Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
Posted: 18 Apr 2023, 12:47
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Catherine Anna Pepe's Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures is a fun story about family, friendship, and learning to deal with change. Mary Grace is an energetic young girl who loves spending time with her friends in Wichita and taking care of her brother, Donny, who has Down syndrome. One day after school, Mary Grace and Donny's parents tell them that they are moving to Africa for two years to help people get clean water. This means that the kids will be moving to California to live with their grandparents. At first, Mary Grace is sad because she knows she will miss Kansas and her parents a lot. But as she and Donny become more settled in their new California lifestyle, they realize that change isn't always a bad thing.
One positive of this book is that the language is very simple and easy to understand, meaning it would be accessible for young readers. The story is engaging and a fun read, but it also deals with important issues such as bullying, life changes, and family support. One possible negative of this book is that some of the topics in the book may be uncomfortable for kids to read about based on their own experience with these things (conflict, trouble at school, etc).
I would rate this book five out of five stars. It would be an engaging read for any young reader and would also introduce them to important ideas and lessons that they can apply to their own life. Additionally, the editing was nearly flawless with only one small error.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Catherine Anna Pepe's Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures is a fun story about family, friendship, and learning to deal with change. Mary Grace is an energetic young girl who loves spending time with her friends in Wichita and taking care of her brother, Donny, who has Down syndrome. One day after school, Mary Grace and Donny's parents tell them that they are moving to Africa for two years to help people get clean water. This means that the kids will be moving to California to live with their grandparents. At first, Mary Grace is sad because she knows she will miss Kansas and her parents a lot. But as she and Donny become more settled in their new California lifestyle, they realize that change isn't always a bad thing.
One positive of this book is that the language is very simple and easy to understand, meaning it would be accessible for young readers. The story is engaging and a fun read, but it also deals with important issues such as bullying, life changes, and family support. One possible negative of this book is that some of the topics in the book may be uncomfortable for kids to read about based on their own experience with these things (conflict, trouble at school, etc).
I would rate this book five out of five stars. It would be an engaging read for any young reader and would also introduce them to important ideas and lessons that they can apply to their own life. Additionally, the editing was nearly flawless with only one small error.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
