The Staircase on Pine Street

A Smart Girl, a Treasure, a Mystery and a Grandfather with Alzheimer's'

Children - Grade 4th-6th
66 Pages
Reviewed on 11/10/2014
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Janelle Alex, Ph.D. for Readers' Favorite

The Staircase on Pine Street is a gripping and heartwarming story. Yet, it is also a heart-wrencher. Mariana Llanos paints a tender picture of what so many families go through. A young, school-age girl named Lilly watches her paternal grandfather move through the stages of Alzheimer’s. Slowly, but surely it takes the grandfather she has been very close to away from her. Lilly wants to create a cure for him, but she is only an elementary student after all. However, in the midst of the Alzheimer’s taking its toll, her grandfather discovers he has a fun mystery for Lilly to solve. She solves the mystery, but will she get to share it with her grandfather or will it be too late?

Mariana Llanos has written a wonderful book to share with school-age children. It brought tears to my eyes, yet I believe it is wonderful to read to all elementary age children, whether or not they personally know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The Staircase on Pine Street offers parents a wonderful opportunity to teach their children about love and the aging process. For those who would like to incorporate faith or spirituality into what they teach their children, I feel this book is a shining example. Trust in love. Trust in the unseen. Trust in the potential hidden treasures that can be discovered. As a home-school mom, I can hardly wait to prepare a lesson around this book and share it with my 3rd grade son.