Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[Olivia Bird Whitworth]

[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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I really enjoyed reading Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures. Written by Catherine Anna Pepe, this book delves into complex topics like moving, disabilities, and bullying. With so much potential for discussion, this would make a fantastic book for a book club! I would recommend it to an older elementary school group, but middle school groups might also enjoy reading this book.

Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures follows Mary Grace and her brother, Donny, on their journey to California. Mary Grace learns early in the book that her parents have been called by their church to serve people in Africa for two years. Because of this, she and Donny have to travel far from their Kansas home to live with their grandparents in California. Even though she loves visiting her grandparents and doesn’t want to hurt their feelings, Mary Grace isn’t ready to leave behind her friends and school, especially not right before fifth grade graduation!

Once they reach California, Mary Grace begins adjusting to life at a new school. Donny loves his class, and Mary Grace likes hers too, until some big challenges come up. Will she be able to sort everything out and keep her new friends?

There were so many positive aspects to this book. I love how tactfully Catherine A. Pepe addresses the topic of bullying. She shows how a harsh situation can be handled with sensitivity. She also shows that even a bully deserves to be treated fairly. I love how creative the characters were in trying to solve the bullying mystery.

This is also a great book for talking about Down syndrome. There are some ways in which Donny acts differently than kids his age typically would, but he is always treated well by the adults and friends in his life. These examples help teach kids (and adults) how to interact with those around them who have disabilities.

The only thing about this book that I would change is that some of the characters lack depth. For instance, the teachers wait for the principal and school board to tell them what to do instead of taking initiative themselves. I would have appreciated more development of these teachers because they are important to the story.

Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn a little more about Down syndrome or how to handle complicated situations at school. It is exceptionally well-edited and contains no misspellings or typos. The reading level is perfect for fifth graders, but this book is a nice read for people of all ages.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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[MsH2k]

I enjoyed how the characters in this story addressed difficult situations with patience and an open mind. It was also encouraging to see grandmas and fifth graders getting along so well.

Thank you for your thorough review and recommendation.