Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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MAUREEN WAMBUI NJUKI
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Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe is an enthralling children's adventure book. As the book begins, the author shares that she has based the book slightly on the life of her late brother Donald who was born with Down Syndrome. Through the book, the author conveys that society should not ostracize people with disability. The book is set around the lives of Mr. John and Mrs. Jen Miller and their two kids, Mary Grace and Donny. Donny was born with Down Syndrome, but his family loves him so much. The family shares happy moments towards the end of summer when Mr. and Mrs. Miller receive news that they are being assigned to work in Africa and will be gone for two years. Sharing this news with their kids is heartbreaking as they must leave them behind. They decide that the kids will stay in California with their grandparents, Grandma Cathy and Papa Steve, at their ranch. The relocation to California is hard on Mary Grace, but Donny is excited about it as he's always had an enthusiastic attitude toward life. They soon enroll in their new school and begin adapting when Mary Grace receives bullying and threatening notes. Their adventures start as Mary Grace, the teachers, and her grandma's group of friends, the Grandma Gang, investigate who could be behind the bullying. Will they find the bully? Will Mary Grace and Donny love their new school, and will they love California?
The book was captivating from start to end. The plot of the book was creative, and the flow was seamless. There was perfect character development, and the author was able to tap into my emotions through vivid descriptions of events and realistic conversations. I loved that the author used simple grammar that children could understand but also threw in a few challenging words for the young readers to broaden their vocabulary. I also loved how the author brought out the contrast between the modern generation and their relationship with their parents from different eras. I think that is something most young readers can relate to. I also love that the book is packed with valuable lessons for kids. Reading the book might help children understand the value of virtues such as honesty, kindness, and courage. There are also lessons that adults, including parents and school administrators, can learn from the book. I appreciate that while it's a children's book, it can still be enjoyed by adults.
The only negative observation I made about the book is that there are not enough pictorial illustrations, given that it's a children's book. I think more pictorial illustrations should be added to keep young readers captivated.
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars since it's well-written, exceptionally well-edited, and communicates a vital message.
I recommend the book to children between the ages of 7 and 15. There are many lessons they'd learn from the book. Adult readers who enjoy reading children's mystery or adventure books would also enjoy it.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe is an enthralling children's adventure book. As the book begins, the author shares that she has based the book slightly on the life of her late brother Donald who was born with Down Syndrome. Through the book, the author conveys that society should not ostracize people with disability. The book is set around the lives of Mr. John and Mrs. Jen Miller and their two kids, Mary Grace and Donny. Donny was born with Down Syndrome, but his family loves him so much. The family shares happy moments towards the end of summer when Mr. and Mrs. Miller receive news that they are being assigned to work in Africa and will be gone for two years. Sharing this news with their kids is heartbreaking as they must leave them behind. They decide that the kids will stay in California with their grandparents, Grandma Cathy and Papa Steve, at their ranch. The relocation to California is hard on Mary Grace, but Donny is excited about it as he's always had an enthusiastic attitude toward life. They soon enroll in their new school and begin adapting when Mary Grace receives bullying and threatening notes. Their adventures start as Mary Grace, the teachers, and her grandma's group of friends, the Grandma Gang, investigate who could be behind the bullying. Will they find the bully? Will Mary Grace and Donny love their new school, and will they love California?
The book was captivating from start to end. The plot of the book was creative, and the flow was seamless. There was perfect character development, and the author was able to tap into my emotions through vivid descriptions of events and realistic conversations. I loved that the author used simple grammar that children could understand but also threw in a few challenging words for the young readers to broaden their vocabulary. I also loved how the author brought out the contrast between the modern generation and their relationship with their parents from different eras. I think that is something most young readers can relate to. I also love that the book is packed with valuable lessons for kids. Reading the book might help children understand the value of virtues such as honesty, kindness, and courage. There are also lessons that adults, including parents and school administrators, can learn from the book. I appreciate that while it's a children's book, it can still be enjoyed by adults.
The only negative observation I made about the book is that there are not enough pictorial illustrations, given that it's a children's book. I think more pictorial illustrations should be added to keep young readers captivated.
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars since it's well-written, exceptionally well-edited, and communicates a vital message.
I recommend the book to children between the ages of 7 and 15. There are many lessons they'd learn from the book. Adult readers who enjoy reading children's mystery or adventure books would also enjoy it.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Praesidium by McKinley Aspen
