A review by kamrynharned
Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

There really isn’t a book that’s more nostalgic to my childhood than Mandy.  Somehow, Julie Andrew’s captures the most idyllic childhood story that just captivated the minds of children.  The young orphan girl, the beautiful nature, her getting to clean and decorate and make a place her own, and found family are all so enticing to young children, myself being one of them.  The prose is simple, but the vocabulary isn’t limited by the fact that it’s a children’s book.  Re-reading it as an adult was a delight and I would have loved to see this made into a movie. The way Andrew’s describes the emotional rollercoaster of childhood - the insecurities, flashes of anger, and resentment are so tangible, and yet at the core, Mandy is a sweet girl that I think all little girls can relate to in one way or another. I can’t wait to read this with my daughter one day.