Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
Posted: 23 Sep 2023, 03:50
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Have you ever felt like your life seemed perfect, only for everything to suddenly change? Have you ever been bullied at school? Have you ever felt different? Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine A. Pepe will shed some light on some of these issues in a captivating and heartwarming story.
Donny Miller is a very positive and cheerful boy who has Down syndrome. His older sister, Mary Grace, is very smart and protective of her brother. They live with their mum and dad in a lovely town called Wichita. They enjoy an amazing summer, going to the zoo and playing together. The children love their lives in Wichita, but everything changes one afternoon. Their parents have been asked by their church to go to Kenya for two years. This means Mary Grace and Donny will move in with their grandma Cathy and Papa Steve in California, leaving their lives behind.
I loved the characters in the story and enjoyed how the family acted very united, even when faced with challenges. It will teach readers about tolerance, family connectedness, and respect. Donny is a delightful boy who brought many smiles to my face. Additionally, I related to Mary Grace, being an older sister and also moving towns around her age. I understood her initial pessimistic reaction to change. It can be very difficult at such an important age. I also enjoyed reading about the Grandma Gang and their stories about solving crimes around California, which was a great introduction to other books in the series.
A very important lesson from the book is that everyone makes mistakes, but it is how we react afterwards that counts most. It shows children that even if they do something wrong, it doesn't define them. The story also helps children understand that not all adult decisions make sense, and it doesn't change how those adults feel about them. It may help young children come to terms with difficult situations, knowing their parents will always love them.
The ending of the book was very heartwarming. It was lovely to see that the author tied the plot together nicely, even for minor characters such as Justin and Tiffany. The book had a lot of inclusive language, portraying disabilities, different backgrounds, and different nationalities.
I would love to award this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's a book I would recommend to all children and people of all ages. The book is full of wisdom, enjoyable, and easy to read and understand. It may help children going through change and other challenges in their lives. Every school library should have a copy of this book.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Have you ever felt like your life seemed perfect, only for everything to suddenly change? Have you ever been bullied at school? Have you ever felt different? Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine A. Pepe will shed some light on some of these issues in a captivating and heartwarming story.
Donny Miller is a very positive and cheerful boy who has Down syndrome. His older sister, Mary Grace, is very smart and protective of her brother. They live with their mum and dad in a lovely town called Wichita. They enjoy an amazing summer, going to the zoo and playing together. The children love their lives in Wichita, but everything changes one afternoon. Their parents have been asked by their church to go to Kenya for two years. This means Mary Grace and Donny will move in with their grandma Cathy and Papa Steve in California, leaving their lives behind.
I loved the characters in the story and enjoyed how the family acted very united, even when faced with challenges. It will teach readers about tolerance, family connectedness, and respect. Donny is a delightful boy who brought many smiles to my face. Additionally, I related to Mary Grace, being an older sister and also moving towns around her age. I understood her initial pessimistic reaction to change. It can be very difficult at such an important age. I also enjoyed reading about the Grandma Gang and their stories about solving crimes around California, which was a great introduction to other books in the series.
A very important lesson from the book is that everyone makes mistakes, but it is how we react afterwards that counts most. It shows children that even if they do something wrong, it doesn't define them. The story also helps children understand that not all adult decisions make sense, and it doesn't change how those adults feel about them. It may help young children come to terms with difficult situations, knowing their parents will always love them.
The ending of the book was very heartwarming. It was lovely to see that the author tied the plot together nicely, even for minor characters such as Justin and Tiffany. The book had a lot of inclusive language, portraying disabilities, different backgrounds, and different nationalities.
I would love to award this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's a book I would recommend to all children and people of all ages. The book is full of wisdom, enjoyable, and easy to read and understand. It may help children going through change and other challenges in their lives. Every school library should have a copy of this book.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I loved your review!
I am glad you also enjoyed the book