Grace: A Novel (Hardcover)

by Richard Paul Evans (Author)
Key Phrases: Aunt Geniel, Officer Steele, Madeline Webb (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A ninth grader's world is forever changed in Evan's holiday present to his fans. Eric is still adjusting to his family's move from California to Utah when he discovers runaway classmate Grace dumpster diving behind the burger joint where he works. A concerned Eric and his younger brother, Joel, hide Grace in their backyard clubhouse. Meanwhile, the Cuban Missile Crisis looms, and the boys' father is recovering from Guillain-Barré and their mother is overworked, so there are plenty of distractions to keep the grown-ups ignorant of the goings-on. Evans portrays Grace's heartbreaking predicament with sensitivity and also touches on how the political situation affected the era's youth ("The possibility of a nuclear holocaust was just something we always carried around in the back of our minds, like an overdue library book"). Evans knows how to pull on the heartstrings, and the conclusion to this one will have readers reaching for a hankie.
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Product Description
She was my first kiss. My first love. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She was a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.

As I begin to write, a part of me feels as if I am awakening something best left dead and buried, or at least buried. We can bury the past, but it never really dies. The experience of that winter has grown on my soul like ivy climbing the outside of a home, growing until it begins to tear and tug at the brick and mortar.

I pray I can still get the story right. My memory, like my eyesight, has waned with age. Still, there are things that become clearer to me as I grow older. This much I know: too many things were kept secret in those days. Things that never should have been hidden. And things that should have.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416550038
• ISBN-13: 978-1416550037
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,136 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A genuine good read!, October 13, 2008

By	BrianB (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is a wonderful story told by a wise narrator, who looks back over the years to his first love, the tragedy that followed, and the purpose that he discovered for his life. I had not read any of Evans' novels before, and after reading a short summary, I was afraid that this would be overly sentimental and saccharine. My fears were groundless. The story is believable, realistic, and well told. There is nothing pretentious or preachy here, just a heartfelt expression of the author's faith. The sadness and tragedy are not nuanced or downplayed. I cried several times in this book. It is a sad story, and the ending is very uplifting, but it does not bring a relief of sadness. I found it to be very realistic.

The writer brings the worldview of a 14 year old boy clearly into focus. He shows Eric's worries, awkwardness, his lack of control over his own life, and the beginnings of his independence from the adults around him. Reading about Eric's struggles, I remembered once again those intense feelings of adolescence.

The story is told in a colloquial style, which lends verisimilitude to the teenager's voice. He doesn't use proper grammar throughout, but that fits with this novel. The characters in the story are basically good, but with many flaws. The author describes how the boys torture insects during the long summer. The three main characters fight, hurt, and love each other just like the teens I knew and know.

In summary, this is a story that I can recommend to everybody. It deals with mature subjects, but in a respectful and realistic manner. I read it practically in one sitting. Then I gave it to my teenage son to read. I would not do that with many books.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I discovered Grace, October 7, 2008

By	M. Bunten - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

AMAZING! I devoured this book. This is one of Richard's best books! This incredible tale touched my soul! These characters share their hearts and opened mine! I immediately donated to the Christmas Box Lifestart Initiative! It made me remember those relationships in my past that have left an impression or shaped my life. For those I am truly grateful.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Enjoyable Book , October 7, 2008

By	C. Hodges (Provo, UT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Grace" touched my heart and has left me a better person. Not only is this book beautifully written, it also brings awareness to critical issues facing society. The characters are charming and witty. I felt like I was reading about my brothers and childhood friends. Their concerns and experiences display courage and deep love, lessons we all need constant reminders of. It is my favorite of Richard's writing - hands down. I love it! I treasure this story and am excited to share it with my family and friends. It is one I will read and cherish over and over again. One read is not enough.