Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[Nnamah]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures is a book about siblings who had to stay back in California while their parents embarked on a mission in Africa. Donny had Down syndrome, so he required extra care. One day, Donny and Mary Grace went to the zoo, and Donny got missing. Donny's parents and siblings searched for him, but they had a hard time keeping their feelings in check while they did. Strangers also opted to help to look for him. When Donny was found, everyone was happy, and his family decided to be more watchful. However, they leave their children in California for two years, and they go to Africa. How watchful can they be from a distance?

While this is a work of fiction, Catherine A. Pepe lets us know that there is a real Donny. She has a sibling with Down syndrome. When her parents got the news about their child, the hospital advised them to keep him in an institution to receive care. However, Donny's parents decided to care for him by themselves. They have shown him love and care. This book was inspired by Donny and children with Down syndrome.

This was an inspiring book, and I enjoyed reading it. Lessons can be learned by adults and children. I liked how this book taught me not to judge a book by its cover. Looking at Mary Grace, there was no indication that she had a brother with Down syndrome. We do not know the things people go through just by their physical appearances. Also, when Donny got lost in the zoo, some cool kids offered to search for him and posted about him on their social media pages. At first, it did not seem genuine to Mary Grace, but she later realized that they truly wanted to help. It was great to read about this act of humanity. When people are in need, knowing that other people have their backs comforts them.

I liked the book cover. The narration was great; it was easy to follow the story. The choice of words made the story understandable, and I am certain that children will not find it difficult to follow this story. I liked that the author included details of her family background. It was very heartwarming to read about. Children will be able to relate to the pain of separating themselves from their parents during school hours. Also, this book teaches us to be kind to everyone. Love is a necessary part of the family. I liked how Donny's parents showered him with love. Whenever they got angry at his action, they quickly reminded themselves that they were angry at his actions and not him.

I did not encounter any errors while reading this book. It was professionally edited. Also, I found no negative aspects worth deducting a star. It is my pleasure to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was a worthy read.

I recommend this book to children and young adults. If you like to read children's stories, then you can read this book.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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[Velson julliey]

Great review, nice job.