Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess

Told in a poetic/free verse style, this is a heartwarming story about Macy, a deaf girl who isn't happy with the many changes life is throwing at her. She feels frustrated that her life is being upended, isolated from her hearing friends and family but thankfully she finds solace and friendship with an unlikely person - her elderly next-door neighbour.

I am a sucker for intergenerational friendship and when you add in a Deaf/deaf character, you know I'll be picking up the book. This is a sweet story that follows Macy, a deaf tween girl whose life is in a shambles - she's on the outs with her BFF, her mother is about to get remarried, and Macy is not happy about leaving her house or her newfound friendship with her octogenarian neighbour, Iris. 

"If you love something you should love it extravagantly."

I enjoyed how ASL was incorporated and how well it fit with the poetic prose of the storytelling. Witnessing interactions Macy has with the hearing people in her life, at home and at school, readers see how often she is left out of conversations and experiences because others haven't learned to sign and how isolating that feels for her. The value of inclusion is a pivotal lesson in this book. 

Young readers will connect with Macy's struggles and worries and through her learn many life lessons:

• the importance of embracing change and new experiences
• struggles with self-identity and the value of knowing our family's stories
• the importance of inclusion
• the value of finding connection and friendship with others
• family and friendship come in many wonderful forms 

This was an endearing read that is perfect for kids 8-12 years of age. It's a story that will leave you with a smile on your face and a desire to bake cookies and introduce yourself to your elderly neighbour.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Shari Green

Genre: Children, Deafness

Type and Source: Paperback from public library

Publisher: Pajama Press

First Published: May 15, 2017

Book Description from GoodReads: Sixth grade is coming to an end, and so is life as Macy McMillan knows it. Already a For Sale sign mars the front lawn of her beloved house. Soon her mother will upend their little family, adding an unwelcome stepfather and pesky six-year-old twin stepsisters. To add insult to injury, what is Macy s final sixth grade assignment? A genealogy project. Well, she'll put it off―just like those wedding centerpieces she's supposed to be making.

Just when Macy's mother ought to be sympathetic, she sends her next door to help eighty-six-year-old Iris Gillan, who is also getting ready to move―in her case, into an assisted living facility. Iris can't move a single box on her own and, worse, she doesn't know sign language. How is Macy supposed to understand her? But Iris has stories to tell, and she isn't going to let Macy's deafness stop her. Soon, through notes and books and cookies, a friendship grows. And this friendship, odd and unexpected, may be just what Macy needs to face the changes in her life.

Shari Green, author of Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles, writes free verse with the lightest touch, spinning Macy out of her old story and into a new one full of warmth and promise for the future.