Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

Post by **Seetha E** » 11 Aug 2023, 13:04

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

5 out of 5 stars

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures, the first of the Grand Ma Gang Mysteries, was written by Catherine Anna Pepe. The character Donny, based on a real-life Down syndrome boy, is the author's younger brother. I was drawn to this book since it is a children's story with bullying and related sensitivities as its foundation. The author's tone was always compassionate. Mary Grace's love and worry for Donny are nothing but a reflection of the author's own emotions for her brother.

The initial part of the book introduces the happy and content family settled in Wichita, Kansas. The parents are responsible and compassionate. They have raised their children to be like them. While the family is well-settled into a routine and enjoying their trips to the pool and the zoo, the parents have to relocate to Africa in relation to work for the Church. The parents break this news to the kids in the kindest manner imaginable and allow them time to absorb it. It is heart-warming and lovely to read about how they manage their feelings and accept what the circumstances dictate.

The main action in the book revolves around Donny and Mary Grace settling into their new environment. Donny was a forever cheerful and lovable child; he was happy as always, and the migration did not bother him. Ms. Root’s activity ensured Donny had friends from the very first day. The situation was not the same for Mary Grace. She felt lonely and friendless at school and missed her parents, Kansas, and her friends there. The bullying at school made things worse for her. There were three notes left for her. The notes used derogatory words for Donny, threatened her and her friend Penelope, and even asked her to return to where she came from. She found that she could not confide in her parents about her feelings. How does Mary Grace deal with the situation? Will the girl who is good at figuring things out be able to sort this out for herself? What is the role of the Grand Ma Gang, and do things finally settle? It makes for an engaging read.

The pace of the book is just perfect, and so is the writing. I loved the little drawings in between chapters. Donny is such an endearing boy. His joy is infectious and touches you each time the story mentions him. His hugs brought tears of joy. Mary Grace is so mature for her age—in not showing her displeasure about moving to Donny, in not revealing the state of her mind to her parents and saving them the worry, and in tackling the bullying episode as a mystery to be solved. I liked that the book has a few lessons for parents too. I would recommend this book to all age groups.

I did not find anything negative in the entire book. The use of a few derogatory words is essential to the plot to highlight the seriousness of bullying and its underlying issues. Reading a book that is free of errors is a pleasure. Congratulations to the editor and all the other relatives and friends that supported the author. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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VPNair · Post by **VPNair** » 16 Aug 2023, 05:30

Endearing kids Mary and Donny! Standing up for her younger brother with Down's syndrome and standung up for herself too against bullying. Taking right steps at that tender age is a sign or compassionate parenting. I love the review. I would like to read this one.