Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures

[Mohlaba Y]

[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 Catherine A. Pepe is a story about 5-year-old Donny Miller and his 10-year-old sister, Mary Grace. Donny was diagnosed with Down syndrome, and his sister was very protective of him. When Donny disappeared at the zoo one day, Mary Grace was the only one to come up with a great idea of finding him. She knew her brother. She knew what he liked and disliked. Her quick thinking saved the day. When their parents, John and Jen, were offered a missionary assignment to Kenya, Mary Grace and their grandparents were left to take care of Donny. Their adventure would take them to California, where their grandparents resided.

The one thing that is great about this children's book is that it tries to teach children about the harm that their words can inflict on others. It's not just about the mistreatment of disabled people; it's also about the power that words can have on people. Looking at the book from that angle, I think that it's a worthy read for children.

My favourite thing about the novel is Mary Grace. She loves her brother, and her stance to stand up for him is admirable. I felt her compassion for her younger brother. Even though the move to California wasn't the best thing for her, she didn't sulk and let the move affect her to the point where she neglected her responsibilities as the older sister. Being in a new environment emboldened her to stand up for what she knew was right. We need people like that in our lives.

There's one major issue with the story, however, and it is that it told Donny's story from the perspective of others and not his. I expected to see Donny's adventures in California explored more profoundly, but that was never the case. This point is the only reason I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars. Everything else about it was fine. It was also edited incredibly well, which should be credited and pointed out.

I would recommend the book to children who are at least 5 years old. They would need help with the reading, but I think that they would enjoy this story because it's fun and full of lessons.

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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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