Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Review: Megan's Munchkins by Pamela Foland


MEGAN'S MUNCHKINS
Megan's World, Book One
by Pamela Foland
Middle Grade Contemporary






Megan’s Munchkins is the first book in the middle grade fiction series Megan's World. Not everything hidden in the closet is scary, even if it’s furry and has sharp claws! Every teenager’s dream come true and every parent’s worst nightmare, Megan’s Munchkins is a short and sweet tale about a middle-school girl finding, quite by accident, the pet she had always wanted. Plus three more! It’s almost Spring break and adventurous thirteen-year-old Megan Thompson finds four tiny day-old kittens in the park and makes a decision on the spot that will turn her life upside-down. What does a young girl do who has been told by her parents over and over again that she may not have a pet? In Megan’s mind, there is no question. She must save these motherless newborns, even if it means keeping them a secret from her mom and dad. The next five weeks are an exhausting blur of vet visits, endless cycles of feeding schedules, household chores, homework and sneaking around, but Megan has never been happier in her whole life. The kittens grow quickly and begin to venture out into the world beyond the closet. Megan knows it is only a matter of time before her she must tell her parents about her secret. Fate steps in and her secret is discovered. What will happen to her precious babies now?



MY TIDBITS

Megan runs across a box of newborn kittens underneath a bush in the park. Knowing that they will die without care, she takes them in. Secretly. Her parents won't allow her to have any pets--something they've reminded her of time and again. Still, Megan can't let the precious kittens die. Hoping that she can prove she's become a responsible young adult, she starts a her mission to win her parents over. But until she can. . .and that might take a long time. . .she must keep her new pets hidden.

This is a book which takes a very average, every day girl into an every day adventure. And that is never boring. Megan is a fairly independent girl with a good head on her shoulders. She's sweet, kind and friendly but has a little rebellious streak--which is exactly what makes her and this story hit home. There's a wonderful sense of family in these pages as well as very down-to-earth friendships. All of these relationships feel natural and kids will easily relate to them.

But this isn't only a story about how Megan deals with her secret pets and parents. The author masterfully weaves in tidbits and informational hints on how to take care of small kittens. Girls who want to try to raise kittens on their own will find a lot of helpful information just by reading the adventure. The first chapter is a little direct, telling the story rather than letting it open through Megan's eyes, but then, the entire finding of the kitties and taking them in happens within a few quick pages. After this, the story takes on a more natural flow. It's not long, is engaging and is sure to especially appeal to girls and kitty lovers ages 8 to 12.



And here she is. . .

Pamela Foland grew up in Plano, Texas. Her love of animals started at a very young age.  As a child, she was constantly bringing home stray dogs, and injured birds.  She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Business in 2005.  As an adult, her love of animals has only grown stronger.  Pamela has worked in numerous pet hotels as a dog trainer and is certified to teach pet first aid and CPR.  All her experience with pets culminated four years ago when Pamela found and raised an abandoned litter of day-old kittens.  Not able to part with any of these now-grown babies, Pamela enjoys going home to her "little munchkins" every night.  This experience gave Pamela the inspiration for her series debut, Megan's Munchkins.  Pamela will always have a special affinity with Megan because of their shared experiences.  She truly believes there are few experiences in life more compelling than saving the life of another being.

www.megansworldbookseries.com

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