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Walking Mary

(2005, Fiction - Family Life, Written by James VanOosting)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Flawed telling of intriguing tale.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The town is racist, most especially including Pearl's fundamentalist father, who also doesn't like Catholics. Children throw eggs at people and places. Pearl cuts class.

  • Violence:

    Frankie confronts his father with a baseball bat. A person is run over by a train. An attempted suicide.

  • Sex:

    It is intimated that Pearl's father molests her. Frankie spies on his sister and a friend taking a bath.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Walking Mary

Parents need to know that the length, type size, and vocabulary make this look like a book for younger children, but the content issues may be confusing at best to the elementary school set.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the pervasive racism of the period, and why Pearl is so strangely drawn to Mary. Why does Mary act the way she does? Why is Frankie so protective of his sister?
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