Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[pokey Jake]

[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 the Miller children's adventures. Ten-year-old Mary Grace Miller resides in Kansas with her parents and her brother Donny, who has Down syndrome and is five years old. The Miller family is a happy, healthy family with strong bonds amongst members. But when Mary Grace's parents choose to spend two years serving as missionaries in Kenya, Africa, everything changes. Mary Grace's brother and she will have to travel to California to live with their grandparents until her parents get back. Mary Grace reacts negatively to this news and thinks it's the worst thing that has happened to them. She puts on a brave face and reluctantly travels to California because she has no other choice and because she loves her brother. But California is so different from Kansas that she ends up making friends with strangers and even attempting to solve a mystery there. Read this book to learn more about her exploits.

I adore how Donny is cared for by the entire family. They all support him in doing the things he likes, as they know what he enjoys. I'm not sure why Mary Grace's mother and grandfather would refer to her as a "boy" at times. Not only that, but I disliked the thought of sending your 5-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl anywhere alone when they aren't accompanied. This book was edited flawlessly, and there were no typographical errors. 

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 because of how it addresses bullying head-on in a really powerful way. The author demonstrates how Mary Grace tries to identify the bully and defend her brother by using her knowledge and abilities. 

I recommend the book to young readers, particularly those who enjoy figuring out mysteries. This book might also be fascinating to readers who have siblings with disabilities because it teaches understanding and love.
 
 
 

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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