I think this book will be really powerful for the kids that read it. I can't think of any other book in my classroom that uses a character with Down Syndrome to tell a story. I think this sweet story will be a good read for middle grade students who are looking for a story of family and growing up.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

It's tough when you just want to fit in but it's also tough when you want to protect your twin brother, who has Down Syndrome. It sends a great message that we need to stop worrying about what people think about us and just live life to the fullest!

A great story for young readers to raise the awareness of Down Syndrome, it provides enough humor and ease to make it a comfortable read. While Warren's brother Bennie is the one with Down Syndrome, it is Warren who has a hard time about it - the reaction of other kids, their pitiful looks or teasing behind his back. While Bennie doesn't seem to recognize any of that, Warren is constantly aware of it, and it bothers him to no end. When Bennie starts visiting a class at the same school as Warren, Warren decides to distance himself - he no longer wants to be recognized as the weirdo's brother, but as Warren himself. This leads to a number of complications and at the end, Warren has to ask himself if he made the right decision...

Warren and his family have recently moved to a new town. He misses his friends and is nervous about starting over at a new school where he doesn’t know anyone. He spends a lot of time worrying about what others think of him. Warren enjoys playing soccer and ball hockey.

Warren’s twin brother, Bennie, doesn’t have any trouble making new friends. He doesn’t worry about what other people think of him. Bennie likes inventing games and loves peanut butter and pickles sandwiches.

“Sometimes people who didn’t know Bennie thought he was weird. I liked to ease him into new situations slowly so we might avoid that.”

Warren wishes he could only be responsible for himself but he also wants to protect his younger (by four minutes) brother. Bennie would never hurt anyone but sometimes he does and says things that embarrass Warren, like calling him Wart in public.

“And then it came, the question someone always asked. “So anyway, what’s your brother got?””

Bennie has Down syndrome. Not everyone understands what they means and some people stare and say mean things about Bennie.

I absolutely adored Bennie. I also really liked Maya, a young spitfire who constantly stands up for what’s right, regardless of whether it’s the easy or difficult choice. I spent most of the novel waiting to be introduced to Owen and he did not disappoint. I’d love to read companion books that delve into both Maya and Owen’s backgrounds and tell me what happens in their lives after this novel ends.

I’m sure plenty of readers will be left hanging, not knowing <spoiler>the final result of the talent show. I assumed the honour would go to Owen, as well as Maya and Bennie, but it wasn’t actually confirmed</spoiler>. I would have liked to have been privy to Danny’s backstory as I’m certain I would have had more compassion for him had I known what had contributed to his behaviour.

I love novels that give me a glimpse inside the worlds of people whose experiences are different to my own. This story, through different characters’ responses to Warren and Bennie, highlights both what is helpful and what is harmful when interacting with those who are different from ourselves.

Although this book allowed me to see some of the joy and struggles of a family that includes a child with Down syndrome, its message is transferrable. Anyone who feels different for whatever reason could take hold of the hope infused in its pages.

Even though children are this book’s intended audience there are valuable lessons for adults as well, who may need a reminder to not waste their time and energy worrying about what others think of them. Learning this was a personal story for its author added weight to the authenticity I already felt reading about Warren’s often conflicting feelings towards his brother.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’m interested in reading more books by this author.

In this book we meet Warren and his twin brother Bennie who calls Warren Wart, his nickname in front of the new kids where they move to.



Maya is a bold girl and breaks free of the judgemental neighbourhood kids to befriend the new guys especially Bennie as she reveals her kind and caring nature throughout the book when we're introduced to her other friend Owen.



As Bennie's brilliant at puzzles and their new school is putting on a talent show, Maya encourages him to take part while Warren wants to stop his brother from being made more of a target to the bullies in the school and so he teams up with them to try and put a stop to his brothers performance...



All about learning to love and appreciate the family and friends you have it was a unique book and I loved the powerful girl Maya was in the book and how she stuck up for Bennie all the way through too.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Warren and Bennie are twins, but that’s as far as their similarities go. Bennie has Down Syndrome, and Warren does not. While Warren is trying to navigate the difficulties of fitting in, Bennie is living in the joy of the moment. Warren has always looked out for his brother in every way possible, but now he’s struggling with his identify being tied to Bennie's. For the first time in his young life, he’s having a hard time accepting Bennie for who he is.

I’m always looking for great young adult books with a heartfelt storyline. This one checks off all the boxes. Great message, believable and likable characters, suitable for all ages.

There are some books that make the world feel just a little bit brighter, in even the darkest of times. For me, this is one of those books. It is sweet, without being treacly. While you can predict some aspects of the story, there are other aspects that are completely surprising, so the story is never dull. The writing is simple, but the characters are complex and realistic.

The Jigsaw Puzzle King is, at it's heart, a story about brotherly love. Warren and Bennie are twin brothers, but Bennie has Down Syndrome and Warren does not. Sometimes it can be hard for Warren to ignore the ways that other people look at or respond to Bennie. He feels like he is always on edge, trying to watch out for Bennie but also for his own reputation. Having a sibling with a disability can sometimes feel like a big responsibility.

Warren and Bennie are starting over at a new school and making new friends. Some, like Maya, see all that is good in Bennie and recognize his many strengths. Others, like Danny, see the world in black and white. There is an us and a them, and if you aren't just like Danny you cannot be part of the group. Warren struggles to find his place.

Gina McMurchy-Barber does an extraordinary job of capturing the complexities of loving someone who is a little bit different. It isn't always easy or fun, but there are so many moments that make it worthwhile.

Get to the library or get an online copy as fast as you can. You have to check out "The Jigsaw Puzzle King!" See the world through Bennies's eyes and discover the challenge that we all face. Making room for everyone in the puzzle of life. Make the time to open your mind and your heart to this wonderful read.

"Being yourself, isin't always easy"

This book was so real, so full of emotions and thoughts. here we have twin brothers Bennie and Warren, two 11year olds. One with Down Syndrome who are super at puzzles and loves peanut and pickle sandwich and another who loves hockey and soccer. But being yourself and supporting your brother isin't always easy and it takes guts to be yourself and be true to your familiy and stand up to others who are mean. I liked how it devoloped and how we could see both bad and good sides from the brothers, and that despite it all - they support each other no matter what, it just takes some time to get there.

I was sent this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet story about Warren and his twin brother, Bennie, who has Down syndrome and how Warren navigates a new school and learns to not worry about what others think of him and his brother.

The representation in here is wonderful. I love that Gina McMurchy-Barber used her own experience to spread more knowledge about Down syndrome and what it’s like being a sibling of someone with Down syndrome.

Bennie and Maya are honestly my favorite characters in this book and their friendship is just so heartwarming. Bennie is just such a sweet character who looks up to his brother, Warren, and wants to make him proud. It’s described in the book that he gives everyone big bear hugs and I could just feel that through the story as he has this pure view of the world around him.

Warren did have a few cringy moments that I really had a hard time getting through but in the end he was there for his brother and owned up to being wrong about his actions.

I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet an honest story of a boy whose identical twin brother has Down Syndrome. Moving to a new town, he's ready to start new, hoping to be his own person and not just his brother's brother. Soon a friend shows him both how much he has underestimated his brother and how being his brother's brother can be a positive in his life.

A thoughtful, if at times slow, of a boy with a DS sibling as he navigates a new town, new school, and a new desire to be known as someone other than his twin's brother. There are some uneven moments but, overall, I think the book strikes the sweet spot between sympathetic and fair