Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl

by Carol A. Grund

When eleven-year-old Anna Mei, who was adopted from China, moves from Boston to small-town Michigan, she finds herself questioning her identity, family history, and more as she seeks a way to fit in.

Genres: Adoption, Chapter Books, Christian Fiction, China

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Carol A. Grund first introduced the character of Anna Mei Anderson in Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl (Pauline Books & Media, 2010). The enthusiastic response to that story inspired the further adventures of Anna Mei and her friends for this sequel, as well as for the third book in the series, also planned for release in 2011. Carol’s stories and poems have appeared in children’s magazines and book anthologies, including Ladybug, Ladybug (Carus Publishing), Friend 2 Friend, Celebrate the Season and Family Matters (all from Pauline Books & Media). She has also contributed to several Chicken Soup for the Soul collections.

Reviews

[Carol Kean]

If I were not a mother, I'd never believe little girls think the way Anna Mei does, imagining that eveyone notices she's "different" and assuming a classmate's teasing is an insult rather than a compliment, and so on. Having just found out some of the incredible concerns my own daughter has, I'm forced to accept that girls really are this self-conscious and irrational. Carol A. Grund does a marvelous job of entering the point of view of an 11-year-old girl adopted from China and moving to a new school where she's apparently the only adopted Asian kid. It's painful for mothers like me to realize that our daughters suffer so much anxiety over appearances. I cannot say enough to commend Grund for bringing this issue to young readers, especially when lesser issues tend to dominate the market. Zombies and vampires just aren't on my maternal radar, sorry.

Anna Mei spends a lot of time trying to fit in with the popular girls at school, at the expense of hurting less popular students. The story is filled with real concerns, not contrived situations and melodrama. I hope this series will become popular with girls this age. I don't imagine the Anna Mei storyline has the kind of action boys like to read about, but if I were a teacher, I'd definitely keep this one in my classroom library.

[Cassie]

Carol Grund manages to break down the chaos that is the tween years and gently instill little life lessons in manageable bits, just right for a satisfying read. There are no heavy handed life lessons here...She nimbly weaves the threads of Anna Mei’s life into a story that is smoothly paced, quietly comforting, and pleasing to the soul. Full review on my blog at http://readitagainmom.blogspot.com

[Cassie Veselovsky]

Carol Grund manages to break down the chaos that is the tween years and gently instill little life lessons in manageable bits, just right for a satisfying read. There are no heavy handed life lessons here...She nimbly weaves the threads of Anna Mei’s life into a story that is smoothly paced, quietly comforting, and pleasing to the soul. Full review on my blog at http://readitagainmom.blogspot.com

[Hannah “Hanny” “Hannie” Kim Kimmie]

Mischievous and et cetera!