Mom Made Us Write This In The Summer (Max and Maggie Journal)
In this first book of the Max and Maggie series, the 10-year-old twins have just completed fourth grade and are excited about summer break. That is, until Mom says she has bought them a journal for the summer, and they each must write 12 entries. She gives detailed instructions on selecting a topic, who writes first, and how they may add comments. To begin, each twin suggests topics; from there, they alternate writing first. They start with entry 12, thinking that doing so will make finishing a greater relief. From a trip to the zoo to their annual physical checkup to the family’s ice cream testing day, and so on, one twin describes events, while the other adds lengthy commentary. Maggie’s entries and art are in slim pencil, and Max’s are in darker print. Each liberally uses doodling and drawing. The lined journal format makes good sense, but the writing comes off as overly grammatical. Some entries feel either long and redundant, though they do show a progressive appreciation and affection between the twins. Grades 3-5. --J. B. Petty