From the author of Paula and Mr. Meanie Pants: "Beverly lives with her family at their funeral home. She has two friends that no one else can see: Paula, a dinosaur small enough to fit in her pocket, and Mr. Meanie Pants, a mouse who wears a Hawaiian shirt and rides a skateboard. Paula is kind and helpful, but Mr. Meanie Pants is a compulsive prankster who keeps getting Beverly in trouble. As she grows older, her world changes, but Paula and Mr. Meanie Pants remain constant—for better or worse!” Sarah C., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing
First Impressions: The first thing I noticed when I started reading Paula and Mr. Meanie Pants was Kristin Rowan’s strong narrative voice. Beverly, the main character, felt instantly real. Experiencing the world through her eyes created a unique and charming atmosphere. The first-person perspective was easy to follow and moved the story rapidly along. Some of the scenes were very short, but each glimpse into Beverly’s life strengthened her as a character and added to her story. Beverly’s simplistic approach to subjects that would make the average adult tremble (such as funerals and the apocalypse) revealed her childish innocence and set the stage for her to evolve throughout the course of the book.
Cover and Setting: I like to imagine that the pictures of Paula the dinosaur and Mr. Meanie Pants the mouse on the book cover were drawn in crayon by Beverly when she was a young child. Paula, who is steady and dependable (despite being upside down), is clearly the more approachable of the two, but Mr. Meanie Pants has his charms, too. The sunglasses fit his personality perfectly! The book’s setting varied throughout the narrative, but each new location felt genuine. As I read, I found myself remembering places I had visited in my life at one point or another.
Plot: At its heart, this is a story about a little girl growing up. Beverly deals with many issues readers will find familiar—things that might seem small in the grand scheme of things, but which shape Beverly as a person. Especially poignant was the evolution of her friendship with Millie. I also sensed her struggle to emerge from the shadow of her older siblings, and I admired her efforts to create her own identity and make her own path. Finally, the interplay between her self-esteem and her romantic endeavors was delightful to watch, if somewhat heartbreaking. Throughout her successes and failures, Paula and Mr. Meanie Pants provide a fascinating insight into her state of mind.
Characters: Beverly is unremarkable, but that’s what makes her so special. Anyone who reads this story will find something that jogs a memory, whether it be of a feeling or an experience. Beverly is undeniably human, with dreams and quirks and insecurities. Paula is almost maternal in nature, faithfully keeping Beverly company and providing a calm presence even in the midst of chaos. Mr. Meanie Pants is definitely evil, but at times, his wickedness is exactly what Beverly needs! All together, they are a perfectly-balanced trio. Beverly’s friend Millie exists in some capacity in everyone’s life, and any younger sibling will understand Beverly’s difficulties navigating the world after the expectations are set so high by the successes of her big sister Bea and her big brother Ben.
Final Thoughts: In some ways, I was reluctant to see how Beverly’s viewpoint would change as she grew older, but at the same time, it was cathartic to read such a relatable book! The characters of Paula and Mr. Meanie Pants are richly symbolic of the internal dialogue that starts early in life and continues into adulthood. I especially liked how Beverly continued to keep these “imaginary” individuals in her life, even after she grew up. It cleverly reveals her loneliness and also her awareness of herself. Paula and Mr. Meanie Pants definitely left me feeling nostalgic, something I didn’t expect when I first opened the book. It is a great read with more depth than meets the eye.
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
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