Greeny is a third-grade boy who is about to turn nine. Everywhere he looks, it seems like people are talking about growing up. All Greeny wants is to remain a child. As his birthday gets closer and closer, Greeny resolves to ask his parents if they will let him walk home from school on his own. At first, Greeny's parents are nervous about letting their only child walk home, but after Greeny demonstrates maturity and trustworthiness, they agree to let him try. This journey that begins with a simple walk home on his own leads to a series of adventures, questions, and opportunities for growth. Greeny explores his belief in God and receives a personal miracle to affirm God's existence and love for him. Greeny makes mistakes and learns about receiving and giving forgiveness. In the end, Greeny learns that growing up isn't as scary as he thought.
Collins used her experiences as a Christian who has worked with children and families to create a relatable children's novel for all kids going through the early stages of puberty and growing up. Through Greeny, she explores the minds of many third graders as they grapple with the questions of belief in God, relationships with their parents, and taking new steps on their own. Even though this book primarily focuses on the hardships of beginning to grow up and the importance of allowing children to still be children, the reader will be happy to find that there are many positive morals hidden through this brief chapter book. Accompanied by illustrations, the book provides plenty of reading enjoyment for early readers and adults alike. Any parent raising their children as Christians will appreciate the way this story centers everything on God and His love and mercy.