School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-In the second installment in this series, seven-year-old Ty must navigate the sometimes chaotic events of his life both at home and at school. When his teacher gives the class an assignment to do random acts of kindness and then present a recitation for the class, Ty feels nervous and slightly confused. He soon realizes, with the encouragement of his sister Winnie, that kindness is something that comes naturally to him and that even though people do make mistakes, there is no need to get bent out of shape about it. There are moments of humor and the character development is solid, but important moments in the story sometimes get glossed over. For example, when Ty's friend Lexie pressures him into breaking a rule, there are no consequences. Later, Ty and his friends are told that a classmate being treated for leukemia is well enough to come back to school, but the scene unfolds quickly and does not get enough attention. While there are moments of humor, kid-friendly dialogue, and Ty and other characters are well developed, the overall story lacks focus. Still, playful illustrations add a fun and engaging element to the text, making this a nice chapter book series that will appeal to boys and girls alike.-Melanie Okadigwe, Children's Literature Consultant, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
In his second illustrated chapter book, second grader Ty struggles to complete his school assignment to perform"non-random acts of kindness" while also trying to fulfill a promise to get his baby sister Maggie a pet. Ty is instantly lovable, due to Myracle's strong writing; the narrative voice is authentic, and young readers will connect with Ty's thoughts and observations. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
When Ty's second-grade teacher turns a bumper sticker's admonition into a homework assignment, he wonders how he can possibly perform an act of kindness and prepare a recitation about it by Friday. The next few days are unexpectedly rocky, but Ty finds a confidant with a helpful perspective. The story's tight time frame works well here, and so does Myracle's knack for creating interesting situations and conversations. Large type, wide-spaced lines of text and expressive line drawings help make the second chapter book in The Life of Ty series an inviting choice for young readers.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist
