Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey Book Review and GIVEAWAY

Book Review and GIVEAWAY

Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey
By Erin Entrada Kelly
Published by Greenwillow Books, May 4, 2021

Review
Marisol Rainey, half-Filipino daughter to a dad who works on an oil rig, and best friend to a most understanding and supportive gal, Jada, is experiencing some form of anxiety – she frets over many 

decisions and the eminently climbable magnolia in her back yard makes her heart pound. Erin Entrada Kelly beckons readers into Marisol's world where they will share her concerns, love her cat, and value Jada's unwavering loyalty. Kelly tackles challenging content such as bullying, uncertainty, and family structure in an honest and uplifting way. Marisol's story validates children's experiences with realism, while highlighting sources of support.

I liked Marisol and Jada. T and I sometimes talk about if we would want to be friends with the characters in a book, and I think that grade-school-me would definitely befriend Marisol and Jada. They like to learn words in foreign languages to communicate privately. They'll spend an entire day secretly pretending to be animals. And they especially enjoy spying on Marisol's older brother. They are low-key kids who like to have fun outdoors. Although Marisol worries about the neighbor dog, the school bully, the magnolia tree, and so on, she is not worried about superficial things. She is a girl who knows who she is, would sometimes like to not be herself, but is also unbothered by her unusual interests. Above all, Marisol strikes me as genuine.

When T found out that I read Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey without him, he was displeased. It's aimed at an elementary age audience, and I have no doubt he'd like it, especially because her cat features so prominently. The font is a bit smaller and the illustrations fewer than other early chapter books we've read, so I think it would be more challenging that he needs right now. We'll hold off a few months before reading it together. He's eager for that day to come. And I will be happy to re-read.

Also by Erin Entrada Kelly: Hello, Universe

Giveaway

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Enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey!

Ten (10) winners receive:
- A hardcover copy of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey

The giveaway begins April 26, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends May 26, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

Disclosure: Per FTC Guidelines, I hereby disclose partnership with The Children's Book Review and HarperCollins Publishers.