The Nerviest Girl in the World
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 9+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Pearl is brave, funny and loyal to her teasing older brothers, and readers learn real history about the first moving pictures. A rival girl becomes a friend. The honest reservation is that the plot runs on Pearl hiding dangerous work from her mother, told with a wink, and no source says the deception is corrected.
For parents
Read aloud from 7, independent reading from 9. Kirkus says 8 to 12 and School Library Journal says grades 4 to 7. Ask why Pearl's mama does not want her doing stunts. Ask what Pearl should have done instead of keeping it secret, and what the Fourth Commandment asks of children (CCC 2216).