Isabella Badia Thornton

Isabella is the 11-year-old daughter of Isaiah and Nicole. By the time this novel takes place, Isaiah and Nicole have been divorced for several years. They all live in Cincinnati, and Isabella splits her time evenly between the two homes. She feels she has an entirely different life with her mother than when she is with her father, with very different homes, rules, and attitudes. Though Isabella often feels torn, she is capable and adaptable. She loves her mother and father, and she hates that they are so often cruel toward each other. She also has a good relationship with her parents' partners, John Mark and Anastasia. She is very close to Anastasia's son, Darren.

Isabella is a good student. She has two close friends at school, a Black girl named Imani and a white girl named Heather. She has a crush on a boy named...