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A review by daybreak1012
Mary Anne and the Search for Tigger by Ann M. Martin
4.0
Before I get to my actual review, a quick disclaimer: Ever since I learned that Netflix was reimagining one of my favorite childhood book series, I had decided that I would be embarking on a re-read of this series, reliving a series of books that helped to shape me into a voracious reader. I am so excited to embark on this travel back in time. I don't expect to be mentally stimulated -- I mean, I'm not exactly a pre-teen middle-schooler these days -- but I make no apology for choosing to enjoy this series from the perspective of adulthood. Don't expect me to have any sort of psychoanalyst or feminist sermonizing on the appropriateness of the situations or the effects on a young girl reading these books; there's plenty of that to go around already. I'm here for the nostalgia and the meander down memory lane.
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Mary Anne! Mary Anne! No secret that, other than the Super Specials, Mary Anne's narrations are my favorites. I identify with Mary Anne so much. Always have, always will. This time Tigger goes missing (no spoilers here, since the title gives that away) and we're going to be consumed with finding the wee kitten.
What I liked about Mary Anne and the Search for Tigger:
Mary Anne as narrator - Yes, Mary Anne is my favorite sitter, but also I love the voice she's been given. It feels more natural to me than some of the others.
The twist in the mystery of Tigger's disappearance - I really did feel like it was cleverly executed. I picked up on it as I read and it started to resurface in my memory (going in, I had no recollection), but it reminded me how surprised I was when I first read it, lo this many years ago.
A favorite moment I had forgotten about -There is a scene where Jessi is sitting for her younger brother and sister. I remember loving it back in the day and it amused me just as much from the perspective of nostalgia too.
What I didn't care for:
The similarities with an earlier Mary Anne book - It did feel, at times, like it paralleled some of Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery. Ultimately, it did take its own direction but not before it felt a bit too much like a rerun.
Logan - What the heck, dude! For a guy touted as being super sweet, previously, he was kind of a jerk in this one. And even when an explanation was given, I didn't feel like it warranted his behavior. I am not sure how I felt about him back when I was a pre-teen, but I'll tell you what: I've got no time for that nonsense now.
If you scan my other reviews, you'll know I am a sucker for a mystery story. This is an age-appropriate one for the school-aged crowd. You get some tension and a satisfying resolution. I appreciated Mr Spier's house rules and raised an eyebrow at Logan's attitude toward them but applauded Mary Anne following them despite Logan being all put out by it. Overall, though I thought I had enjoyed this, I underestimated how much. After my nostalgic re-read, I have decided to increase my star-rating from three starts to four.
Mary Anne as narrator - Yes, Mary Anne is my favorite sitter, but also I love the voice she's been given. It feels more natural to me than some of the others.
The twist in the mystery of Tigger's disappearance - I really did feel like it was cleverly executed. I picked up on it as I read and it started to resurface in my memory (going in, I had no recollection), but it reminded me how surprised I was when I first read it, lo this many years ago.
A favorite moment I had forgotten about -There is a scene where Jessi is sitting for her younger brother and sister. I remember loving it back in the day and it amused me just as much from the perspective of nostalgia too.
What I didn't care for:
The similarities with an earlier Mary Anne book - It did feel, at times, like it paralleled some of Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery. Ultimately, it did take its own direction but not before it felt a bit too much like a rerun.
Logan - What the heck, dude! For a guy touted as being super sweet, previously, he was kind of a jerk in this one. And even when an explanation was given, I didn't feel like it warranted his behavior. I am not sure how I felt about him back when I was a pre-teen, but I'll tell you what: I've got no time for that nonsense now.
If you scan my other reviews, you'll know I am a sucker for a mystery story. This is an age-appropriate one for the school-aged crowd. You get some tension and a satisfying resolution. I appreciated Mr Spier's house rules and raised an eyebrow at Logan's attitude toward them but applauded Mary Anne following them despite Logan being all put out by it. Overall, though I thought I had enjoyed this, I underestimated how much. After my nostalgic re-read, I have decided to increase my star-rating from three starts to four.