Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

I picked up Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli when I saw that it was illustrated by Matt Phelan, whom I discovered this year after reading The Higher Power of Lucky (read my book review), which he also illustrated.  It was such a treat to read this book because the illustrations were such a joy to look at.  I loved them!  The book is worth picking up for the illustrations alone.

Where I Live is a free verse novel about Diana who loves her yellow house with white shutters, the daffodils in the spring, her blue walls in her room, and playing with her best friend Rose.  Diana starts to worry when her dad stops telling jokes and her mom stops laughing.  She’s afraid that they’ll get a divorce.  But instead they tell her that they have to move in with her Grandpa Joe who lives six hours away.  Diana is devestated to leave everything that she loves behind.  She misses Rose terribly and keeps hoping that theyll be able to move back.   But Diane soon learns that her heart can be happy again.

I’d recommend this one all around.  I loved the free verse form and the illustrations kept me turning the pages for more.  If you have a child who’s dealing with change, this is a good one to have them read.

Eileen Spinelli’s website.
Matt Phelan’s website.

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