Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[Joan Jepchirchir 2]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe is the first of a three-book series called The Grandma Gang Mysteries. I was impressed by this book. The author doesn't patronize her readers, as she respectfully and intelligently addresses a number of themes that are relevant to children.

Mary Grace and her five-year-old Down syndrome brother Donny live in Kansas with their parents. When Mary Grace's parents learn that they will be serving as missionaries in Africa for two years on behalf of their church, Mary Grace is in the sixth grade. She and her brother, Donny, will be staying with their grandparents in California during this time. The author depicts how distressing this change is for Mary Grace, who must say goodbye to her classmates and adjust to a new school. Mary Grace initially finds it more difficult to adjust to her new school than Donny does.

I was most impressed by the author's openness and empathetic handling of the children's feelings throughout the novel. You may experience sadness or rage as a result of events in life, and both emotions are valid. Although the author neither dismisses nor minimizes these emotions, she demonstrates to young readers that it is acceptable to feel this way and offers some solutions.

This masterfully written book constructively addresses a number of societal issues. Discussions about the realities of aging, bullying, and having a sibling with a disability are insightful and responsible. I didn't find any mistakes in the book, and I found the editing superb. There was nothing negative to say about the book. Because of these reasons, I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5.

I recommend this book to older children and younger teenagers. Teachers and parents will also benefit from this book, particularly those who have children who are bullied or who have special needs. Anyone who works with children or interacts with them socially will also find it helpful.
 

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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