Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge

by Kristin L. Gray

“A heartfelt read filled with nuanced characters; recommended for those seeking a fast-paced adventure with a very human story.” — School Library Journal

“A humorous, poignant, realistic debut story.” — Kirkus Reviews

Vilonia is determined to prove she’s responsible enough to care for a dog in this “sensitive and uplifting coming-of-age” ( Publishers Weekly ) novel.

Being responsible is NOT easy.

Fourth grader Vilonia hasn’t lost her rain coat in the three weeks she’s had it and she’s brushed her teeth every night and she’s volunteered to be the Friday Library Helper. But all that hard work is worth it if it means she can get a dog. Besides, this dog isn’t just because Vilonia has wanted one for pretty much ever. It’s also to help Mama, who’s been lost in one, big sadness fog for forty-three days—ever since Nana died. But Vilonia read that pets can help with sadness. Now all she has to do is keep the library goldfish alive over spring break, stop bringing stray animals home, and help Mama not get fired from her job. And she’s got to do all of it before the Catfish Festival. Easy as pie, right?

Tremendous voice, humor, and heart make this debut novel utterly lovable.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Grief, Friendship

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2017

About the author

Kristin L. Gray is the author of the all-new The Amelia Six: An Amelia Earhart Mystery and Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and the picture book Koala Is Not A Bear. She lives in Arkansas with her family, two dogs, one cat, and pet lizard. Her forthcoming picture book, Rover Throws A Party, combines two of her favorite things: outer space and cake. Visit her online at KristinLGray.com.

Reviews

[Wendy MacKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in love with Vilonia Beebe and her home from page one, so evocative and charming is Gray's writing. Vilonia's family is reeling since Nana's death: Mama's checked out, Daddy is struggling to keep up, older brother Leon can be so annoying. So Vilonia steps up to take care of everyone, sometimes to disastrous results. I'm not giving away many details here because this wonderful book deserves to have its petals unfold to the reader in it's charming voice. This book is a gift; it perfectly reflects how children navigate their changing world and try to make sense of it all. And the chickens. The chickens! This book is a delight!

[Karen Akins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read an early version of this, and OH MY GOODNESS. Vilonia is such a fun, adorable, spunky kid. This book is hilarious and heartwarming, and I can't wait for Vilonia Beebe to take the world by storm. :)

[Alexandra Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely adorable! Vilonia Beebe completely stole my heart with her determination and spunk. Her voice is pitch-perfect, and all of the characters are so lovable and well-drawn. I read this in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down. An absolutely charming, heartwarming middle grade debut. Highly recommend!

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for the early middle grade crowd!
Young readers will love reading about Vilonia's adventures. They'll cheer for her and want to give her a hug!

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally fell in love with Vilonia Beebe! What a charming MG story filled with runaway chickens, an adorable tiny pug dog, library fish, and a ten-year-old obituary writer. This is a sweet story filled with love and charm!

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vilonia Beebe was a cute, quick read about a young girl who is trying to prove to her family that she is responsible enough to get a dog, while also trying to help make sure things don't fall apart for her family. It was definitely a lighter novel, but it did have some really sad moments throughout.

Overall, I really enjoyed the plot and getting to know Vilonia and her friend, AC, but there were a few issues I had with the book. The first being the fact that she takes over her mom's job. It was just too unbelievable, and I couldn't really wrap my mind around nine-year-old writing obituaries. The other thing that really bothered me was that fact that she was just riding around by herself wherever and whenever she wanted.

I would still recommend it because it was a cute novel, and the characters and plot were great. I look forward to reading more by Kristin L. Gray.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a fourth grader is never easy, but Vilonia Beebe, the plucky, softball-loving heroine of Kristin L. Gray’s delightful middle-grade novel, VILONIA BEEBE TAKES CHARGE, has it harder than most. Her mama’s been lost in a fog of sadness ever since Nana passed away forty-three days ago, and Vilonia would do anything to see her mama smile again—including undertaking a campaign to adopt a runt-of-the-litter dog (pets, Vilonia discovered, can help people overcome sadness). What follows is Vilonia’s heroic efforts to prove how responsible she is, in order to help her mama learn to cast aside her sadness and embrace life again. A warm, heartfelt debut, brimming with empathy and Southern charm. Highly and enthusiastically recommended.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, quick read about a 4th grader taking on responsibility (and struggling). Far-fetched but lovely.

[Danna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story!

Loved this sweet story! It was just the right amount of humor and recovery. It was good for the soul.

[K.L. Hallam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth-grader, Vilonia, Vi for short, started out in the world four times smaller than the largemouth bass hanging in her daddy’s shop. That was almost ten years ago.

Now that her mother has taken ill since Nana passed away, Vilonia must forge ahead. With a reputation for taking in destitute creatures, she spots a poster that might help her mother not feel depressed anymore.

"The most powerful antidepressant has 4 paws and a tail. 555-PETS."

And her favorite book, Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo, is her inspiration to begin The Great Pet Campaign.

Meanwhile, Momma hasn’t written a single obituary for the newspaper since Nana died. (Or Nana’s) She’ll be replaced if she doesn’t write something soon, and why Vilonia steps in to help. No one would know it was Vilonia writing the county obits.

But there’s no way her father will agree to a dog. Even with the pet fund, she’s saved. Her mother is in no condition to handle any extra work. Vilonia would just have to prove how responsible she really was and she needed to find the right dog to convince her dad.

When her brother finds out her secret, he and her BFF, Ava Claire, work together to help Vilonia and wind up in a little trouble.

There’s a lot of love in this story. Vilonia holds her family together while working to bring Ray Charles home. The premature shelter dog she fell in love with. She knows it will help her mother with her "Infinite Sadness". And it will help Vilonia. Once she proves how responsible she is.

An endearing story for any child, who has ever dreamt of bringing home a dog, and the adventures that prove what you’re willing to endure for what you love. Vilonia is fearless in her pursuit.

[Corabel Shofner · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this first line “[t]he day I was born I was four times smaller than the
trophy largemouth bass hanging in my daddy’s shop” Vilonia Beebe took charge of my heart and I would give it to her again.
I have a soft spot for heartfelt humor and brave characters who lean into the problems of this world. Vilonia’s grandmother has recently died which sent Vilonia’s mother into a deep depression. Vilonia takes over her mother’s job, which is writing obituaries for the local paper. (I must admit I was already a huge fan of obituaty writers, in particular Bob Thomas who wrote the renowned obits for the NYT under the name McGee.) Vilonia also longs for a dog, which she is certain will heal her mother’s broken heart. In order to prove that she is responsible enough to own a dog Vilonia charges around juggling a goldfish, chickens, fireworks and county fair.
No moment is wasted in this lively story. The neighbor hens are all named after first ladies — and I bet you didn’t know that Harriet Lane acted as first lady for her uncle James Buchanan, who never married. Vilonia also organizes the most extravagant, entertaining, and disastrous pet funeral I’ve ever read. Let’s just say it doesn’t move her any closer to getting that runt puppy named Ray Charles.
Yet under all the humor is the grief of losing loved ones and helping each other to heal.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was just precious. So full of voice and spunk and I loved it so much. My 6yo laughed out loud, especially at any mention of chickens. Highly recommended!

[Darcy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished VILONIA BEEBE and wish I could crawl inside author Kristin Gray's head and live there! Vilonia is so real she practically jumps off the page - warm, funny, and, most of all, brave. You're going to love this one!!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vilonia's voice is perfect! She's funny, sweet and spunky. Her story is both heartbreaking and full of hope.

[Myrna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Ramona, you'll love Vilonia!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could hang out with Vilonia Beebe in real life. She is endlessly hilarious as a narrator, and endlessly resolved as a person. Now I'm an endlessly adoring fan.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and the @kidlitexchange network for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own!!

I can't believe that this is a debut novel!!! Gray has created such a fun loving character and paired it with a really heartwarming story. I was hooked right from the start and saddened to see the pages slowly coming to an end. I'd love to see Vilonia in more books in the future!!

Vilonia Beebe is a spunky fourth grader who is out to prove that she can indeed be responsible. She has volunteered to take care of the librarian's pet fish over Spring Break in hopes that it will show her parents that she is ready to become a dog owner. After saving the town's best egg laying hen, Vilonia quickly realizes that maybe she's not the only one who would benefit from having a cuddly new pet. Her mama is suffering from a severe case of depression and studies have shown that having a pet can help ease heartache.

Young readers will instantly gravitate and easily relate to the characters in this book. Vilonia is full of humor and incredible innocence. She means well, but at the end of the day she is only nine and sometimes doesn't quite think through her actions or the overall consequences. This book is full of one mishap after another that will leave the reader shaking their head as they predict the outcome.

This book would make a perfect bookclub selection. There are many topics to discuss: responsibility, friendship, depression, honesty, and deployment. I personally loved the connections to the beloved story BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE and the sweet ways Vilonia wrote the obits for her mother. It was a sweet reminder that kids view death differently and can unwillingly find humor in the saddest of times.

Definitely recommend that you add this to your middle grade library or classroom!!

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this cute upper elementary read. I think it will be perfect for some kids, but it wasn't my favorite. Thx to @kidlitexchange for the copy to review. All opinions are my own.
_*_*_*_*_*
Vilonia Beebe lives in a small town in Mississippi with her mom, dad and brother. Her mom is depressed since her own mother, Vilonia's Nana, died. Vilonia's mom won't get out of bed. Vilonia is picking up the slack, cleaning, cooking, etc...including writing her mama's obits for the local paper (she is a very good writer for her age). More than anything Vilonia wants a dog, not only for herself but because she's convinced it will help her mother recover. To convince her parents that she is responsible enough for a dog, Vilonia cares for her school library's pet fish, brings in injured stray animals, etc. Rounding out the cast of characters is Ava Claire (AC), Vilonia's best friend; Leon, her brother; Miss Bettina from the newspaper and Miss Sogbottom from the veterinary clinic.
_*_*_*_*_*
This is a pretty cute book that would be great for kids who are eager to get a pet dog. The characters get into various scrapes. The book addresses depression, military deployment, and friendship issues. Certain parts felt a bit rushed to me--we are supposed to believe Vilonia is a star pitcher, but this idea is barely introduced and not with any game play. More importantly, I am bothered by how quickly Vilonia's mom recovers from her depression without any help from a professional. I also found it strange that there was no mention of diversity in the book. I kept looking to see if I missed something. The book is set in Mississippi, after all.

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming and feisty, Vilonia is a breath of fresh air in the middle grade genre!

Thanks to the author for providing @kidlitexchange with a finished copy of this book for review purposes - all opinions are my own.

You can almost hear and feel the country twang in this sweet and sassy middle grade (mid-to-late elementary) novel about baseball-loving, obituary-writing and pet-dreaming Vilonia Beebee. Her determination to help her family during her mother's depression and prove that she is responsible enough for a pet make for a wonderful story that will appeal to a wide audience. It's also an ode to the classic BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo.

This story would be an excellent read aloud in grades 3-5 and should be handed to any child who is like Vilonia and is dying for, aching for, dreaming of the pet their parents won't let them have. Depression is treated with rose-tinted glasses, which fits the mood of the novel, but may seem unrealistic to children whose parents have descended much deeper into it than Vilonia's mother did. However, it is a welcome inclusion of an issue that isn't always shown in this genre. The obituary-writing is just so sweet and such an unusual twist - I loved that! Other topics dealt with are grief and military deployment of a parent. The sour cream pound cake recipe at the end of the book is a wonderful bonus!

Highly recommended for middle grade classrooms and libraries.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vilonia was a star of her “under 10” softball team, an animal rescuer, a school library helper, a good friend, a sister, a daughter and a granddaughter. At least she was a granddaughter until 43 days earlier when her beloved grandma dropped dead. And since that time Vilonia’s mother has been hiding in her room with the blinds drawn and spending much of her day in her pajamas. So since that day Vilonia has added cooking, laundry and obituary writing (her mom’s job) to her list of chores. She is doing her very best to help her mom so that maybe she will learn to smile again.

This story will have you laughing out loud, but will also leave you in tears. It’s a wonderful book about kindness, thoughtfulness, resourcefulness and family. Vilonia is such a sweet caring girl who is trying her best to understand her mom’s illness. This is the first middle grade book I’ve read that addresses depression and describes the effects that it can have on the entire family. It doesn’t go into depth, but reading this story with your kids, or as a read aloud, will definitely provide an opportunity to begin some conversations. It will certainly help those kids who find themselves in a similar position. I highly recommend it to parents, teachers and elementary librarians. It’s a must for the shelves of every elementary library!

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristin Gray does an amazing job in this middle grade, realistic fiction. Vilonia is a nine-year-old girl who wants nothing more than to have her very own dog. She does everything she can think of to show her family she is responsible. But as her family is going through a rough patch, they don't always see her intentions or good deeds, only what slips through the cracks. Vilonia's story will resonate with many children for a variety of reasons. The most relevant quote from the book, "That's the thing with hope: If you keep hoping long enough and hard enough, even with life's disappointments, something good will happen." I love this book for so many reasons and think students will connect with it as well.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of Winn-Dixie has a special place in my heart. Using that beloved novel as a springboard and reference point for the main character might be risky in a less skilled author’s hands, but Gray’s story hits the mark to stand alongside this classic. Like Because of Winn-Dixie and Clementine, the author’s outstanding narrative voice and endearing characters make Vilonia Beebe pure joy to read. This story is rich – the language, the plot, and priceless tidbits that flesh out the story with fun. (One of my favorites is the chicken coop filled with hens named after first ladies. I’ll withhold any more so as not to spoil your reading experience.) Vilonia Beebe has found a special place in my heart, right alongside India Opal Buloni.

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vilonia Beebe is the kind of character that readers will fall in love with. She is full of spunk and a fighting spirit. Her main goal throughout the story is to prove she is responsible enough to get a dog. She believes a dog will help her mother heal from the Infinite Sadness she's been in since Vilonia's nana passed away. Her attempts at being responsible don't always turn out the way she planned, including an incident with some bottle rockets, but Vilonia's heart is always in the right place. Kristin L. Gray has taken a serious topic and presented it in a way children can understand and relate to. 5 stars for Vilonia!

[Radium · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every year, it seems that my first read is one that I neglected to finish the year before. I only had about 30 pages left when 2025 rang in.

I have to remind myself that I'm not the target audience for this book. Sometimes MG and older children's books can really hit, and I was hoping for that in a book that addressed the loss of a family member and another family member's subsequent depression. It's a book full of personality and chaos and growth, but it doesn't quite leave an impression. It would definitely be great for it's intended audience, if you have children, but it might not impress you.

[Yvonne Ventresca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her mom suffers from depression, Vilonia is determined to prove she’s responsible enough to get a dog with the hopes that a puppy will cheer her mother. Vi has a kind heart, but a knack for finding trouble, and the path to possible dog ownership is a rocky one. It includes chasing chickens, eulogizing the library’s goldfish, and secretly writing the town’s obituary column. A humorous story that’s at times poignant, Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge will have you rooting for Vi and her Great Pet Campaign.

[J.C. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Vilonia and her family from page 1 of this wonderful kid's book. Through ups and many, many downs her determination and drive keep Vilonia going. I giggled my way through chapters and was wishing for my own Ava Claire (Vilonia's bestie), Ray Charles (world's cutest pug preemie), and tree house by the end. Love, love, love the voice of this book, the characters, just everything! A wonderful, fun read perfect for anyone who's ever tried their hardest to take charge of life, but been knocked down in the process.

[Elle Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this spunky character, Vilonia won my heart in the first pages. Kristin Gray writes with pitch-perfect small-town middle grade voice, it just keeps you flowing through the pages. Made me feel like a visit back to my own childhood, the story has that kind of classic feel to it. The plot is sweet and realistic, about her wanting a dog, and wanting to help her struggling mother at the same time, which are both super-relatable for kid readers.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first impression of this middle grade chapter book about a fourth grader who jumps back and forth between being a child and taking care of her mother's responsibilities was that it was too long for an elementary student to read independently. But the more I read about Vilonia's sad mother, her daddy and brother, the more I liked the heart and spirit of Vilonia and her devotion to family and best friend and neighbor's chickens. Her love of baseball and determination to keep things moving along in her family is admirable and a good read for girls reading middle grade genre of books.

[Marissa Monteleone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it is a book about a young girl who plays softball (like I used to) trying to live a normal life after her mom loses her job and is struggling. This is an inspirational book that sometimes you just have to push through the hard times. I really recommend this book to girls.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vilonia’s adventures make this story a lively page turner. Despite her Mama experiencing “The Infinite Sadness”, Vilonia stays positive and focused on her goal of showing her family that she is responsible enough to have a dog. Fun and entertaining, this is the perfect story to share with my 4th graders.