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The Exceptional Maggie Chowder
It's Maggie Chowder to the rescue! But who will rescue Maggie?
Twelve-year-old aspiring forest ranger Maggie Chowder wants to be just like her favorite comic superhero, the Exceptional Eagirl. So when her dad loses his job and her family moves from a house to a small apartment, Maggie is determined to make the most of her new circumstances. But it's not always easy to be strong like Eagirl when her best friend LaTanya gets to move into a big house and get a puppy because her dad has been recruited to coach for the Seattle Seahawks. It's especially not easy when nitpicky, comic-book-hating Grandma Barrel comes to stay.
Twelve-year-old aspiring forest ranger Maggie Chowder wants to be just like her favorite comic superhero, the Exceptional Eagirl. So when her dad loses his job and her family moves from a house to a small apartment, Maggie is determined to make the most of her new circumstances. But it's not always easy to be strong like Eagirl when her best friend LaTanya gets to move into a big house and get a puppy because her dad has been recruited to coach for the Seattle Seahawks. It's especially not easy when nitpicky, comic-book-hating Grandma Barrel comes to stay.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 24, 2020
An aspiring junior park ranger goes to Comic Con with her grandmother. They make their own costumes and try to win a contest. This is just a small part of this new middle grade novel. Short chapters about Maggie's bummer (she thinks) summer end with Eagirl comics. Her mother goes back to work at a grocery store while her father is playing Lyle, Lyle the Crocodile in a new web series. Meanwhile Grandma Barrel comes to help our for a few weeks and little brother Aaron is learning to cope with a newly diagnosed neurodiversity. So many great family and friend situations for readers to empathize with and use as a window or a door. Heartily recommend!
Thank you to Albert Whitman & Company and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Albert Whitman & Company and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2020
Sprinkled with gorgeous comics, this novel tackles tough subjects (financial instability, jealousy, changing friendships) with much heart and humor. Readers will fall in love with Maggie and will relate to her on so many levels. I also appreciate the sweet relationship with her brother who is neuro-diverse (-- which is not ever presented as a detriment,) as well as, of her family in general as they struggle to support all of their dreams. In a changing uncertain world, this book will be a comfort to young readers. We all need a Maggie Chowder to cheer us on!
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September 25, 2020Your elementary school age kid will enjoy identifying with Maggie, who loves comic books and longs to be like the superhero she reads about. It's a clever combination of a regular novel with graphic novel elements.I t's a fun read that shares good lessons for young readers. I also like the fact that it discusses an occupation we don't hear much about - forest ranger.
April 11, 2021
A laugh out loud book - perfect for all middle grade readers. I liked it so much I’m planning to do a book club with the kids I babysit!!
April 12, 2023
I thought that it was a book full of action and it was very interesting. I like how Maggie Chowder handled the situation where Nora Cho spilled her coffee on her book that she was working on. I would give this book a rating of 4 stars because over all I like this book alot but the thing that I didn't like was that Maggie Chowder's dad lost his job and they had to move away and that Maggie Chowder's Grandma complains about everything.
October 16, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Albert Whitman & Company through Edelweiss+.
Maggie is looking forward to the summer. Even though her best friend will be in Canada for part of it, she has her own plans. Unfortunately, their family's life changes significantly. Her dad lost his job; her mom is going back to work, and they have to sell their home and move into a much smaller apartment. Plus her slightly critical grandmother arrives to spend a week. Meanwhile, her best friend's life changes also. Her dad got a new coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks and they also move into a much larger home. Readers will relate to the emotional turmoil Maggie goes through. They may not face these exact situations but will connect with the response styles. Beauregard Lute uses gentle language to develop the plot and her characters. I like the comic book interludes between the chapters. Readers can draw parallels from Eagirl's world to what is happening in Maggie's.
Maggie is looking forward to the summer. Even though her best friend will be in Canada for part of it, she has her own plans. Unfortunately, their family's life changes significantly. Her dad lost his job; her mom is going back to work, and they have to sell their home and move into a much smaller apartment. Plus her slightly critical grandmother arrives to spend a week. Meanwhile, her best friend's life changes also. Her dad got a new coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks and they also move into a much larger home. Readers will relate to the emotional turmoil Maggie goes through. They may not face these exact situations but will connect with the response styles. Beauregard Lute uses gentle language to develop the plot and her characters. I like the comic book interludes between the chapters. Readers can draw parallels from Eagirl's world to what is happening in Maggie's.
August 16, 2020
Advance copy from Albert Whitman & Co.
There's no doubt that this lively blend of intense and funny main character Maggie, her family and friends, and her inspiration (environmentally-smart comic book characters) will appeal to loads of middle grade readers. The smart insertion of comic character introductions and single comic page adventures throughout the story will attract readers who love graphic novels and also those who enjoy hybrid text/image narratives. Who doesn't love the Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID series?
That love and accessibility should attract eager readers to Maggie Chowder, expanding their interest in and comfort with more complex stories and plot lines. Deeper themes are dealt with deftly and can expand readers' discussions, too.
I can see a future series in this girl's future, with Grandma "Rat" and Glitter playing important roles/
There's no doubt that this lively blend of intense and funny main character Maggie, her family and friends, and her inspiration (environmentally-smart comic book characters) will appeal to loads of middle grade readers. The smart insertion of comic character introductions and single comic page adventures throughout the story will attract readers who love graphic novels and also those who enjoy hybrid text/image narratives. Who doesn't love the Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID series?
That love and accessibility should attract eager readers to Maggie Chowder, expanding their interest in and comfort with more complex stories and plot lines. Deeper themes are dealt with deftly and can expand readers' discussions, too.
I can see a future series in this girl's future, with Grandma "Rat" and Glitter playing important roles/
September 29, 2020
You'll speed-read The Exceptional Maggie Chowder, for sure, because it is fun, sensitive, spunky, and, well, it's exceptional. This spot-on middle-grade adventure features a pair of best friends, a mutual set of big dreams and simple hopes, an array of realistic and heart-tugging obstacles--and some sweet solutions. Lute has a good bead on twelve-year-olds, a command of both pithy and poignant dialogue, and a whole lot of heart, which shines through every page of this thoroughly enjoyable novel.
March 15, 2021
Maggie's been looking forward to summer. She didn't know it had such MAJOR changes in store -- her dad loses his job, the family has to move into a dingy two-bedroom apartment, her comic-book-hating Grandma Barrel is staying on the couch for a month. To make matters worse, her BF is having a life-changing summer too . . . but in all the BEST ways.
June 24, 2020
This book was too cute. I liked the story of Maggie and her family, a story that could’ve ended up as a rotten summer. However, Maggie turned it into quite a summer summer great for a lot of people in our family! My six graders would love this book!
September 13, 2020
Fantastic story complemented by exquisite comics. Such a great, heartwarming narrative with a lovable, relatable main character. Authentic depiction of a neurodiverse secondary character is a huge bonus. My eight-year-old loves this as much as I do.
March 27, 2023
Mom read this to me at bedtime over the past two months. It took longer than normal because sometimes I decided I just wanted quiet, but this was a really fun story!
August 3, 2025
I'm not sure why there are so few ratings for this wonderful book. I think all the characters are pretty exceptional, including Maggie. Maggie and her friend, LaTanya see things from each other's lives that they yearn for, and there's a full circle of yearning, understanding, acceptance, and gratitude, but not in a preachy, in-your-face way.
There were a few times the book felt like the adult perspective of the writer found its way into Maggie's voice but not enough to weaken her character. For example, when Maggie talks about how the grout in the bathroom is green. Some kids know about grout, and if Maggie's cleaning the bathroom often enough, maybe she does. Who knows? Some kids also have mature voices.
Maggie's grandma was a hoot. Her character started out a little one-dimensional and then almost too quickly blossomed into something new altogether. I didn't love the comics, but I know one of my nieces would have a lot to say about them, so I think they're a nice addition. Overall, an exceptional book for kids going through big changes.
There were a few times the book felt like the adult perspective of the writer found its way into Maggie's voice but not enough to weaken her character. For example, when Maggie talks about how the grout in the bathroom is green. Some kids know about grout, and if Maggie's cleaning the bathroom often enough, maybe she does. Who knows? Some kids also have mature voices.
Maggie's grandma was a hoot. Her character started out a little one-dimensional and then almost too quickly blossomed into something new altogether. I didn't love the comics, but I know one of my nieces would have a lot to say about them, so I think they're a nice addition. Overall, an exceptional book for kids going through big changes.
September 13, 2020
LOVE!
Readers are going to fall in love with Maggie and her quirky family as they discover that supporting each other's dreams isn't always easy, but it's worth it in the end. Great for younger middle school readers grappling with all the changes in their lives--which is always the case, and even more now with global shifts affecting people across the world.
Lute's distinctive voice makes this an easy, fast read and the comics throughout with keep fans of graphic novels and superheroes engaged and exciting about Maggie.
Readers are going to fall in love with Maggie and her quirky family as they discover that supporting each other's dreams isn't always easy, but it's worth it in the end. Great for younger middle school readers grappling with all the changes in their lives--which is always the case, and even more now with global shifts affecting people across the world.
Lute's distinctive voice makes this an easy, fast read and the comics throughout with keep fans of graphic novels and superheroes engaged and exciting about Maggie.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews