REVIEW: The Heroic Misadventures of Maci and Roland by M. L. Florez
Maci is an odd little goth girl living in the quaint town of Whimsyville, where every building is pastel-colored and every person is overly cheerful. Her best friend is Roland, an oversized, grumpy dog who loves nothing more than good food and sleeping.
After a few failed attempts to adopt the sunny disposition of those around her and fit in, Maci finds herself at the town’s square where the event of the year is announced: Hero of Whimsyville. A brilliant idea pops into her mind that she believes is the key to being finally accepted. What if Roland joins the contest and wins?
What follows is an adventure—and a bit of fun misadventure—that will bring Maci so much more than what she initially hoped.
Dear Ms. Florez,
This sounded like a cute book with some depth to it. Maci likes to wear black, listen to melancholy music, and plant black tulips. She feels she just doesn’t fit into charming Whimseyville. But Maci’s got game and she decides to try. Her initial efforts don’t work out so well but then she hears about an annual contest the town has. Maci is sure that not she but her Komondor dog Roland can win and be named the Hero of Whimseyville. Maybe that will get Maci a human friend to go along with Roland.
Maci tries not once, not twice but three times. She’s willing to keep going and I have to admire that. The biggest challenge though is the Hero contest and to win, or rather for Roland to win, they’re going to have to work together. Never mind that Roland actually appears to understand what Maci’s telling him, such as to go after the purple balloons, reading about the two of them working together and having fun was sweet.
Of course along the way, Maci begins to see her town in a new light (though how could she have been raised there and not know the story behind the town’s Hero contest and its cheerfulness?). There are people who might become friends and the steps that Maci’s already taken in getting out there and taking part, give her the courage to do more and try more. I think it’s a lovely message for kids who feel they don’t fit in. There are many ways to find your people, you just need to believe in yourself and keep looking. B
~Jayne
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A Komondor. Now that’s different. And fun. Thanks, Jayne.
@Darlynne: Komondorok and Pulik (the plural of Puli) are so much fun to watch move. All those hair cords go flying.