Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[Benjamin Akuboh]

[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 is not your average family story. It's about Mary Grace and her special little brother, Donny, as well as their parents. When duty calls, their parents have to go off to Africa for a couple of years. The children have to give up the comfort and stability of their city to move to an entirely different state to live with their grandparents.

Leaving all their friends and their lives behind, the children, as expected, end up having some issues fitting in at their new school. With that comes the full experience. Will they ever fit in? Would Mary Grace miss her hometown as much as she expects to? Would she be able to look out for herself and especially her little brother? It's up to her and her loving grandparents to ensure that she does.

It's difficult not to love this masterpiece. The author takes such a relevant and uncomfortable issue and comes up with a brilliant story to drive the lesson home. It is a short book, but it has a million lessons to teach readers. These lessons include the importance of speaking up against bullying and how to love and show empathy for people who may not deserve it on the surface. Donny's optimism is so touching, and it is a reminder that it is always possible to see the bright side in any situation. I also enjoyed the genuine friendship that developed between the children and the grandma gang.

I have to give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It helps that it is short, so you literally don't have to put it down if you have an hour or two to spare. The plot is easy to follow, and each character has their own unique characteristics. It promises to elicit all the emotions that make us feel 'alive'. The editing was top-notch, as I found no errors at all. One criticism I have of the book is that since it's short anyway, a few more illustrations would have been lovely to keep the kids entertained and also feed their imaginative curiosity. The penguin dance or the Dr. Seuss poems would have been great opportunities for that. It still takes nothing away from my rating.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a story with adventures, mysteries, and the 'superpower' of kindness.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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