Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure

Oluwatosin Balogun · Post by **Oluwatosin Balogun** » 22 Jul 2022, 21:15

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

4 out of 4 stars

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Mary Grace is a 10-year-old girl who is wise and outspoken. She has a brother, whom she loves so much. She does not hesitate to show him this. Donny (her brother) suffers from Down syndrome, but the family still loves him. Their family is full of love. Just when Mary Grace thinks they are all happy, her parents announce they are moving to Africa temporarily. It’s bad news alright, but it becomes even worse when her parents announce they won’t be coming along with them. They are going to California to live with their grandparents. This doesn’t sit well with Mary Grace. Donny, however, loves this idea. It’s the first time she and her brother had different views about anything. How do they work this out? Who turns out to be right? Is California worth it after all? Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventure by Catherine A. Pepe is an exciting children’s book that promises a great deal of fun and thrills.

I have always enjoyed children’s stories for their peaceful delivery and subtle lessons to be taught. This book gave exactly that, plus greater lessons that even adults can learn from. The characters in the book were realistic and lovable. They all played a prominent role in the story. Mary Grace was just 10, yet she seemed too smart for her age. Her character amused me. I also love how her parents and grandparents trained them. They corrected the children when they were wrong in such a gentle and lovable manner. They also complimented the children when they did the right thing. I believe parents can learn from this.

The book tackled issues like change, separation, helping others, bullying, forgiveness, and love. The author explained these issues in a manner children could comprehend. One of my favourite lessons learnt from this book is that every child is normal until we say otherwise. Everyone should award children love, irrespective of their disabilities. It was easy to not notice Donny’s disability because of the way his family treated him.

Everything about the book was remarkable. I disliked nothing about it. It was professionally edited. The story was engaging and there were no errors. I had a pleasant reading experience.

I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was nothing short of beautiful. Reading this charming work, I got more than what I bargained for. This book restores my faith in humanity. It is a progressive addition to my library.

I recommend this book to parents, especially those who have children with disabilities. This book will not only act as a reminder that they are not alone in this, but it will also inspire them to deal with the problems that the kids might face early on. Children and teens will also find this book an exciting read, as it provides delightful twists, mysteries, and adventures. Lovers of children’s stories will love this book as well.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventure
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Meenahhhh · Post by **Meenahhhh** » 17 Aug 2022, 17:45

This is a really well written review. I appreciate the honesty when it comes to your likes and dislikes about the book. Well done!

Bunmi27 · Post by **Bunmi27** » 17 Aug 2022, 17:49

This is a beautiful review. I've read this book and I loved it. Apart from children, adults will also enjoy this book because it's packed with so many lessons and it is interesting too.

Oluwatosin Balogun · Post by **Oluwatosin Balogun** » 18 Aug 2022, 09:00

Meenahhhh wrote: ↑17 Aug 2022, 17:45 This is a really well written review. I appreciate the honesty when it comes to your likes and dislikes about the book. Well done!

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your comment.

Oluwatosin Balogun · Post by **Oluwatosin Balogun** » 18 Aug 2022, 09:01

Bunmi27 wrote: ↑17 Aug 2022, 17:49 This is a beautiful review. I've read this book and I loved it. Apart from children, adults will also enjoy this book because it's packed with so many lessons and it is interesting too.

I learnt a lot from this. I am glad you enjoyed the book too. Thanks for stopping by.

Elijah0007 · Post by **Elijah0007** » 18 Aug 2022, 09:09

I agree. Children books do teach subtle lessons, and I love that it's always ethical as well. Your review is amazing, well done.

Oluwatosin Balogun · Post by **Oluwatosin Balogun** » 18 Aug 2022, 09:16

Elijah0007 wrote: ↑18 Aug 2022, 09:09 I agree. Children books do teach subtle lessons, and I love that it's always ethical as well. Your review is amazing, well done.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comment.