Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Pages: 223
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Real life / Narrative
Notes for Parents: Rose’s dad drinks consistently; the word “retard” is used in a derogatory way a few times.

The Inside Cover

Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. She’s thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein) which, according to Rose’s rules of homonyms, is very special. Not everyone understands Rose’s obsessions, her rules, or the other things that make her different—not her teachers, not other kids, and not her single father.
When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, roads are flooded, and Rain goes missing. Rose’s father shouldn’t have let Rain out. Now, Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
Rose has high-functioning autism. The story is not so much about her searching for her dog, but rather about how she deals with the break in her routine when the storm hits and her dog goes missing.

What’s good?

This is a tender story about a girl named Rose who has to adapt to her less than perfect situation. She has no mother, and ineffective father, ill-equipped teachers, and a mild type of autism that makes it difficult for her to make connections. Rose is an excellent narrator and interprets the complex situations around her in simple statements and short chapters that resonate with emotion even though Rose herself doesn’t recognize it. Since Rose isn’t really capable of analyzing the motives of others, what we know about the secondary characters is based solely on Rose’s austere observations. The pacing is good, the relationships are realistic, and the end is bittersweet.
Best Part: Rain and Uncle Weldon.

What isn’t good?

The sentences are intentionally choppy—reflecting the thought process of a 12-year-old mildly autistic girl—which take a while to get used to, as do all the homophones in brackets. 
Worst part: In the beginning, Rose explains the difference between homophones and homonyms, then proceeds to misuse the word homonym through the entire book.

Recommendation þþþþo

It only took a few pages to get used to the awkward writing style because Rose is such a charming and unforgettable narrator. Dog lovers and anyone who appreciates honest and emotional storytelling will enjoy this simple story. Definitely recommended.

Martin, Ann M., Rain Reign. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2014. (Hardcover)