Lone Bean Chudney Ross Book Review

Chudney Ross has a charming debut in Lone Bean that is faintly reminiscent of the Ramona Quimby books. Lone Bean opens with main character, Chrysanthemum ‘Bean’ as she prefers to be called, bursting with excitement over starting third grade, but Bean discovers the year won’t quite be what she expects.

Lone Bean

Bean has two older sisters – Rose and Gardenia. her sisters are kind of mean, but she doesn’t mind because she has the best friend ever, Carla. Yet, when Bean returns from a summer vacation spent at her Grandma’s she finds that Carla has a new best friend, Sam. To make matters even worse, Bean’s music instructor father wants her to begin learning a new instrument. Will Bean spent her third grade year friendless and learning an instrument she loathes?

Lone Bean by Chudney Ross has themes that children aged 7 to 12 will be able to relate to. These range from being left out to the relationship and pecking order between siblings. Bean is dealing with a difficult and lonely time, yet she acts with aplomb and gains self discovery in the process. She is far  from perfect and often the quintessential annoying little sister. Bean’s growing pains and ultimate success ring true making Lone Bean a recommended read for elementary school kids.

Disclosure: Received for review via Amazon Vine.

Other reviews of Lone Bean by Chudney Ross:

Tina Says – “a great selection”

Auntie Karen’s Book Pile – “clear and concise and fairly authentic”