Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[Cyndi Morley-Perez]

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

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4 out of 5 stars

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Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures by Catharine A. Pope is a heartwarming story about a strong young girl and her little brother Donny who has Down’s Syndrome. When their parents are asked to go to Africa by their church and the children are sent to live with their grandparents, Mary Grace is not happy. Faced with two years away from her home and friends, things only get worse as she experiences bullying for the first time. Intent to protect her brother and get to the bottom of who is doing it, Mary Grace enlists the help of the Grandma Gang and together they work to solve the problem.


I love how this story approaches the topic of bullying in a brave, investigative way, searching for the reasons behind it and empowering a young girl to fight back in a constructive and empathetic way, all the time protecting her little brother from ever knowing what is happening. Mary Grace overcomes her sadness and does not let the situation get her down. She uses her skills for solving mysteries and comes out happier and stronger than before.


Mary Grace, Donny and all the characters are interesting and lovable. Mary Grace is smart, loving, and cares for her brother with such unselfish strength. Donny is a happy, excited little boy who sees every day as “the best day ever” and accepts new situations with open arms. As I read, I had such a strong image of all the people in the story making me enjoy it even more.


I honestly could not find one thing to dislike about this book. The story was complete. The characters were well rounded and interesting. The topic was current and relevant. It was written in a simple yet elevated way making it easy for everyone to understand. And having found no typos or mistakes, I think the editing was done with as much care as the writing, making this a joy to read.


I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It was simple, flowed well, empowering, upbeat, educational, and current. Most of all, it is family oriented and suitable for all ages. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and look forward to the next in the series.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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