Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
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Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
Mary Grace Miller, ten years old, isn't happy that her parents have to go to Africa for two years. She and her five-year-old brother, Donny, will stay with their grandparents in California. Donny has the most positive outlook on things and is ready to treat everything as an adventure. He's always quick to proclaim, "This is the happiest day of my life!" Mary Grace, on the other hand, is hesitant. She's sad about the separation from her parents, having to leave her friends, and going to a new school. Most of all, she's worried about Donny, who has Down syndrome.
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure by Catherine Anna Pepe follows their adventure in California. Mary Grace, who already had trouble adjusting to the move from Kansas, is bullied at her new school. Who is behind the bullying? She, with the help of the Grandma Gang, is out to solve this new mystery and ensure that she, her brother, and her friend, Penelope, don't get hurt.
I found a lot of things to love about this book. To begin with, I love the way Donny's T-shirt on the cover page proclaims "I love California!" while Mary Grace's counters with "Not so much." That is such a perfect portrayal of their feelings. California will have to grow on Mary Grace. The others in the picture are La Shana (a former sheriff), Grandma Cathy (a former lawyer), and Elizabeth (a karate instructor). They are the Grandma Gang. They independently solved a mystery before and earned the title.
That brings me to the best part of all—the book's mystery aspect. The Grandma Gang, with their crucial input, was a wonderful part of this. I especially liked the distinct explanation of the different forms of bullying, the careful investigation into it, and the thoughtful way in which everything was handled, which made the story feel as real as possible. The inclusion of Lucky (Lucky the Penguin) and the mention of the Wichita Riverfest, among other things, only added to that.
Additionally, different lessons were seamlessly incorporated into this story. I've already mentioned that bullying was delved into in detail, but there's more; the personalities of the children, for instance. Mary Grace is kind and empathetic, and her nature will inspire children who read this book. And Donny, who wouldn't love Donny? He's my favorite character.
I didn't find anything to dislike about Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure, and I'm happy to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. Catherine A. Pepe mentions that, although this story is fictional, some parts of it were inspired by real-life experiences. She had a younger brother, Donny, who had Down syndrome. She accurately portrays the core character, Donny, and raises awareness of Down syndrome because of this. I found this book to be well edited. I recommend it to children above the age of eight, teachers, and parents alike.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
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