because of a previous reading selection that was based on minorities. The second incident in the book that gets brought up is about Izzy's mom being referred to as black. I wasn't sure why this came across as offensive to Izzy but I felt like it should have been addressed properly.
I did enjoy reading Izzy's story and hated when it came to an end. I don't think I was ready to leave some of these characters just yet and would love to see what happens to them moving forward.
And great cover. I love it.
June 30, 2020
An ARC was provided to me for free by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but I really enjoyed it! Izzy is dealing still with the grief of her father's death 6 years prior; she lives in a mobile home with her younger brother and their mom, who does everything in her power to make her children's lives better. Izzy's best friend, Roz, complains often about the rich people living not to far from their trailer park--and Izzy finds herself caught in both worlds as she befriends someone from that world of wealth.
Izzy was easy to empathize with, and I really liked her relationship with her little brother Jack, and her mom. There are two female friendships in this novel--with Roz and Aubrey--but I will admit it felt a bit weak. I didn't love the treatment of Roz for part of the novel, and there is some girl hate that can just be summarized as "she's dating the boy I like, so I hate her" . . . which is not the greatest. Beyond that, I liked the romance--though for the life of me, I can't think of a single thing they had in common other than finding each other hot.
A cute and sweet novel in some regards, I think the family aspects were the strongest. Still, I really enjoyed the novel.
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but I really enjoyed it! Izzy is dealing still with the grief of her father's death 6 years prior; she lives in a mobile home with her younger brother and their mom, who does everything in her power to make her children's lives better. Izzy's best friend, Roz, complains often about the rich people living not to far from their trailer park--and Izzy finds herself caught in both worlds as she befriends someone from that world of wealth.
Izzy was easy to empathize with, and I really liked her relationship with her little brother Jack, and her mom. There are two female friendships in this novel--with Roz and Aubrey--but I will admit it felt a bit weak. I didn't love the treatment of Roz for part of the novel, and there is some girl hate that can just be summarized as "she's dating the boy I like, so I hate her" . . . which is not the greatest. Beyond that, I liked the romance--though for the life of me, I can't think of a single thing they had in common other than finding each other hot.
A cute and sweet novel in some regards, I think the family aspects were the strongest. Still, I really enjoyed the novel.
May 8, 2019
My review for this book can also be found on The Book Bratz
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, after a conversation got sparked on Twitter and we found out that we actually have a mutual connection based on the college I attend! I thought that was pretty cool, and then when I found out Maria was a YA author, I knew that I definitely wanted to read some of her work. When she sent me How To Build a Heart, I was elated, because the story sounded like just the kind of YA contemporary that I really enjoyed. Thankfully, my hunch was right, so without further ado, let's get into my review:
As the summary explains, Izzy is finally getting settled after her family's recent move, always bouncing from town to town with her mother and brother, still reeling after the tragic death of her father in the Marines. Izzy starts to feel like her life is really coming together -- she has a crush, some good friends, a spot in her school's super competitive a cappella group....but she manages to keep her scholarship student status a secret, and her best from the trailer park is nowhere near her preppy school friends. And then her family is chosen for Habitat for Humanity, which is a major win for them, but that also involves her community knowing about her family's struggles. The balancing act doesn't last for long, and when Izzy's lives threaten to cross over into each other, she isn't sure how she's going to handle it. And what ensues is definitely interesting, that's for sure!
I really enjoyed reading this book! Maria Padian is an excellent writer, so I found myself being sucked into the story immediately. This book is almost 350 pages, and I managed to finish the entire thing in just two days, because I found myself picking it up every chance I get. I even walked around campus with this book in front of my face while I was heading to class and the library and places to pick up dinner, and it's a miracle I didn't trip and fall flat on my face. I was so just so invested in the story and I loved it! Seeing the way Izzy tried to juggle her lives and keep her paths from crossing (while having the nagging suspicion that somehow things wouldn't stay so separate for much longer) really kept me invested because I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Seriously, I read over 150 pages in one sitting because this book was just so great that I didn't want to put it down!
Something that I really loved about this book was the wide variety of characters, actually. Everyone on the page was so different, and they all had their own unique little quirks and habits and ways of talking, and they just seemed so thoroughly fleshed out and they all seemed to serve a purpose on the page. It might just be the English major in me talking, but I always found it very frustrating when there were characters in a story that were very clearly thrown there just to serve a plot point, so they felt very two-dimensional. However, there's absolutely none of that in this book, because everyone feels so fleshed out and real that I could see them being people I bumped into at the supermarket or on the street somewhere. I really loved that aspect of the story!
My favorite character in this book was actually Mami. Even though there were times that she was really strict and it felt like she was being really hard on Izzy, it was clear how much she loved her kids and how much she had given up for them and all the hard things she would continue to do for them. She seemed like such a wise, confident, caring woman, and I really appreciated her throughout the whole book, even at times when Izzy didn't. It's not very often that I find the mom figure in a book being one of my favorite characters (I don't actually know why that is, actually), but the fact that my favorite character in the story was someone as resilient, brave, protective, and loving as Rita was definitely a plus for me.
However, the character that I had the hardest time getting along with as a reader was definitely Roz. I get that her life was supposed to be difficult and a bit messy as a way of "messing up" Izzy's perfect facade that she was trying to craft, but I feel like at times she was just really catty and downright mean. (Spoilers incoming, so skip to the next paragraph to avoid them!) I also kinda didn't love the fact that at the end of the story, Izzy and Roz just become instant friends again without actually really talking much out. What Izzy's mom said about cutting out people that drag you down and are harmful to you was something really important, and even though I agree with Mark that Roz wasn't dragging Izzy down in terms of her image or anything like that, there were times when she was a pretty mean friend to Izzy, and that all seems to get brushed under the rug. I'm not saying forgiveness isn't possible, because it absolutely is, but there are some things that need to be brought to light and thoroughly talked out before taking back someone who hurt you so badly. I don't know, that's just my own personal opinion -- but that's also who I am as a person when it comes to "cutting out" people in my life. If they're willing to work on things and talk it out, then I'll cooperate, but people that don't take any hard steps to rectify their actions aren't usually people I want to continue being super-BFFs with. But again, that's just my own personal take on it, and if you disagree, that's completely okay!
Overall, I really enjoyed reading How To Build a Heart. I think it was a super heartwarming, emotional tale of moving on after loss, settling into a new life, and finding a way to bridge your past and your future in ways that you may not have thought were possible before. Maria Padian is an excellent writer, and it took no time at all for me to fall into her story. I'm super glad that I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and it's safe to say that I'll definitely be reading more of her work in the future!
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, after a conversation got sparked on Twitter and we found out that we actually have a mutual connection based on the college I attend! I thought that was pretty cool, and then when I found out Maria was a YA author, I knew that I definitely wanted to read some of her work. When she sent me How To Build a Heart, I was elated, because the story sounded like just the kind of YA contemporary that I really enjoyed. Thankfully, my hunch was right, so without further ado, let's get into my review:
As the summary explains, Izzy is finally getting settled after her family's recent move, always bouncing from town to town with her mother and brother, still reeling after the tragic death of her father in the Marines. Izzy starts to feel like her life is really coming together -- she has a crush, some good friends, a spot in her school's super competitive a cappella group....but she manages to keep her scholarship student status a secret, and her best from the trailer park is nowhere near her preppy school friends. And then her family is chosen for Habitat for Humanity, which is a major win for them, but that also involves her community knowing about her family's struggles. The balancing act doesn't last for long, and when Izzy's lives threaten to cross over into each other, she isn't sure how she's going to handle it. And what ensues is definitely interesting, that's for sure!
I really enjoyed reading this book! Maria Padian is an excellent writer, so I found myself being sucked into the story immediately. This book is almost 350 pages, and I managed to finish the entire thing in just two days, because I found myself picking it up every chance I get. I even walked around campus with this book in front of my face while I was heading to class and the library and places to pick up dinner, and it's a miracle I didn't trip and fall flat on my face. I was so just so invested in the story and I loved it! Seeing the way Izzy tried to juggle her lives and keep her paths from crossing (while having the nagging suspicion that somehow things wouldn't stay so separate for much longer) really kept me invested because I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Seriously, I read over 150 pages in one sitting because this book was just so great that I didn't want to put it down!
Something that I really loved about this book was the wide variety of characters, actually. Everyone on the page was so different, and they all had their own unique little quirks and habits and ways of talking, and they just seemed so thoroughly fleshed out and they all seemed to serve a purpose on the page. It might just be the English major in me talking, but I always found it very frustrating when there were characters in a story that were very clearly thrown there just to serve a plot point, so they felt very two-dimensional. However, there's absolutely none of that in this book, because everyone feels so fleshed out and real that I could see them being people I bumped into at the supermarket or on the street somewhere. I really loved that aspect of the story!
My favorite character in this book was actually Mami. Even though there were times that she was really strict and it felt like she was being really hard on Izzy, it was clear how much she loved her kids and how much she had given up for them and all the hard things she would continue to do for them. She seemed like such a wise, confident, caring woman, and I really appreciated her throughout the whole book, even at times when Izzy didn't. It's not very often that I find the mom figure in a book being one of my favorite characters (I don't actually know why that is, actually), but the fact that my favorite character in the story was someone as resilient, brave, protective, and loving as Rita was definitely a plus for me.
However, the character that I had the hardest time getting along with as a reader was definitely Roz. I get that her life was supposed to be difficult and a bit messy as a way of "messing up" Izzy's perfect facade that she was trying to craft, but I feel like at times she was just really catty and downright mean. (Spoilers incoming, so skip to the next paragraph to avoid them!) I also kinda didn't love the fact that at the end of the story, Izzy and Roz just become instant friends again without actually really talking much out. What Izzy's mom said about cutting out people that drag you down and are harmful to you was something really important, and even though I agree with Mark that Roz wasn't dragging Izzy down in terms of her image or anything like that, there were times when she was a pretty mean friend to Izzy, and that all seems to get brushed under the rug. I'm not saying forgiveness isn't possible, because it absolutely is, but there are some things that need to be brought to light and thoroughly talked out before taking back someone who hurt you so badly. I don't know, that's just my own personal opinion -- but that's also who I am as a person when it comes to "cutting out" people in my life. If they're willing to work on things and talk it out, then I'll cooperate, but people that don't take any hard steps to rectify their actions aren't usually people I want to continue being super-BFFs with. But again, that's just my own personal take on it, and if you disagree, that's completely okay!
Overall, I really enjoyed reading How To Build a Heart. I think it was a super heartwarming, emotional tale of moving on after loss, settling into a new life, and finding a way to bridge your past and your future in ways that you may not have thought were possible before. Maria Padian is an excellent writer, and it took no time at all for me to fall into her story. I'm super glad that I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and it's safe to say that I'll definitely be reading more of her work in the future!
March 31, 2021
How to Build a Heart was such a fantastic YA coming-of-age read. Maria Padian managed to touch on so many relevant issues for youth, while still writing a story that felt fun to read. Izzy is just sixteen, but she isn't just worried about friends and boys. She faces racial and wealth issues at school, worries endlessly about how she will be perceived by others, struggles with crushes and friendships, and on top of all that, familial drama too. It's a loaded book, but written beautifully and in such a way that I, at 31, felt like I was back in high school. The charged emotions, the outsider feeling absolutely everyone feels, and the reality of facing prejudices all were felt by Izzy and by me while I read.
How to Build a Heart is a timely, poignant story that while realistic, still feels so good to read.
ARC provided.
How to Build a Heart is a timely, poignant story that while realistic, still feels so good to read.
ARC provided.
February 1, 2020
*3.5*
I was provided with a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishing house, Algonquin Young Readers, in exchange for an honest review.
A full review of this book can be found here
I have to say I quite enjoyed this book. "How to build a heart" talks about Izzy, a young Latin-American girl. Her father was in the military, and because of that she is used to moving. But now she has found some friends in Virginia, she has settled in her new school, and she also met a boy. When she gets the chance to settle for good, Izzy starts to think that maybe there is hope for her too.
I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book: the representation in this book was REALLY good, and I love to see how YA books deal with themes like this. I also enjoyed how the romance was not the main focus of this book. Sam, our love interest, was one of the main characters, but the focus was not on him. The story is about a teenage girl finding her place in the world, thanks to her family, her friends, her boyfriend, but most importantly herself.
Sadly, I was not a fan of some things in this book: I really did not get the main friendship, for me it was... strange. I do NOT like how Izzy came to know her best friend's crush and did not telle her ANYTHING about it, and then started to hang out with him and her sister and still not telling her ANYTHING about it. Maybe it's me, but I would never keep a secret like that from a person that I consider my best friend in the world.
In the end, everything went fine, also because of some traumatic events that I won't say because of spoilers, but still it hurt me a little bit to see how the two characters' friendship was sometimes just simply opportunistic. No, not for me.
The romance was a bit fast, but Sam was sweet, and I loved how loyal and nice he was towards Izzy and her family. At the end he just became the sweetest teenage ever.
I also get why the author left an aura of mystery about the future of their relationship, and I completely understand that. They're teenagers, life change.
The book is a really quick read, if you like YA books and contemporaries in general and I'm glad I had the chance to read it in advance.
I was provided with a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishing house, Algonquin Young Readers, in exchange for an honest review.
A full review of this book can be found here
I have to say I quite enjoyed this book. "How to build a heart" talks about Izzy, a young Latin-American girl. Her father was in the military, and because of that she is used to moving. But now she has found some friends in Virginia, she has settled in her new school, and she also met a boy. When she gets the chance to settle for good, Izzy starts to think that maybe there is hope for her too.
I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book: the representation in this book was REALLY good, and I love to see how YA books deal with themes like this. I also enjoyed how the romance was not the main focus of this book. Sam, our love interest, was one of the main characters, but the focus was not on him. The story is about a teenage girl finding her place in the world, thanks to her family, her friends, her boyfriend, but most importantly herself.
Sadly, I was not a fan of some things in this book: I really did not get the main friendship, for me it was... strange. I do NOT like how Izzy came to know her best friend's crush and did not telle her ANYTHING about it, and then started to hang out with him and her sister and still not telling her ANYTHING about it. Maybe it's me, but I would never keep a secret like that from a person that I consider my best friend in the world.
In the end, everything went fine, also because of some traumatic events that I won't say because of spoilers, but still it hurt me a little bit to see how the two characters' friendship was sometimes just simply opportunistic. No, not for me.
The romance was a bit fast, but Sam was sweet, and I loved how loyal and nice he was towards Izzy and her family. At the end he just became the sweetest teenage ever.
I also get why the author left an aura of mystery about the future of their relationship, and I completely understand that. They're teenagers, life change.
The book is a really quick read, if you like YA books and contemporaries in general and I'm glad I had the chance to read it in advance.
September 22, 2019
What an absolutely amazing, beautiful, emotional book. The characters really shine in this story. Izzy is a character you really feel for. She was three-dimensional and realistic. It was a nice change having her be the more confident one and her love interest be a little shyer! And Mami is such an amazing character. Made me get emotional in some places.
I would've liked to hear a little more about Aubrey's depression, and how mental health doesn't discriminate between classes. Aubrey is definitely better off than Izzy in terms of wealth, but Izzy doesn't have depression, and I just think that would've been worthwhile to explore.
Roz is such a valuable side character. Her whole plot is so sad but hopeful at the same time. Ugh, the scene near the end hurt to read. This book tackles so many big topics but does it in a sensitive and sincere way, nothing is just for shock value.
Honestly, this is a book I think everybody should read because it gives a lot of insight into Izzy's life. I learned a lot about Habitat for Humanity and how important it is for so many families. And honestly, I want Izzy as a friend because she's such a kind person. The characters in this book really make it what it is!
Trigger warnings abound:
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I would've liked to hear a little more about Aubrey's depression, and how mental health doesn't discriminate between classes. Aubrey is definitely better off than Izzy in terms of wealth, but Izzy doesn't have depression, and I just think that would've been worthwhile to explore.
Roz is such a valuable side character. Her whole plot is so sad but hopeful at the same time. Ugh, the scene near the end hurt to read. This book tackles so many big topics but does it in a sensitive and sincere way, nothing is just for shock value.
Honestly, this is a book I think everybody should read because it gives a lot of insight into Izzy's life. I learned a lot about Habitat for Humanity and how important it is for so many families. And honestly, I want Izzy as a friend because she's such a kind person. The characters in this book really make it what it is!
Trigger warnings abound:
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
January 25, 2020
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Received an arc from NetGalley for an honest review.
This book was great, and a lot better than I originally was made out to believe. I thought this was one of those young adult contemporaries that could get lost among the rest but this book provided something that the others did not: Characters I care deeply about, a plot that connected all the characters and made everything interesting, the call out on racism, and the importance of family and friends. Another thing I enjoyed was the romance. It was pure and just cute!
This book also packed a punch! Of many multitudes. Like I previously mentioned, it called out the blatant racism from Isabella's Grandma, and how even from a young age Isabella knew it was wrong. Her dad ended up leaving the family because of it (not a major spoiler I promise). There was diversity, with multiple examples of integration of different languages (which was so cool and made it more real to life) and the culture brought by Isabella's mother, all so great!! I also loved the Habitat for Humanity storyline, it was unique and something I personally haven't seen done before in a young adult book. It's something I knew of already, but it's important to introduce it to younger people because it's an amazing thing.
Overall, this book was great and I would very much recommend it to anyone looking for a heart-wrenching yet heart warming young adult contemporary!
Received an arc from NetGalley for an honest review.
This book was great, and a lot better than I originally was made out to believe. I thought this was one of those young adult contemporaries that could get lost among the rest but this book provided something that the others did not: Characters I care deeply about, a plot that connected all the characters and made everything interesting, the call out on racism, and the importance of family and friends. Another thing I enjoyed was the romance. It was pure and just cute!
This book also packed a punch! Of many multitudes. Like I previously mentioned, it called out the blatant racism from Isabella's Grandma, and how even from a young age Isabella knew it was wrong. Her dad ended up leaving the family because of it (not a major spoiler I promise). There was diversity, with multiple examples of integration of different languages (which was so cool and made it more real to life) and the culture brought by Isabella's mother, all so great!! I also loved the Habitat for Humanity storyline, it was unique and something I personally haven't seen done before in a young adult book. It's something I knew of already, but it's important to introduce it to younger people because it's an amazing thing.
Overall, this book was great and I would very much recommend it to anyone looking for a heart-wrenching yet heart warming young adult contemporary!
December 21, 2019
Make sure you have some kleenex handy for this one.
Read
February 20, 2020
“'You know, you fight with your mother. But your dad's the one you're really mad at.'
'That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. How could I be angry with my father? He can't help being dead.'
'Same reason I'm mad at mine. For not being here.'
'Yours walked out. Mine got blown up. Really not the same.'”
~HOW TO BUILD A HEART
HOW TO BUILD A HEART was one of the first books I picked up to read in 2020, and it touched me in ways that I wasn't anticipating. I am still thinking about it a month later, and now that it is officially out in the world, I've been foisting it on anyone who will listen. So today, my lucky readers, it's your turn! ^.~
One of the most intriguing things about this novel is its centerpiece: The main character, Izzy Crawford, and her family are chosen as recipients of a Habitat for Humanity house. I haven't read any book from this perspective before, and I loved seeing the world through Izzy's eyes. I more regularly see books where teens either volunteer for Habitat for Humanity or are forced to help as community service. Never have I seen the organization through a recipient's eyes. (I'm sure they're out there; I just personally haven't come across or read one!) On top of that, Izzy is a teenager, and appearances are important. She doesn't want her rich classmates to know just how poor she is or the details of her family's past. Her father was killed in action overseas six years ago, and ever since, her widowed mother has moved her and her now-six year old brother from place to place, working multiple jobs, and struggling to make ends meet. The family currently lives in a trailer, and the area isn't always the safest, especially when Izzy's best friend Roz is getting beat on across the street by her mother's abusive boyfriend. Becoming a Habitat for Humanity recipient would be life-changing for the family, and while her mother and brother are fully on-board, Izzy's feelings are so much more complex.
On top of all that, the new house is near where Roz's crush Sam Shackelton lives. Roz has dragged Izzy out to the area on multiple occasions to creepily see what he is up to, and she would flip if she found out that Izzy would be living so close to him. Izzy also can't bring herself to tell Roz that she has now met Sam, and that she's become friends with his sister at school, and is slowly developing a crush on Sam herself -- but unlike Roz, who has only ever seen him from afar, actually knows him.
There are a lot of different issues and relationships at play in HOW TO BUILD A HEART, and the book isn't always easy or breezy, but it's impossible to put down as readers let Izzy into their hearts and go through everything with her. It is a book about belonging, a book about family, a book about navigating your way both in school, at home, and in life in general. It captures that quintessential period of a teen's life where so much is changing and out of one's control, and so much growing up and happening without even realizing it, and Izzy's journey will resonate with so many teens out there.
Also, this is one of those books where you need tissues, and I can't tell you why because #spoilers, but I was happy-crying like a baby towards the end because there is a scene that just punched me in all the feels in the best possible way!
I am so glad I randomly picked up HOW TO BUILD A HEART off a pile of books to read, because Izzy's story is so important, and I hope this book is embraced by teachers and librarians and booksellers and shared with real teens, because it does a lot of good, and so many readers will be able to see themselves in Izzy through at least one of the many things she is dealing with and going through.
'That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. How could I be angry with my father? He can't help being dead.'
'Same reason I'm mad at mine. For not being here.'
'Yours walked out. Mine got blown up. Really not the same.'”
~HOW TO BUILD A HEART
HOW TO BUILD A HEART was one of the first books I picked up to read in 2020, and it touched me in ways that I wasn't anticipating. I am still thinking about it a month later, and now that it is officially out in the world, I've been foisting it on anyone who will listen. So today, my lucky readers, it's your turn! ^.~
One of the most intriguing things about this novel is its centerpiece: The main character, Izzy Crawford, and her family are chosen as recipients of a Habitat for Humanity house. I haven't read any book from this perspective before, and I loved seeing the world through Izzy's eyes. I more regularly see books where teens either volunteer for Habitat for Humanity or are forced to help as community service. Never have I seen the organization through a recipient's eyes. (I'm sure they're out there; I just personally haven't come across or read one!) On top of that, Izzy is a teenager, and appearances are important. She doesn't want her rich classmates to know just how poor she is or the details of her family's past. Her father was killed in action overseas six years ago, and ever since, her widowed mother has moved her and her now-six year old brother from place to place, working multiple jobs, and struggling to make ends meet. The family currently lives in a trailer, and the area isn't always the safest, especially when Izzy's best friend Roz is getting beat on across the street by her mother's abusive boyfriend. Becoming a Habitat for Humanity recipient would be life-changing for the family, and while her mother and brother are fully on-board, Izzy's feelings are so much more complex.
On top of all that, the new house is near where Roz's crush Sam Shackelton lives. Roz has dragged Izzy out to the area on multiple occasions to creepily see what he is up to, and she would flip if she found out that Izzy would be living so close to him. Izzy also can't bring herself to tell Roz that she has now met Sam, and that she's become friends with his sister at school, and is slowly developing a crush on Sam herself -- but unlike Roz, who has only ever seen him from afar, actually knows him.
There are a lot of different issues and relationships at play in HOW TO BUILD A HEART, and the book isn't always easy or breezy, but it's impossible to put down as readers let Izzy into their hearts and go through everything with her. It is a book about belonging, a book about family, a book about navigating your way both in school, at home, and in life in general. It captures that quintessential period of a teen's life where so much is changing and out of one's control, and so much growing up and happening without even realizing it, and Izzy's journey will resonate with so many teens out there.
Also, this is one of those books where you need tissues, and I can't tell you why because #spoilers, but I was happy-crying like a baby towards the end because there is a scene that just punched me in all the feels in the best possible way!
I am so glad I randomly picked up HOW TO BUILD A HEART off a pile of books to read, because Izzy's story is so important, and I hope this book is embraced by teachers and librarians and booksellers and shared with real teens, because it does a lot of good, and so many readers will be able to see themselves in Izzy through at least one of the many things she is dealing with and going through.
December 28, 2019
Book: How To Build A Heart
Author: Maria Padian
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers, for sending me an ARC.
So, this book has been on my radar for about a year now. The publisher has been talking about this book with me saying that they think that I will really enjoy it. They were right. Yes, I do normally read more fantasy than anything, but I do like hard hitting contemporaries and this is just what I’m looking for. Whenever I’m reading a contemporary I do expect an easier read, but I also want to get something out of it. Yes, I do like cute reads and there was a lot of cute parts here, but I want it to mean something. This book gave me that punch that I am looking for. We have a super cute romance, but we also have real issues at hand here.
So this follows Izzy who is a high school girl pretty much from the wrong part of town. She attends a Catholic school where everyone seems to have everything. She keeps saying that she’s not ashamed of who she is, but she does seem to hide it. I can see a lot of people being upset by this, but she is a sixteen year old girl surrounded by rich people. Their world seems so prefect and hers doesn’t. I mean, think back to when you were sixteen. I bet you may have tried to do something similar if you were in her shoes.
I really enjoyed the family element of this story. Izzy is multi-cultural. Her mother is from Puerto Rico and her dad is from the south. Not only do we have that going on, but her father was killed in the service. So now she is being raised in a single parent home. They really don’t see anything of their other family members so they are pretty much on their own. They are picked for Habit for Humanity, which is supposed to be a good thing. However, Izzy doesn’t want word to get about this. I can see a lot of people labeling Izzy as a brat about this, but just remember what we know about her character. Also think back to when you were a teenager.
I just really love the strength and seeing how the characters bond throughout the book. To me, it’s the characters that really made this book. We see how they all need each other and how sometimes you really do have to let go of toxic people. I like how they always manage to find their way back to each other.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. This is going to be one of my blog’s spotlight books in January, so check it out.
So, this book comes out on January 28, 2020.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/fRc8rNMXMqE
Author: Maria Padian
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers, for sending me an ARC.
So, this book has been on my radar for about a year now. The publisher has been talking about this book with me saying that they think that I will really enjoy it. They were right. Yes, I do normally read more fantasy than anything, but I do like hard hitting contemporaries and this is just what I’m looking for. Whenever I’m reading a contemporary I do expect an easier read, but I also want to get something out of it. Yes, I do like cute reads and there was a lot of cute parts here, but I want it to mean something. This book gave me that punch that I am looking for. We have a super cute romance, but we also have real issues at hand here.
So this follows Izzy who is a high school girl pretty much from the wrong part of town. She attends a Catholic school where everyone seems to have everything. She keeps saying that she’s not ashamed of who she is, but she does seem to hide it. I can see a lot of people being upset by this, but she is a sixteen year old girl surrounded by rich people. Their world seems so prefect and hers doesn’t. I mean, think back to when you were sixteen. I bet you may have tried to do something similar if you were in her shoes.
I really enjoyed the family element of this story. Izzy is multi-cultural. Her mother is from Puerto Rico and her dad is from the south. Not only do we have that going on, but her father was killed in the service. So now she is being raised in a single parent home. They really don’t see anything of their other family members so they are pretty much on their own. They are picked for Habit for Humanity, which is supposed to be a good thing. However, Izzy doesn’t want word to get about this. I can see a lot of people labeling Izzy as a brat about this, but just remember what we know about her character. Also think back to when you were a teenager.
I just really love the strength and seeing how the characters bond throughout the book. To me, it’s the characters that really made this book. We see how they all need each other and how sometimes you really do have to let go of toxic people. I like how they always manage to find their way back to each other.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. This is going to be one of my blog’s spotlight books in January, so check it out.
So, this book comes out on January 28, 2020.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/fRc8rNMXMqE
December 11, 2019
thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
oh man. this was too good. it's the second book i read that includes a parent that died in ~action~ but just as interesting!
so this book was focused more on family with the romance as a subplot but i really enjoyed seeing how izzy eventually found herself.
i totally understand why izzy kept everything a secret but as mark said, if someone doesn't like her for "being poor" then she's better off without them. i adored every single (main) character and how willing they all were to help out. my heart truly goes out to roz, she's just a misunderstood teenager that deserves better. truly admire how hardworking izzy's mom was. she only ever wanted the best for her children and that's a truly admirable quality in a person.
i cried. really pulls on your heartstrings, especially when it came to dealing with her dad's side of the family.
10/10 definitely recommend this book.
oh man. this was too good. it's the second book i read that includes a parent that died in ~action~ but just as interesting!
so this book was focused more on family with the romance as a subplot but i really enjoyed seeing how izzy eventually found herself.
i totally understand why izzy kept everything a secret but as mark said, if someone doesn't like her for "being poor" then she's better off without them. i adored every single (main) character and how willing they all were to help out. my heart truly goes out to roz, she's just a misunderstood teenager that deserves better. truly admire how hardworking izzy's mom was. she only ever wanted the best for her children and that's a truly admirable quality in a person.
i cried. really pulls on your heartstrings, especially when it came to dealing with her dad's side of the family.
10/10 definitely recommend this book.
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