In Front of God and Everybody (The Confessions of April Grace) [Paperback]

KD McCrite (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2011 | Age Range: 9 and up | Series: The Confessions of April Grace

If God wanted April Grace to be kind to her neighbors, He should have made them nicer!

Growing up in the country is never easy, but it sure is funny—especially if you happen to have a sister obsessed with being glamorous, a grandma just discovering make-up, hippie friends who never shower, and brand new neighbors from the city who test everyone’s patience. From disastrous dye jobs to forced apologies and elderly date tagalongs, you’ll laugh ‘til you cry as you read the Confessions of April Grace!

Here are just a couple of April's thoughts: On her sister, Myra Sue: "How anyone can be that dumb and still be able to eat with a fork is beyond me."  On senior citizen lovebirds: "What if they started smooching right at the table in front of God and everybody?"

In spite of all the loony characters in her life, April Grace is able to learn from her parents as they share the love of God—to even the craziest of characters!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

KD McCrite grew up on an Ozark Mountain farm along an old dirt road, just like April Grace Reilly in the Confessions of April Grace series. She loves writing stories that make people laugh and think. For a while, she worked as a librarian, but these days she sits at her desk and makes up stories.

Product Details

• Age Range: 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400317223
• ISBN-13: 978-1400317226
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > Multigenerational

More About the Author

K.D. McCrite was raised on a small dairy farm in the Ozarks. The rural life is a strong element in her books, and humor drives the plots. She has a degree in psychology from Drury University, and has worked as a librarian and as a mental health case worker.

These days, K.D. thinks there is no finer life than to create and share her stories with others. She hopes those stories brighten the lives of her readers.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, sweet book with a good message June 7, 2011

By dSavannah George-Jones VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

If you are - or have - a younger sibling (or even if you don't), you will relate to the story of April Grace Reilly, an 11-year-old who is part spitfire, part know-it-all, and 100% charming. April, her parents, and her sister, Myra Sue, live in the Country in rural Arkansas. (In fact, she could very well be a neighbor!) This does not mean they are *simple* or *stupid*, as April Grace loves pointing out, it just means they do things differently than in the big city. Her father is a dairy farmer, and her mom takes care of the house and garden.

It's the summer of 1986, and the family is turned upside down with the arrival of new neighbors: snooty Isabel and Ian St. James, who have been forced to leave the big city and live in the country (to "get back to their roots", according to Ian, though drama-queen Isabel would rather not). Throw in Grandma and her new boyfriend, April's mistrust of him, and Myra Sue's new obsession with glamor, and you've got a a very funny book.

The author has a marvelous way with words. You feel like you're bouncing along in the truck next to Grandma, sitting at the dinner table with all the characters, and digging in the vanity for the first aid kit.

One of the things I like best about this book is that although it is Christian-based, it does not scream or preach at you. The Reilly family lead by example - by being beyond kind to their neighbors, by sharing, by showing tolerance and respect, by being patient. They invite the St. James' to church, but they don't try to proselytize them - they simply live their lives in the best way possible. The author also handles some weighty subjects - particularly teen eating disorders - with kindness and compassion. April learns a lot of lessons, particularly about not being judgmental, lessons that all of us can use!

A note: although the publisher has marketed the book to tweens, adults will thoroughly enjoy it too. (Trust me, I'm waaaay beyond tweenage!) I can't wait for Book 2! Also, be sure to visit the author's website, [...],to read a special April Grace confession and the author's blog.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Read May 24, 2011

By Monica

Format:Paperback

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace by K.D. McCrite details highlights from 11-year old April Grace's summer vacation, told from the often-hilarious perspective of April Grace herself.

April Grace seems older than her 11 years in her thoughts and observations. The book is geared toward Tweens, but as an adult, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading April Grace's musings and antics!
I did feel that at times the author tried a little bit too hard to make April Grace funny, but there were also quite a few parts where I laughed out loud. April Grace says (or thinks) what everyone else is thinking, but is too polite to say!

The story line was quite enjoyable. April Grace deals with snooty new neighbors, an older sister who things she is Queen Bee and her beloved Grandma trying to impress the new man in her life.
The new neighbors are as rude as can be, yet April Grace's parents do the Christian thing (for entirely too long in my opinion) and take them in. I thought the author did a good job of slowly allowing those two characters to grow and develop. And, of course, it took April Grace telling it like it is for part of that to happen.
April Grace's sister worships the new neighbors, and takes emulating Isabel St. James a little too far. I did like the irony that her sister wants to be seen as fashionable, proper and elegant ... while being saddled with the decidedly country name of Myra Sue.

April Grace can't wrap her head around her grandma dating, wearing makeup or ... gasp ... kissing her boyfriend, which makes for a very amusing subplot of the story. Not to mention, this man is extremely loud, extremely obnoxious and seems to be hiding something - which April Grace picks up on, but no one believes her. I really liked the mystery woven into the latter half of the story.

All in all, an enjoyable book I would recommend to others!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad April 26, 2011

By G. Blankenship

Format:Paperback

First, this is definitely written for a preteen girl. I had to often remind myself to read it from that perspective, otherwise the writing would aggravate me with it's simplistic characters. To be honest, some of the characters just didn't seem to fit and I truly have no idea why they were included in the book.

The book begins with an event that happened when the main character, April Grace, was 8 or 9. I assume it was the author's intent to use a bad experience in April's past to explain her feelings in the present, but to be honest I felt like it was not necessary. April was born and raised in the Ozarks and had been teased about being a "hillbilly" by some rich folks. As a result she seems to instantly dislike the St. James' who were moving in to the farm down the road because they appeared to be wealthy.

The St. James' aren't rich, however, and in a peculiar twist they end up living with April's family until they can get their place fixed up. Through this April learns a valuable lesson best explained in April's granny's own words:

"honey, you just got to quit finding fault with everyone...There ain't never been but one perfect person in the world, and they killed Him. If you keep looking at the things you don't like about folks, you won't every have any friends. Or any fun, neither. Folks don't act they way they do just to annoy you. They act the way they do 'cause they're people."

If you are looking at this as a book for your preteen, be aware that while there is a really good message in this book, there is an implication of drug use by the crazy hippie neighbors, and April's sister ends up becoming anorexic (although this is discussed very little, it just sort of happens in the background). This book can open doors for discussion with your preteen about how we view others, how our actions can influence the way others view us, anorexia (obviously), and many other topics.

All in all, not a bad book from a parent's perspective. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.