Reviews
"Mary Maee(tm)s inquiring mind and keen observational skills get affirmation from her fifth-grade teacher but distress her creationist mother. Refusing to take her pastore(tm)s advice to "trust the Bible scholars," Mary Mae ends up with more and more questions as she tries to reconcile the Biblee(tm)s account of creation with what shee(tm)s learning in class about fossils and the age of the earth. Eventually, Mary Maee(tm)s questioning leads her frustrated mother to yank her out of school to provide Bible-based homeschooling. "Why cane(tm)t you be my sweet little Mary Mae?" she asks. "Ite(tm)s all so easy if you just believe what the Bible says and done(tm)t go asking no questions." Dutton (Dear Miss Perfect) sensitively navigates the sticky debate between creationism and evolution both through the young narratore(tm)s delightful curiosity and honest questions, and through the various responses she receives from numerous caring adults, who all strive to provide truthful guidance. Concluding with a pastore(tm)s affirmation that faithful people can have different opinions, ite(tm)s an honest portrayal that respects both viewpoints, as well as those that slot somewhere in between."-- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Very few books for this age group tackle religious subjects as this one does, in a way that shows respect for all sides. Dutton allows Mary Mae to retain both her questions and her faith; instead of a definitive answer, she shows evolutionists and creationists working to find a small, shared piece of middle ground. Mary Mae is a memorable character--spunky but not defiant--whose search for truth drives the narrative."-- Kirkus Reviews "This is a great story with valuable lessons. Told in an Appalachian dialect, it not only depicts real feelings about religion, but also shows the people behind them as good. It is both a lovely coming-of-age story and a lesson in respect between religion and science."-- School Library Journal, "Mary Mae's inquiring mind and keen observational skills get affirmation from her fifth-grade teacher but distress her creationist mother. Refusing to take her pastor's advice to "trust the Bible scholars," Mary Mae ends up with more and more questions as she tries to reconcile the Bible's account of creation with what she's learning in class about fossils and the age of the earth. Eventually, Mary Mae's questioning leads her frustrated mother to yank her out of school to provide Bible-based homeschooling. "Why can't you be my sweet little Mary Mae?" she asks. "It's all so easy if you just believe what the Bible says and don't go asking no questions." Dutton (Dear Miss Perfect) sensitively navigates the sticky debate between creationism and evolution both through the young narrator's delightful curiosity and honest questions, and through the various responses she receives from numerous caring adults, who all strive to provide truthful guidance. Concluding with a pastor's affirmation that faithful people can have different opinions, it's an honest portrayal that respects both viewpoints, as well as those that slot somewhere in between."-- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Very few books for this age group tackle religious subjects as this one does, in a way that shows respect for all sides. Dutton allows Mary Mae to retain both her questions and her faith; instead of a definitive answer, she shows evolutionists and creationists working to find a small, shared piece of middle ground. Mary Mae is a memorable character--spunky but not defiant--whose search for truth drives the narrative."-- Kirkus Reviews "This is a great story with valuable lessons. Told in an Appalachian dialect, it not only depicts real feelings about religion, but also shows the people behind them as good. It is both a lovely coming-of-age story and a lesson in respect between religion and science."-- School Library Journal, "Dutton (Dear Miss Perfect) sensitively navigates the sticky debate between creationism and evolution both through the young narrator's delightful curiosity and honest questions, and through the various responses she receives from numerous caring adults, who all strive to provide truthful guidance. Concluding with a pastor's affirmation that faithful people can have different opinions, it's an honest portrayal that respects both viewpoints, as well as those that slot somewhere in between."--Publishers Weekly, starred review, "Mary Mae's inquiring mind and keen observational skills get affirmation from her fifth-grade teacher but distress her creationist mother. Refusing to take her pastor's advice to "trust the Bible scholars," Mary Mae ends up with more and more questions as she tries to reconcile the Bible's account of creation with what she's learning in class about fossils and the age of the earth. Eventually, Mary Mae's questioning leads her frustrated mother to yank her out of school to provide Bible-based homeschooling. "Why can't you be my sweet little Mary Mae?" she asks. "It's all so easy if you just believe what the Bible says and don't go asking no questions." Dutton (Dear Miss Perfect) sensitively navigates the sticky debate between creationism and evolution both through the young narrator's delightful curiosity and honest questions, and through the various responses she receives from numerous caring adults, who all strive to provide truthful guidance. Concluding with a pastor's affirmation that faithful people can have different opinions, it's an honest portrayal that respects both viewpoints, as well as those that slot somewhere in between."-- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Very few books for this age group tackle religious subjects as this one does, in a way that shows respect for all sides. Dutton allows Mary Mae to retain both her questions and her faith; instead of a definitive answer, she shows evolutionists and creationists working to find a small, shared piece of middle ground. Mary Mae is a memorable character--spunky but not defiant--whose search for truth drives the narrative."-- Kirkus Reviews "This is a great story with valuable lessons. Told in an Appalachian dialect, it not only depicts real feelings about religion, but also shows the people behind them as good. It is both a lovely coming-of-age story and a lesson in respect between religion and science."-- School Library Journal, "Mary Mae's inquiring mind and keen observational skills get affirmation from her fifth-grade teacher but distress her creationist mother. Refusing to take her pastor's advice to "trust the Bible scholars," Mary Mae ends up with more and more questions as she tries to reconcile the Bible's account of creation with what she's learning in class about fossils and the age of the earth. Eventually, Mary Mae's questioning leads her frustrated mother to yank her out of school to provide Bible-based homeschooling. "Why can't you be my sweet little Mary Mae?" she asks. "It's all so easy if you just believe what the Bible says and don't go asking no questions." Dutton (Dear Miss Perfect) sensitively navigates the sticky debate between creationism and evolution both through the young narrator's delightful curiosity and honest questions, and through the various responses she receives from numerous caring adults, who all strive to provide truthful guidance. Concluding with a pastor's affirmation that faithful people can have different opinions, it's an honest portrayal that respects both viewpoints, as well as those that slot somewhere in between."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "Very few books for this age group tackle religious subjects as this one does, in a way that shows respect for all sides. Dutton allows Mary Mae to retain both her questions and her faith; instead of a definitive answer, she shows evolutionists and creationists working to find a small, shared piece of middle ground. Mary Mae is a memorable character--spunky but not defiant--whose search for truth drives the narrative."--Kirkus Reviews"This is a great story with valuable lessons. Told in an Appalachian dialect, it not only depicts real feelings about religion, but also shows the people behind them as good. It is both a lovely coming-of-age story and a lesson in respect between religion and science."--School Library Journal
