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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I loved this book! So touching and encouraging. I was dubious about the comparisons to Wonder, but I wasn't disappointed.
Based on a true story filled with imagination, friendship, family and mustaches.
What a great story about a girl’s brave struggle with a brain tumor. This is the fictionalized version of the authors’ real life daughter. Definitely in the vein of Out of My Mind and Wonder.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A bit slow in the beginning, and definitely written from the perspective of a kid, albeit a very fun and silly one. I honestly felt like the actions felt too young to be a 12 year old, but truthfully, I don’t hang out with 12 year olds often, so I wasn’t sure. This was written for a much younger audience than I expected.
However, the heavy moments really hit hard, and the heartwarming ones were perfect. I didn’t expect it, but there was a small arcof Maddie trying to make her bully feel better after realizing the girl was not having the best home life, and I honestly liked it a lot more than I thought I would; it was really sweet and I liked the way it resolved. A very good middle grade book– definitely recommend for young readers. 4 stars.
However, the heavy moments really hit hard, and the heartwarming ones were perfect. I didn’t expect it, but there was a small arc
My 9 year old loves this book. And parts were really moving and made me tear up. But, I have a couple of issues that are probably more about me than the book.
1. I think is weird that Maddie’s specific tumor is never named.
2. Much of the book centers in Maddie dealing with school and Cassie. Though this book is based on a true story, Cassie is made up. Why? Having a tumor is dramatic enough. Why make up characters and compress the time line. Much like Refugee, I don’t understand the point of embellishments like this. Reality is hard enough.
1. I think is weird that Maddie’s specific tumor is never named.
2. Much of the book centers in Maddie dealing with school and Cassie. Though this book is based on a true story, Cassie is made up. Why? Having a tumor is dramatic enough. Why make up characters and compress the time line. Much like Refugee, I don’t understand the point of embellishments like this. Reality is hard enough.
Read this aloud to my students (6th grade) and they absolutely loved it. There were gasps, sniffles, and even an occasional “aww”. SUCH a great story and so inspiring. Got the honor to zoom with Chad Morris and he was an absolute pleasure as well.
I couldn’t put this book down and finished it in one evening! Mustaches for Maddie is based on the real life story of authors Chad Morris and Shelly Brown’s daughter Maddie who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I love Maddie’s imagination and sense of humor. Her experiences help her love and empathize with others.
I promised a student I would read this. Perhaps parents shouldn't use their own children as characters, as the temptation to turn them into saints may be too hard to resist. Perhaps it is the best they could do. Fictional Maddie is fairly one-denominational: no faults and carrying the wisdom of the ages, but dim enough to desperately want to be friends with a girl who is blatantly evil. There is an underlying sweetness to this, but the ham-fisted manner in which a thoroughly unnuanced bully is crowbarred into the narrative made most of it ring flat. A sixth grade girl who is so repulsive she would openly attack a girl with a brain tumor. My experience with sixth grade girls, is that even the most self-centered and selfish would work very hard to bask in the shared tragedy. The cheapest of all dues ex machina, the one 'meaningful' look, which gave St. Maddie the resolve to muster her angelic virtue and shine her benevolence down on her oppressor was particularly hard to accept.