• Reviews

    Callie’s process of self-discovery is realistic and appealing, as are the story’s themes about the importance and rewards of compassion and support.

    - Booklist

    Good pacing leads the story to a climactic family tragedy in which Callie believably realizes the true meaning of friendship as well as the value in a strong, supportive, if quirky, family.  Dive in, this story is fine.

    - Kirkus

    Young female readers should be attracted to Mack’s earnest characters and hopeful message.

    - Publisher’s Weekly

    Mack’s well-drawn personalities and lighthearted touch keep the narrative lively and engaging. Youngsters will find themselves laughing at Callie and her colorful family, even as they recognize themselves in her story.

    - School Library Journal

    I LOVED this tale about summer gone bad, the struggle with young friendships and a necessary coming of age.  Mack is a genius storyteller and seems to live in a tween’s head.

    - Robin Rivers, Rainy Day Book Club

    What makes this book so appealing is that its themes are just as valuable to a parent as to a child—friendship, family values, doing your best is just as good as winning. What a bonus! Written with insight, humour, and lots of family interaction, author Winnie Mack—a writer of many adult novels under another pseudonym— has given us a great debut novel for young readers.

    - Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads

    On the surface, this charming novel has all the elements of a summer book for tweens- bike riding, community swimming pool, lemonade stands, and trips to the ice cream parlour. But despite a summery setting and lighter tone, Winnie Mack also manages to hit some emotional notes that make this novel deeper than just a nice summer read.

    - Vikki Van Sickle, Pipedreaming

    (The) book was awesome! I couldn’t put it down!

    - Morgan Truair, age 9

    Hopefully, Mack will catch up with Callie in a couple of years with a follow-up.

    - Quill & Quire

    Callie Boone is one of my favorite books. I read it in two days. There are lots of disasters during her summer. I love reading it because it’s so funny.

    - Flannery Bogost, age 7