Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

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[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 A. Pepe tells the story of Mary Grace and her younger brother, Donny. Although Donny’s Down syndrome diagnosis has complicated the family’s life somewhat, they do not view his differences negatively; in fact, if anything, they tend to view them in a positive light. However, when Mary Grace and Donny move to a new school, they quickly find that not all people are as accepting of these differences as one would hope. As a result, not only must Mary Grace adapt to her new school environment, but she must also solve the mystery of the anonymous bully in her class.

This book was excellent in a variety of ways. For instance, the plot was incredibly engaging, as were the characters in this book. Each character was well-written, with complex personalities and motivations that made the narrative feel even more impactful and important. Further, I loved the author’s ability to examine the causes and consequences of bullying within the framework of a children’s novel. If you are paying attention as you read this book, you are certain to learn something.

I struggled to find anything that I disliked about this book. In fact, I was unable to find any errors at all. The spelling, grammar, and punctuation were great, and it was clear that this book has been thoughtfully and beautifully written.

I have decided to rate Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine A. Pepe 5 out of 5 stars. This book was excellent in every way, and it also had an amazing overall message. There were no errors, and the book as a whole was extremely well-edited. As a result, an “excellent” rating seemed more than fair.

I would recommend this book primarily to younger readers, but I also believe that it would be enjoyable for most adults. If bullying in general, the bullying of children with special needs, and/or threats of violence might be triggering to you or your child, I would not recommend reading this book. Otherwise, I truly believe that there is something in this book for everyone.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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