Anna Mei, Escape Artist
ARTICLES
The Cortland Standard: Sisters Inspire Novel
Life & Soul: Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl
Life & Soul: Escape Artist
REVIEWS FOR "CARTOON GIRL"
Very Impressed!
I read Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl last night and thought it was great! The writing is wonderful--it flows so naturally. It sounds just like how a sixth grader might be feeling and thinking, and not like an adult trying to sound like a sixth grader. Very impressive. It also could be very helpful for my girls if they get assigned the dreaded heritage project to do and don't know how to handle it. I am looking forward to reading the next book. Hopefully it will sell beautifully and there will be more books in the series! 5 out of 5 stars
~Janelle, adoptive mother of two
Great Reading No Matter Your Age
Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl is a middle grade/intermediate novel that introduced me to a world that felt familiar, but distant. Remember late grade school? I do. I have a LOT of memories of those 5th grade through 8th grade years (I know, that bleeds over into junior high, but living it felt that way too). Boys were icky, and yet…interesting. Girls were friends and…horrible. Parents were alien life forms and everything was changing. Eleven-year-old Anna Mei faces all of this AND a total upheaval of her world. She finds herself in a new school, the outsider, trying to fit in.
She ends up being someone she’s not, but it takes a while before she will admit it out loud. I forgot about the courage that takes. It’s good to be reminded, because I have kids this age in my life. I think I’ll be sharing this book with them, in fact. I found myself remembering how important fiction like this was to my own formative years. I’ll be passing it on for sure. Highly recommended!
~Sarah Reinhard, The Snoring Scholar
Top Pick for Middle School Fiction Readers
Helpful Tool
As the population of young girls adopted from China matures, it’s nice to have a book out that deals with some of the issues they face having dark hair, dark eyes in a sea of blond girls with blue eyes. In addition, as Anna Mei learns to deal with being adopted without the possibility of connecting with her birth family, it may open up conversations that are often difficult to begin. Thank you, Ms. Grund, for the helpful tool and the interesting read. 5 out of 5 stars. ~D. Videto, Adoptive parent
Pleasing to the Soul
In Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl, Grund nimbly weaves the threads of Anna Mei’s life into a story that is smoothly paced, quietly comforting, and pleasing to the soul. She has created a character that represents not only the struggles, but also the joys of growing up. Faith does play a pivotal role in Anna Mei’s life, but of equal importance are the strength of family and the value of true friendships. There are no heavy handed lessons here. Grund manages to break down the chaos that is the tween years and gently instill little life lessons in manageable bits, just right for a satisfying read. 4 out of 5 stars. ~ReadItAgainMom
Refreshing Read
There is no doubt about it--relocating is difficult at any age, but in the sixth grade moving is downright painful. This is a wonderfully reassuring story about Anna Mei (sounds like "anime") who moves across the country with her family, leaving friends she has known since kindergarten behind in Boston. Anna Mei feels self conscious when she discovers that she is one of the only Asian kids in her new school, and even more self conscious when her new friends notice her parents are not Asian. A refreshing story about the power of family, reaching outside your comfort zone, and giving new acquaintances a chance! 5 out of 5 stars. ~Reviews bym
Loved Your Book
I'm a 6th grader and I loved your book! It inspired me to not think badly about other people. No matter who they are or what they are, they are all the same as each one of us in God's creation. 5 out of 5 stars. ~Kristina, age 12
I'm a 6th grader and I loved your book! It inspired me to not think badly about other people. No matter who they are or what they are, they are all the same as each one of us in God's creation. 5 out of 5 stars. ~Kristina, age 12
Excellent Read
I am impressed with the author's ability to get some very good, basic values and concepts across without being 'preachy.' I was toward the end of the book at breakfast and ended up being late for work. I have a young niece and nephew that I have purchased copies for. 5 out of 5 stars. ~B. HelwigREVIEWS FOR "ESCAPE ARTIST"
Enjoyed it Just as Much
What a delight to have my old friend Anna Mei back! I enjoyed this book just as much as I enjoyed its predecessor, and I can't wait until my six-year-old, who has just discovered Junie B. Jones, is old enough for Anna Mei. In this, we're faced with more of the difficulties of friendship and discerning how to treat people, especially close friends who are hurting and confusing you. In the face of a big misunderstanding, Anna Mei finds herself battling feelings and learning to grow in interpersonal skills. (Can you tell I'm trying not to spoil it?) Maybe it’s that I’m a girl too, but I found myself, even with an adult perspective and quite a few years on the main character, sucked right into the drama of the book.
This is a great introduction for intermediate readers and a situation girls in this age will definitely enjoy. The lesson that’s taught doesn’t feel preachy and the way it’s told makes it worth reading. I enjoyed it, and I'll bet your intermediate reader will, too! Highly recommended. ~Sarah Reinhard,The Snoring Scholar
Highly Recommended
Everyone has secrets, and sometimes that secret is all of your family. Anna Mei, Escape Artist is an entry into Carol A. Grund's series following Anna Mei as she faces life and learns many lessons. Anna has many friends, but Danny has proved peculiar to her, as Anna has never met any of his family. Anna fears that Danny is hiding something from her, but the truth comes and Anna learns much. "Anna Mei" is a fine read for young readers who are trying to branch into standard novels. 5 out of 5 stars.
~The Midwest Book Review If you've read one of these titles and would like to write a review, send it to contact@CarolAGrund.com and I'll post it here.
