Reviews

Booklist

"This Dutch import features a fiesty tone and a brash reality that makes it quite different from American contemporary stories.... Unusual fare, with some interesting discussions of death and God to fatten up the story even more."

School Library Journal

"The child's strength, her indomitable spirit, and her independence in finding her own resolution to losing her grandmother are the striking aspects of the novel. The quirky grandmother is real enough also.... This is a worthy, well translated effort that has engaging characters."

Horn Book Guide

"Maria's voice is fresh and her story an original one about friendship and faith"

Booklist

"This Dutch import features a fiesty tone and a brash reality that makes it quite different from American contemporary stories.... Unusual fare, with some interesting discussions of death and God to fatten up the story even more."

School Library Journal

"The child's strength, her indomitable spirit, and her independence in finding her own resolution to losing her grandmother are the striking aspects of the novel. The quirky grandmother is real enough also.... This is a worthy, well translated effort that has engaging characters."

Horn Book Guide

"Maria's voice is fresh and her story an original one about friendship and faith"

Riverbank Review

"The God of Grandma Forever is a moving novel that shows how remarkable and rewarding even the more tentative friendship can be. It is also a daring one, in its willingness to openly ponder questions of faith and doubt."

Voice of Youth Advocate

"[T]he fluent translation conveys the slightly skewed universe of an imaginative but naive preteen with great insight and dexterity.... [T]here is somthing delicately and deliciously gothic about this subtle tale that should appeal to discerning middle school readers."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The stylistically unadorned text is reminiscent of Swedish author Maria Gripe (Julia's House, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 3/75) in its blunt honesty. Grandma and Maria are drawn in bold lines, and readers will find them memorable."

NAPRA Review, PA

"The novel's lingering power … comes from Hogeweg's mastery in showing how young Maria comes to accept and truly love her Grandma, including her odd —sometimes even disgusting —attributes."