Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
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OB Brian
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- Latest Review: Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure by Catherine A. Pepe
Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Down Syndrome is a genetic condition in which body cells contain three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two copies. The medics call it trisomy 21. People with this condition typically have small heads, short necks, protruding tongues, etc. Slow speech and a lower IQ are examples of mental problems that come with Down Syndrome. Anyway, I will end my lecture in genetics here before some of you start yawning!
Mary Grace, the lead protagonist in Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure by Catherine A. Pepe, has a younger brother, Donny, who has Down Syndrome. In a word, Donny is sweet! He loves his parents, sister, grandparents, friends, the penguins at the zoo, and most importantly, his marbles! Donny is always smiling, and each day is the best day of his life. His family, especially Mary Grace, will go to great lengths to ensure that he remains joyful. When their parents relocate to Africa for a two-year missionary expedition, Mary Grace and Donny have to leave Wichita and move to their grandparents' ranch in California. With the change of residence comes a new adventure that Mary Grace did not see coming!
The principal theme that presents itself in the book is the love of family. Mary Grace's tiger-like protectiveness of her brother, her grandparents' joy upon seeing their grandchildren, and their parents' distress at getting separated from the children for two years stand as evidence. Other themes include growing up, separation, change, friendship, and bullying, mainly from a youngster's perspective.
What I loved most about this work is how the author builds the characters. For instance, Mary Grace is a thoughtful and protective girl with a brain for mystery-solving, while Donny is a blissful kid who can turn anyone's bad day upside down. And the author spares no effort in describing the characters to bring out their traits! Additionally, she uses simple English, which makes this book an easy read.
I rate Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure 4 out of 4 stars. The editing team did a commendable job as I only came across a single error in the ninety-eight pages of the book. Besides, the story is both educational and entertaining. Consequently, it deserves a perfect rating. I recommend it to parents with children aged between five and fifteen. Kids will learn a thing or two about how to handle bullies or avoid trouble at school. Plus, the elderly will find this read appealing since it touches on their relationship with youngsters and each other.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Down Syndrome is a genetic condition in which body cells contain three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two copies. The medics call it trisomy 21. People with this condition typically have small heads, short necks, protruding tongues, etc. Slow speech and a lower IQ are examples of mental problems that come with Down Syndrome. Anyway, I will end my lecture in genetics here before some of you start yawning!
Mary Grace, the lead protagonist in Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure by Catherine A. Pepe, has a younger brother, Donny, who has Down Syndrome. In a word, Donny is sweet! He loves his parents, sister, grandparents, friends, the penguins at the zoo, and most importantly, his marbles! Donny is always smiling, and each day is the best day of his life. His family, especially Mary Grace, will go to great lengths to ensure that he remains joyful. When their parents relocate to Africa for a two-year missionary expedition, Mary Grace and Donny have to leave Wichita and move to their grandparents' ranch in California. With the change of residence comes a new adventure that Mary Grace did not see coming!
The principal theme that presents itself in the book is the love of family. Mary Grace's tiger-like protectiveness of her brother, her grandparents' joy upon seeing their grandchildren, and their parents' distress at getting separated from the children for two years stand as evidence. Other themes include growing up, separation, change, friendship, and bullying, mainly from a youngster's perspective.
What I loved most about this work is how the author builds the characters. For instance, Mary Grace is a thoughtful and protective girl with a brain for mystery-solving, while Donny is a blissful kid who can turn anyone's bad day upside down. And the author spares no effort in describing the characters to bring out their traits! Additionally, she uses simple English, which makes this book an easy read.
I rate Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure 4 out of 4 stars. The editing team did a commendable job as I only came across a single error in the ninety-eight pages of the book. Besides, the story is both educational and entertaining. Consequently, it deserves a perfect rating. I recommend it to parents with children aged between five and fifteen. Kids will learn a thing or two about how to handle bullies or avoid trouble at school. Plus, the elderly will find this read appealing since it touches on their relationship with youngsters and each other.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Cheryl Erickson
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- Latest Review: The Caroler by Liza Martini
This sounds like a wonderful family book for all ages. It can also be used to educate about the affable, loving children that are born with Down Syndrome. Thank you for a great review.
Latest Review: The Caroler by Liza Martini
