Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
Posted: 05 Nov 2022, 16:56
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Mary Grace's California trip beautifully captures the essence of lemonade. As the old saying goes, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
In Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure, Catherine A. Pepe tells the story of the Miller family. Despite the challenges of raising a son with Down syndrome, the author portrays a vibrant, close-knit family with a quality home life. However, this comfort is about to be disrupted as Mr. and Mrs. Miller are given a mission to Africa. This mission would require them to leave their children, Mary Grace and Donny, behind. The plan is for them to have the children move to California to start a new life with their grandparents. Nonetheless, Mary Grace is disappointed, whereas her brother, Donny, is excited about the prospect of a new adventure. So, how would the family cope with these major changes?
While this is a children's book, I believe its content is appropriate for adults. Furthermore, the theme of bullying, which is a major issue in our schools, on the internet, and virtually everywhere, is presented, as are ways of dealing with it. The passages in the book also adequately illustrate other equally relevant sub-themes such as family, friendship, forgiveness, and rehabilitation. Furthermore, the novel's character development has been excellent. For example, readers will instantly fall in love with the witty Mary Grace. This is because she exudes love and intelligence from the very first scene by coordinating the search for her missing little brother.
I have to say that there was nothing I disliked about the book because it was exceptionally well-edited and the characters were carefully curated with strong messages. Additionally, I marveled at the mystery introduced, which added suspense to the story. Similarly, a special mention is due to the ingenious "Grand-Ma Gang" for their display of knowledge, empathy, and resourcefulness in attempting to solve the mystery. For this reason, I rate this book four out of four stars.
I would recommend this novel to parents, young adults, and even teachers who deal with most of the issues expressed in this book. I would also recommend it to anyone struggling with life; it can be a helpful source of inspiration.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Mary Grace's California trip beautifully captures the essence of lemonade. As the old saying goes, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
In Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure, Catherine A. Pepe tells the story of the Miller family. Despite the challenges of raising a son with Down syndrome, the author portrays a vibrant, close-knit family with a quality home life. However, this comfort is about to be disrupted as Mr. and Mrs. Miller are given a mission to Africa. This mission would require them to leave their children, Mary Grace and Donny, behind. The plan is for them to have the children move to California to start a new life with their grandparents. Nonetheless, Mary Grace is disappointed, whereas her brother, Donny, is excited about the prospect of a new adventure. So, how would the family cope with these major changes?
While this is a children's book, I believe its content is appropriate for adults. Furthermore, the theme of bullying, which is a major issue in our schools, on the internet, and virtually everywhere, is presented, as are ways of dealing with it. The passages in the book also adequately illustrate other equally relevant sub-themes such as family, friendship, forgiveness, and rehabilitation. Furthermore, the novel's character development has been excellent. For example, readers will instantly fall in love with the witty Mary Grace. This is because she exudes love and intelligence from the very first scene by coordinating the search for her missing little brother.
I have to say that there was nothing I disliked about the book because it was exceptionally well-edited and the characters were carefully curated with strong messages. Additionally, I marveled at the mystery introduced, which added suspense to the story. Similarly, a special mention is due to the ingenious "Grand-Ma Gang" for their display of knowledge, empathy, and resourcefulness in attempting to solve the mystery. For this reason, I rate this book four out of four stars.
I would recommend this novel to parents, young adults, and even teachers who deal with most of the issues expressed in this book. I would also recommend it to anyone struggling with life; it can be a helpful source of inspiration.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kudos to the author for combining carefully curated characters, strong messages, and even a bit of mystery into this children's book. Thank you for your excellent review and recommendation.