Just Grace (Hardcover)

by Charise Mericle Harper (Author) "1 I did not get to be the helper to Mister Magic the Magician at my very own (so it should have been me) sixth..." (more)
Key Phrases: big meanie, lion poop, red oven mitts, Augustine Dupre, Sammy Stringer, Miss Lois (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 2–4—Just Grace starts with a list of missed opportunities and finishes with the rich possibility of a new friend. In between, third-grader Grace Stewart sends postcards to her next-door neighbor (purporting to be from Crinkles, the neighbor's own cat), draws comics of Not-So-Super ("but still good") superheroes, plays detective with her best friend when Crinkles goes missing, tries to avoid the odious Sammy Stringer, and establishes herself as a true original in a class with not one, but four, Graces. The narrative voice is strong throughout and the story reads like one-part diary, one-part testimonial. The text is interspersed with the child's illustrations and postcards, which nicely divide the story into episodes, as opposed to chapters. A strong cast of supporting characters shares her world. Since Grace claims to have a teeny-tiny superpower ("I can always tell when someone is unhappy, even if that person is pretending to be happy and is a really good actor"), her relationships with these people, and her ability to read them correctly, take on greater significance as the story advances. Grace is a funny, mischievous protagonist who should easily find a place in the pantheon of precocious third graders. Fans of Amber Brown, Clementine, and Judy Moody will love her.—Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Grace (whose harried teacher nicknames her Just Grace to distinguish her from the three other Graces in class) deals with the usual trials and tribulations of third grade in this hilarious first chapter book. In addition to the usual indignities (being spit on at your birthday party; missing the talent show because of the stomach flu), Grace must deal with feelings about her intimidating next-door neighbor, Mrs. Luther, whose walls are decorated with scary masks and who seems fond of Grace's nemesis, disgusting Sammy Stringer. Grace loves Mrs. Luther's cat, Crinkles, though, and when it goes missing she determines to find it, even if that means temporarily joining forces with Sammy. The kids come alive in the story, and Harper, the author of several previous books, including the graphic novel Fashion Kitty (2005), enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Equally delightful is the wry voice of energetic Just Grace, who never misses an opportunity to point out the injustices life has dealt her. She's a hero through and through. Give this to fans of Ann Nagda's Meow Means Mischief (2003) or anyone looking for a funny book. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618646426
• ISBN-13: 978-0618646425
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #503,254 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, cute illustrations, August 18, 2007

By	CookieBooky (www.CookieBooky.com) - See all my reviews

Just Grace is a fun and funny book about a girl named Grace. She gets her nickname because there are four girls in her class all named Grace. As the teacher was calling them "Grace (insert last initial here)", Grace asked if she could be called just Grace. So the teacher did.

Grace's super power is empathy. When I read this, I just knew I'd love this story. Grace has also got talent. When she tries to take her mind off of something that's bothering her, she draws what she calls Not-So-Super comics. Although you always kind of know that Grace's intentions are good, she does end up making mistakes and getting in some scrapes.

Grace ends up being an unlikely hero (just like the name of her favorite TV show 'Unlikely Heroes'). She devises a plan to cheer up her neighbor because her superpower, after all, is empathy. When none of it goes as expected, Grace works hard to set everything right.

I enjoyed Just Grace immensely. The story was well told. The illustrations were wonderful and whimsical too. Great book!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Gem, August 27, 2008

By	S. Campbell (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Just Grace (Paperback)

I cannot do justice describing the charms of Just Grace. My 9 year old niece was reading it last summer and I picked it up to see what it was like. My children are 3 and 5 and adore Charise's books and I wanted to see what her "big kid" books had to offer. I was instantly charmed by Grace and had to finish the book. It is very funny and the story keeps you interested to very end. I love that a book geared toward 9-12 year old girls has a heroine whose super power is empathy. Grace is kind and feels for others, but is a realistic regular girl who knows to do the right thing, even if she would rather not sometimes. My 5 year old is a reader and she just read the book and cannot wait to move on to the others. It is such a nice change of pace for books in this demographic. My daughters love Junie B. Jones, but my husband gets exhausted correcting the grammar as he goes, as he cannot bear to read them as written. No such problems with the Just Grace series.
These are lovely, funny, charming books that should be in every book lover's collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Amazing Grace!, January 30, 2009

By	CD "devotedmomof7" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Grace (Paperback)

Can you ever have too much grace? Evidently, because there are so many Graces in one class that they all must be called by other names. When she speaks up and tells the teacher that she wants to be called just "Grace," the young girl finds herself misunderstood and ends up "Just Grace" for the rest of the school year. Just Grace loves watching a TV show about real-life superheroes and decides that her special gift is empathy. Understanding that true empathy requires a response, Grace likes to help people feel better. When a weird teacher who lives next door breaks her leg and her beloved cat rejects her at the sight of the bright orange cast, Just Grace sets out to find a way to cheer the woman. Her efforts backfire, and another student is accused of a crime!

This precious story is so well-written! The highest compliment I could give it is that is sounds like it was written by a child. Just Grace's first person voice is so authentic that you feel like you are given a glimpse into the flittering thoughts of a young girl. The audio CD is one of the best audio portrayals I've ever heard in children's literature.

While the main character and cover art are definitively girly, a food-in-his-teeth boy character in the story who loves poop and belching provides enough "boy stuff" to be enjoyed by young male readers.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!