Only Only Marisol Rainey

by Erin Entrada Kelly Narrated by Amielynn Abellera

Overview

When a neighbor's big, scary dog goes missing, it seems like only Marisol is worried he's up to no good. But is there more to this lost-dog story than meets the eye?

From Newbery Medal- and Newbery Honor-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly, Only Only Marisol Rainey is a young middle-grade novel about friendship, facing your fears, and the power of compassion, friendship, and empathy. This stand-alone companion to Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey and Surely Surely Marisol Rainey is perfect for fans of Ivy + Bean, Merci Suárez, and Ramona.

*A dangerous beast is on the loose in Marisol Rainey's neighborhood! At least, Marisol thinks it's a dangerous beast. She's never actually met the neighbor's dog officially, but surely a big German shepherd can't be anything else. That's why she and her BFF Jada nicknamed him “Daggers.”

When the Missing Dog posters around town reveal that his real name is Gregory, Marisol's fears don't ease up one bit. He may be Gregory at home, but when he's freely roaming the neighborhood with nothing to hold him back, he's Daggers and nothing else.

When Marisol tries to sleep, the image of Daggers and his sharp teeth comes to mind. Marisol doesn't even want to ride her bike anymore. What if Daggers leaps out of the bushes, knocks her over, and eats her? She feels like she can't rest until she knows Daggers has been returned to her neighbor's backyard. Strangely, no one else seems all that concerned for their safety. Only Marisol.

Is Daggers big and super scary looking? Maybe. Is Marisol afraid? Surely. Will she eventually learn that there's more to Daggers than meets the eye? Only if she faces her fears.

Only Only Marisol Rainey is told in short chapters, making it perfect for listeners ready for a short and accessible novel. Erin Entrada Kelly's stand-alone companion to Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey and Surely Surely Marisol Rainey celebrates the small but mighty Marisol, the joys of friendship, the power of compassion, and the triumph of persevering. For readers of Kevin Henkes, Andrew Clements, Judy Blume, and Beverly Cleary.

Editorial Reviews

July 2023 - AudioFile

Amielynn Abellera does a delightful job narrating this story about facing fears. Second grader Marisol suffers from anxious thoughts. Now Gregory, the neighbor's dog, is missing. Because Marisol imagines him to be a vicious dog, she's scared to ride her bike--what if she encounters him? Slowly, Marisol's mother helps her feel more prepared for dog encounters. They discuss various dog breeds and the safest way to approach dogs. Abellera captures Marisol's anxiety with believable tension that listeners will sympathize with. She gives Marisol's brother, Oz, a raspy voice, which adds humor to the story. Abellera excels when she portrays Marisol's mother, who speaks with a Filipino accent in a calm tone that exudes safety and love. A.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

In her third adventure, Marisol helps her friend Felix learn to ride a bicycle, navigates her best friend Jada’s jealousy that Marisol is spending so much time with Felix, and worries about a neighbor’s scary-looking German shepherd, who has gone missing. . . . Marisol is an anxious second grader, and her concerns are emotionally spot-on. . . . Approachable for young readers, featuring wide margins, plenty of white space, and an abundance of line drawings.” — Horn Book (starred review)

"After her mother teaches her how to interact with unfamiliar dogs, [Marisol] overcomes her anxiety about encountering Gregory (aka Daggers), a fierce-looking German shepherd; when he gets lost, she befriends him and helps reunite him with his owners. . . . The writing is simple enough for readers transitioning to chapter books but never simplistic when portraying characters or creating believable, involving storylines. A satisfying early chapter book for Marisol fans and new readers alike.” — Booklist

“Short and sweet, this installment is full of humor and relatability. Characters deal with friendship ups and downs and learn not to make snap judgments about people. . . . A fun read that brings only delight.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The third book in the Maybe Marisol series, and it may be the best one yet.” — The Week Junior

AudioFile - JULY 2023

Amielynn Abellera does a delightful job narrating this story about facing fears. Second grader Marisol suffers from anxious thoughts. Now Gregory, the neighbor's dog, is missing. Because Marisol imagines him to be a vicious dog, she's scared to ride her bike--what if she encounters him? Slowly, Marisol's mother helps her feel more prepared for dog encounters. They discuss various dog breeds and the safest way to approach dogs. Abellera captures Marisol's anxiety with believable tension that listeners will sympathize with. She gives Marisol's brother, Oz, a raspy voice, which adds humor to the story. Abellera excels when she portrays Marisol's mother, who speaks with a Filipino accent in a calm tone that exudes safety and love. A.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2023-05-09
In her latest series outing, Marisol Rainey faces her fear of a large dog on the loose.

Marisol loves riding her bike, especially with her best friend, Jada. On weekends they ride around their neighborhood, pausing only when they come to the house where the terrifying beast lives, whom they call Daggers. They’ve never interacted with the dog, so Marisol doesn’t know if Daggers is his real name or if he is even dangerous at all. One day Marisol sees a lost dog flyer for Daggers (actually, turns out his name is Gregory). Her nervousness grows, making it difficult to ride her bike alone. She and Jade seek help from their friend Felix, who claims he can talk to animals. Felix doesn’t know how to ride a bike, so the girls make a deal: They’ll give him lessons if he finds a way to communicate with—and recapture—Gregory. But teaching someone takes patience, and Jada is being rude to Felix. Marisol, who’s often plagued by the what-ifs, confronts her fears and discovers she’s not the only one who worries about things. Short and sweet, this installment is full of humor and relatability. Characters deal with friendship ups and downs and learn not to make snap judgments about people. Kelly's charming black-and-white illustrations add fun facts about animal communication and bike safety. Marisol is biracial (her mother is Filipina, while her father is White), Jada is Black, and Felix presents White.

A fun read that brings only delight. (Fiction. 6-9)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175093224
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Series:	Maybe Marisol Series , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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