Cheese & Quackers

By: Ruth Coates Diamond

This was a GoodReads First Read, and I received a copy to review. That said, this was a cute story about dealing with disabilities and keeping a positive outlook. Mari loses her leg in a terrible accident, and her family struggles with making her find herself after.

A visit to a lake house soon shows Mari that she’s not the only one struggling with disabilities, and that a disability does not mean that she cannot do anything, as she believes. Thanks to the support of a loving family, Mari goes on to be an inspiration for others with disabilities.

The story behind the book is equally interesting, and I wish it were included or involved with the short children’s story. More than one example of the same trauma could give a wider view to children (and adults) that adversity can be overcome.

My only real complaints about this story, though, were about the font the story was written in, and how much wording was placed on each page. I read this at night for my daughter, so the light wasn’t bright, and I had a hard time seeing the periods (actually, I wasn’t sure there were any until I took the book into the light – even then they are tiny and faint). Also, on some pages the text seemed to crowd the page, running from the tip-top to the very bottom. I rather prefer the text to be uniform on each page, finding it easier to read.

These were just petty concerns, though, dwarfed by the message the book shared.And the best part? It wasn’t preachy. I enjoy some books with a religious message, but preachy I can’t stand. While Mrs. Diamond refers to her pastor in the end-notes on the back page, there is no preaching or overt religious message in the story, making this story accessible for all children. Even the non-secular.

This is a book that has earned a place on my daughter’s shelf.