A review by ciaralo
The ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi

3.0

I have been meaning to take a dive into the wonderful world of Middle Grade for a long while now. Working at a bookstore has made me become fascinated with the magical books covering the shelf in the 9-12 section. Lucky for me, I received a copy of the lovely book The ACB with Honora Lee to get me started!

The ACB with Honora Lee was adorable and funny, and a great book to read in a spring afternoon. I think my favourite thing about this book was Perry. She was so quirky and determined and seemed like the kind of kid I would love to know. I loved how this tiny little girl felt such a connection to all the elderly people in Saint Lucia. I think this type of story often feature the main character learning to appreciate their elders and, although that was definitely there, I think The ACB with Honora Lee explored the connection and friendship these two groups can have. Perry looked up to the residents of Saint Lucia, but also thought of them as her friends. It was great to see the camaraderie between this unconventional little girl and these peculiar residents.

Perry's grandmother, Honora Lee, was quite the personality. From stealing peppermints to her insistence that Perry was actually a boy, Honora Lee jumped off the page and had me laughing out loud. She was intriguing to read about and her interactions with Perry were delightful. But, one of the most interesting things about her was her frequent memory loss. Although it often led to some funny encounters, it also added some poignant moments to the novel. Perry's father had trouble looking past the memory loss, but Perry really saw Honora Lee for the interesting and wonderful person she has and always will be.

Overall, The ACB with Honora Lee was an entertaining and heart-warming read. The pictures were great and the characters were even better. Honora Lee and Perry were a delightful pair, and one I think lots of kids will love reading about!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)