Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure

[Misael Carlos]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure" by Catherine A. Pepe.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Mary Grace Miller panics when his younger brother goes missing; Donny is just beside their parents when she goes back to the penguin exhibit to get his favorite blanket. She realizes the zoo is not a safe place for kids, especially for her brother who has Down syndrome. Her parents always say Mary Grace has a knack for solving mysteries; how will she find Donny? Faced with challenges like this, how will she figure out how to handle them as they arise? Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventure by Catherine A. Pepe presents the adventures of a bright and witty young girl as she takes care of her brother who has special needs.

The characters were lovable and possess a good sense of humor. Moreover, the characters' personalities and behavior were relatable; many girls would be able to see themselves in Mary Grace and her friends. I liked her character the most; her maturity at such a young age was endearing.

The author's amazing narrative transported me to whatever the Miller family was doing; the way they looked out for each other was heart-warming. There were many positive attitudes that the author wanted to impart, and young readers will surely benefit from this book. Children’s books usually provide good moral values; this one did not disappoint. Moreover, it would enhance critical thinking skills among young readers since the story involved solving problems or mysteries.

The book presented a story about a genetic disorder, but it was taken on a positive note; it provided the readers the opportunity to know more about Down syndrome and how to deal with persons suffering from it. Also, a sensitive and timely issue was tackled: bullying. The author’s experience as an attorney lent credibility to her handling of the issue. I particularly liked how Pepe came up with innovative ways of finding solutions to problems faced by each character; they were believable and realistic. The author’s sense of humor was evident; her narrative drew some smiles and laughter from me.

On the downside, there were minimal grammatical errors, mostly about missing quotation marks.

The book is informative and engaging. The minimum grammatical errors did not distract a smooth reading experience, which led me to believe it was professionally proofread. Thus, I give Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventure by Catherine A. Pepe 4 out of 4 stars.

It is a children’s book, but I think it is for everyone because the moral values it provided are universal regardless of age. If you like intriguing or complex stories, you have to look elsewhere.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
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[OTrain Disene]

Wow! Such books filled with complex characters. I love that the Down syndrome wasn't the focal point of the book. I think this is different and would force readers to learn to appreciate people more. Thank you for the insightful review.

[Valeria Riveraa]

I must say I haven't seen a pure form of sibling love emitting from characters as it does from Donny and Mary Grace. I love that Mary Grace does not limit Donny to the things he can do or even consider him as disabled. I love everything about this book. Thanks for the review.

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

I enjoyed this book. I love the joyful character of Donny and the responsible character of Mary Grace. The mystery in this book was resolved properly. I like how the Grandma Gang and the School staff resolved the issue of bullying. The author intelligently narrated this book full of moral lessons. Your review is wonderful!

[Bettny Andrade]

I have seen so many positive reviews about this book, I am very excited to read it, I will definitely read it soon.

Children's books should provide good teaching, and highlight values, this book is a great example.

Thanks for your review.

[Anastasia Baglay]

Thank you for your honest review! Now I would like to take a closer look to this book.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I also enjoyed reading this book and believe it's for everyone too, not just children. The bullying aspect really resonated with me, and I love how it was handled. I'm glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did.

[Orji cyril Kaluokoro]

Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure is a captivating story about a young girl named Mary Grace Miller who takes care of her brother, Donny, who goes missing at the zoo. The story revolves around the Miller family, who are a loving and witty group who care for their brother with Down syndrome. The author's narrative is heartwarming, with the family's love for each other being heartwarming. The story also touches on the topic of bullying, a sensitive issue that the author tackles with the help of her experience as an attorney.

The characters' personalities and behavior are relatable, making it easy for readers to relate to them. The author's sense of humor is evident throughout the story, drawing laughter from the readers. However, there are some grammatical errors, mainly related to missing quotation marks. Despite these issues, the book is informative and engaging, with minimal grammatical errors that do not distract from the overall reading experience. Overall, Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure is a must-read for young readers interested in understanding the challenges faced by individuals with Down syndrome and the importance of critical thinking.