Scan barcode
libwinnie's review against another edition
4.0
A heartbreaking and hopeful look at grief after Annie Lee's dad dies suddenly of a heart attack. This was multi-layered with great characters. There was also a touch of magical realism in the ghost of her father and the colors that come from the music when her piano teacher/friend plays. It took awhile for it to hook me, but when it did I finished it in one day.
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
This novel tells a tender story about grief - not just dealing with its immediate aftermath but also figuring out how to let go and move on after experiencing a traumatic loss. The emotions Annie Lee and her mother experience feel authentic. In addition to grief, Annie Lee is dealing with a lot of other things - maybe too many, as the subplots kind of seemed to take over the tale. It feels a little unfocused and, honestly, got a little dull for me in places. The characters are likable, though, and Queenie and Ray are especially warm. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the magical realism/ghost aspects of this novel since they seemed a little misplaced. While I liked this book well enough, I didn't end up loving it. I feel like there are a million MG grief novels out there that are similar to this one - I guess I wanted more originality. If I could, I'd give BEGINNERS WELCOME 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
harperv28's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful book. I read an ARC of this and I can’t wait for it to be published. I plan to put it on my classroom library. I feel that even preteen me (if I could go back to being a preteen while reading it) would love this book. My three favorite books at that time were about death and how to move on. This definitely would have been another favorite book about death and moving on. I think this topic was handled well and I know there are young people out there that need a book like this. (I edited for a grammatical error April 15,2020, but wrote the original review February 1,2020)
aliciaellen's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Harper Books for the review copy of this book by Cindy Baldwin. All opinions are my own.
Cindy Baldwin has done it again! Fans of Where the Watermelons Grow will LOVE this book! Cindy Baldwin has a gift for writing in a way that is both emotional and realistic.
Annie Lee has a lot on her shoulders. Eighty-three days ago, her father suddenly dropped dead while playing a game of basketball at church. The grief alone feels like it may crush her, and the sudden life changes are not helping. Annie Lee and her mom had to move into a tiny, cramped apartment across town. Annie Lee is also starting a new school, and her best friends from her old school have drifted away from her. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s mother had to make her part-time job cleaning houses into a full-time job, leaving Annie Lee alone for several hours after school.
With the struggles of life overwhelming her, Annie Lee has decided her new goal is to try and be invisible. She avoids talking to others or making connections to them because she’s learned that letting others in makes it hurt so much more when they leave. Despite her best efforts to remain invisible, Annie Lee befriends a skater girl at school named Mitch and an elderly pianist named Ray. However, when Ray goes missing, Annie Lee may have to risk losing her new friendship with Mitch to find him.
I absolutely loved this book for its beauty and raw emotion. Cindy Baldwin has such a gift for getting to the real and often ugly thoughts that accompany strong grief. At one point, Annie Lee wishes that it had been her mother that died instead of her father. This part felt so raw to me, and I could see a kid having this thought, and feeling so much guilt over it, just as Annie Lee does. I think some children may be able to find comfort in these raw and emotional parts of the book because it can show them that they are not alone. This book is a MUST read for anybody in grade 4 and up.
Cindy Baldwin has done it again! Fans of Where the Watermelons Grow will LOVE this book! Cindy Baldwin has a gift for writing in a way that is both emotional and realistic.
Annie Lee has a lot on her shoulders. Eighty-three days ago, her father suddenly dropped dead while playing a game of basketball at church. The grief alone feels like it may crush her, and the sudden life changes are not helping. Annie Lee and her mom had to move into a tiny, cramped apartment across town. Annie Lee is also starting a new school, and her best friends from her old school have drifted away from her. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s mother had to make her part-time job cleaning houses into a full-time job, leaving Annie Lee alone for several hours after school.
With the struggles of life overwhelming her, Annie Lee has decided her new goal is to try and be invisible. She avoids talking to others or making connections to them because she’s learned that letting others in makes it hurt so much more when they leave. Despite her best efforts to remain invisible, Annie Lee befriends a skater girl at school named Mitch and an elderly pianist named Ray. However, when Ray goes missing, Annie Lee may have to risk losing her new friendship with Mitch to find him.
I absolutely loved this book for its beauty and raw emotion. Cindy Baldwin has such a gift for getting to the real and often ugly thoughts that accompany strong grief. At one point, Annie Lee wishes that it had been her mother that died instead of her father. This part felt so raw to me, and I could see a kid having this thought, and feeling so much guilt over it, just as Annie Lee does. I think some children may be able to find comfort in these raw and emotional parts of the book because it can show them that they are not alone. This book is a MUST read for anybody in grade 4 and up.
megpie0702's review against another edition
5.0
Cindy Baldwin’s second book certainly did not disappoint. I enjoyed it even more than her first book. I loved the characters, and the magic that music brought to Annie Lee. I read this one with my daughter, who absolutely adored it. She has been reading it on her own for a second read-through. She gave it 5 stars though she feels that the star rating should go up to 10,000, in which case this book would get 10,000. It’s a great read!
aliciaew's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it so much!!!! Annie Lee is traveling through so much grief and loss, and she is so relatable. I really enjoy Cindy Baldwin’s writing style.
lauriehnatiuk's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book for #bookportage.
I was thrilled to read Beginner's Welcome after reading Where the Watermelons Grow. Once again, Cindy Baldwin tackles a tough emotional topic about a young girl who is left to fend for herself and learn how to cope.
Annie Lee is a young girl who loves her father and his sense of fun, and while she gets along with her mother, she connects more with her dad. When she loses her father suddenly, her world is turned upside down. Her mother now has to work constantly to try and make ends meet, as they await fingers crossed for a life insurance settlement. On top of all of that it, both Annie Lee and her mother are dealing with strange happenings in their apartment all related to her dad, shaving cream in the sink every morning, and her father's favourite records suddenly playing on an unplugged record player. Her mother is not coping spending most of her time crying and Annie Lee is left to deal with her grief on her own.
With her mother away working, and Annie Lee left alone, Annie Lee manages to become friends with Mitch, a confident tough skateboarder after her friendship with her two best friends has become awkward. Despite being friends with Mitch, she is careful not to open up too much so she cannot be hurt again.
When she comes home after school, Annie Lee has been told to stay in the apartment so her mother won't worry, but Annie Lee gets stir crazy and starts leaving the apartment, scootering to a local mall. She becomes familiar with the local shops and merchants, in particular, Queenie the warm hearted hairdresser and Ray an older gentleman who plays the piano in the mall entertaining the shoppers. After a few awkward encounters with Ray, Annie Lee gets brave enough to ask him to give her lessons and Ray agrees. Annie Lee now has to keep her lessons a secret from her mom and keep the fact that her mom isn't aware she is coming to the mall for from Queenie and Ray adding to her stress.
When Ray doesn't show up for her lessons, Annie Lee has to make a choice that could endanger her friendship with Mitch and have all the lies and sneaking out to the mall come out.
Once again Cindy Baldwin has made brought us into a world with characters that we know is sadly realistic. We care deeply for Annie Lee and the individuals she meets and becomes connected to hoping that together they can help Annie Lee move forward. The strained relationship with her mother will also connect with many readers and provide hope as they struggle to become a family missing a vital member of their family. This is a story that opens doors for discussions at home and in schools about death, grieving, family and new beginnings. Be sure to pre-order, out in January 2020.
I was thrilled to read Beginner's Welcome after reading Where the Watermelons Grow. Once again, Cindy Baldwin tackles a tough emotional topic about a young girl who is left to fend for herself and learn how to cope.
Annie Lee is a young girl who loves her father and his sense of fun, and while she gets along with her mother, she connects more with her dad. When she loses her father suddenly, her world is turned upside down. Her mother now has to work constantly to try and make ends meet, as they await fingers crossed for a life insurance settlement. On top of all of that it, both Annie Lee and her mother are dealing with strange happenings in their apartment all related to her dad, shaving cream in the sink every morning, and her father's favourite records suddenly playing on an unplugged record player. Her mother is not coping spending most of her time crying and Annie Lee is left to deal with her grief on her own.
With her mother away working, and Annie Lee left alone, Annie Lee manages to become friends with Mitch, a confident tough skateboarder after her friendship with her two best friends has become awkward. Despite being friends with Mitch, she is careful not to open up too much so she cannot be hurt again.
When she comes home after school, Annie Lee has been told to stay in the apartment so her mother won't worry, but Annie Lee gets stir crazy and starts leaving the apartment, scootering to a local mall. She becomes familiar with the local shops and merchants, in particular, Queenie the warm hearted hairdresser and Ray an older gentleman who plays the piano in the mall entertaining the shoppers. After a few awkward encounters with Ray, Annie Lee gets brave enough to ask him to give her lessons and Ray agrees. Annie Lee now has to keep her lessons a secret from her mom and keep the fact that her mom isn't aware she is coming to the mall for from Queenie and Ray adding to her stress.
When Ray doesn't show up for her lessons, Annie Lee has to make a choice that could endanger her friendship with Mitch and have all the lies and sneaking out to the mall come out.
Once again Cindy Baldwin has made brought us into a world with characters that we know is sadly realistic. We care deeply for Annie Lee and the individuals she meets and becomes connected to hoping that together they can help Annie Lee move forward. The strained relationship with her mother will also connect with many readers and provide hope as they struggle to become a family missing a vital member of their family. This is a story that opens doors for discussions at home and in schools about death, grieving, family and new beginnings. Be sure to pre-order, out in January 2020.
suey's review
4.0
Our girl and her mom are struggling to deal with the death of their dad/husband. A bit of a sad story, but with lots of hope.
danyell919's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful story about loss and friendship, with a little ghostly action and magic thrown in. I enjoyed it!