The Heroic Misadventures of Maci and Roland by M.L. Florez

What worked:

Roland is Maci’s loyal dog but the author’s creative writing elevates him to an important character. Roland can’t talk but the narrator presents his thoughts as though he can communicate. Maci speaks to Roland as though he can understand human speech and his actions give the impression that she’s correct. He has a stubborn streak and tends to negotiate for things he wants. Maci enters him into the town’s hero competition which requires him to complete several difficult tasks; pie eating is not one of the hard ones. Roland gets frustrated or distracted at times and won’t get focused again until Maci offers him rewards. It’s not hard to imagine that Roland is smart enough to manipulate Maci into handing out more rewards.

Maci enjoys dark, gloomy things and she’s happiest being alone. Or is she? She begins to realize she’d like to have a friend (other than Roland) but her love for gothic things makes it more challenging. She learns that baking cookies is harder than she thought and the cheer she writes for cheerleading tryouts isn’t well-received. Maci’s character is forced to reflect on the person she’s becoming and decide if she needs to change. Living in a colorful town with joyful, positive citizens presents challenges for Maci’s happiness. Luckily, she has an open mind and is willing to make changes in her life. However, she eventually learns that she must be true to herself.

What didn’t work as well:

The story moves at a good pace so readers can’t finish it fairly quickly. However, it also means that character and plot development aren’t as detailed as they might be. Readers may miss learning more about Maci’s new friendships and the changes she undergoes.

The final verdict:

This is an emotional tale of a young, gothic girl trying to fit in. Roland is the most entertaining character as he supports Maci’s transformation. Overall, this book will appeal to dog lovers and young readers trying to find their ways and I recommend you give it a shot.