Monday, April 21, 2014

Mini-Review: The ACB with Honora Lee by Kate De Goldi

Title: The ACB with Honora Lee
Author: Kate De Goldi
Publisher: Tundra Books
Release Date: April 8th, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher in exchange for 
an honest review (Thanks, Jackie!)

My Rating: 3.5/5


Perry's mother and father are busy people ... they're impatient, they're tired, they get cross easily. And they think that only children, like Perry, should be kept busy. On Saturday mornings Perry and her father visit her gran, Honora Lee, at the Santa Lucia rest home, but Gran never remembers them. 'Who is that man?' Honora Lee asks when Perry's father leaves the room. After movement class is abruptly cancelled, Perry is allowed to go to Santa Lucia on Thursday afternoons. She discovers her Gran has an unconventional interest in the alphabet, so Perry decides to make an alphabet book with the help of Honora and the others. Soon everyone is interested in Perry's book project. The ACB With Honora Lee unfolds with characteristic warmth, quirky, surprising humor and a rich cast of 'residents'. The story is a meditation on kindness and patience and acceptance; that of the very young and the very old. It's a story that will resonate with echoes of recollection for many -- from Perry's endearing perspective on the adult world to the embracing kindness of those who care for the elderly. (Summary from Goodreads)

I have been meaning to take a dive into the wonderful world of Middle Grade for a long while now. Working at a bookstore has made me become fascinated with the magical books covering the shelf in the 9-12 section. Lucky for me, I received a copy of the lovely book The ACB with Honora Lee to get me started!

The ACB with Honora Lee was adorable and funny, and a great book to read in a spring afternoon. I think my favourite thing about this book was Perry. She was so quirky and determined and seemed like the kind of kid I would love to know. I loved how this tiny little girl felt such a connection to all the elderly people in Saint Lucia. I think this type of story often feature the main character learning to appreciate their elders and, although that was definitely there, I think The ACB with Honora Lee explored the connection and friendship these two groups can have. Perry looked up to the residents of Saint Lucia, but also thought of them as her friends. It was great to see the camaraderie between this unconventional little girl and these peculiar residents.     

Perry's grandmother, Honora Lee, was quite the personality. From stealing peppermints to her insistence that Perry was actually a boy, Honora Lee jumped off the page and had me laughing out loud. She was intriguing to read about and her interactions with Perry were delightful. But, one of the most interesting things about her was her frequent memory loss. Although it often led to some funny encounters, it also added some poignant moments to the novel. Perry's father had trouble looking past the memory loss, but Perry really saw Honora Lee for the interesting and wonderful person she has and always will be.

Overall, The ACB with Honora Lee was an entertaining and heart-warming read. The pictures were great and the characters were even better. Honora Lee and Perry were a delightful pair, and one I think lots of kids will love reading about!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters/Indigo | Goodreads | Random House's Website

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