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Just Grace #1

by Charise Mericle Harper

Rare Book

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Friendship, Juvenile

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2007

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reread was great fun as I got to have J help me read this time. I am sitting side by side with J rather than just holding up the book on Messenger. Definitely elevates the book experience!

When we finished, we compared favorite pictures as this book did not have traditional chapters. J
somchose a picture of a postcard that Grace and Mimi made showing Crinkles (fake photocopy version) in a shopping cart. Their note read: Hi! I was thinking of you and how you love going to the grocery store! Maybe I could come with you sometime! Love, Crinkles.😻

For me, the best picture is one of Crinkles looking out a window. It would spoil the story to explain more except that for awhile they all think Crinkles might have been catnapped.

This book is perfect to kids who love animals and sometimes make mistakes. Just Grace sometimes has to 'draw it out' when she gets sad or frustrated. Love her empathy powers, too, even if they sometimes lead her to make hasty decisions. 🥰


From September of 2017
I also love cats so Grace and I are kindred spirits. At times this book made me laugh out loud. I found myself relaying major plot points to my husband and son as I just had to share. The artwork in this book is amusing, the inner voice of Grace is authentic and I definitely plan to read more about "Just" Grace.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many children’s books are simply wasted on their target audience. The most obvious example is, of course, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, but children’s books with crossover appeal abound: The Book Thief, The Little Prince, The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Dumb Bunnies, Charlotte's Web, The Magic Thief, The Secret Garden.

Add to that list one more: Just Grace. Third-grader Grace Stewart doesn’t speak like an adult, as happens in so many children’s books. She sounds just like a real 9-year-old when she perseverates on how unfair her parents; her stern neighbor, Mrs. Luther; her teacher, Miss Lois, and life in general are. She is appalled by the nasty habits of boys — particularly the poop-obsessed and snotty-nosed Sammy Stringer, a boy with the social graces of a baboon — which is to say, like most 9-year-old boys. This book chronicles the first of what promises to be many adventures of the imaginative and kind Grace.

Grace doesn’t ask for too much. She doesn’t want to be a member of the Justice League; she just wishes to have a “teeny tiny superpower” like the Not So Super Heroes she draws in her own paneled cartoons. What is her “teeny tiny superpower”? Empathy, which Grace has in spades. That’s why, when Mrs. Luther breaks her leg, Grace hits on a wonderful plan to cheer her up. To say more would be to ruin this book. Let’s just say it involves cats and postcards.

Is Just Grace in the same league as the children’s classics I listed above? Not quite. There aren’t any passages that will make your heart flutter, and Grace’s conflict is of the minor sort that you’d expect from a girl who lives in real-life Morgan, N.J., a wealthy bedroom community of New York City. But this quick read will cheer any reader — child or adult — as they meet and fall in love with the big-hearted Grace. And isn’t that what Not So Super powers are for?

[Elina · Rating 4 out of 5]

بامزه🥹
۰۴/۰۲/۰۸

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I'm at the local Barnes and Noble, unconsciously retreating away from the doom and gloom of the new J.K. Rowling release, when my eyes settle on this book. I pick it up, intending to read a few chapters to pass the time, and then be on my way. So it was that, quite unintentionally, somewhere among the forgotten-but-funny realizations of my childhood and Grace's drawings of hers, I got sucked into this book. I really enjoyed the "Postcards from Crinkles the Cat" and the plot twist at the end. "Just Grace" is just fabulous!

[Jonathan Peto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grace is not as kind or as amusing, perhaps, as the characters in some other easy chapter book series, but she is not a monster either. This is the first book in a series of at least twelve, so someone else must appreciate her imperfections. She's a little rough on a classmate, Sammy Stringer, because of his interest in poop, but I can't say I blame her. When her neighbors cat starts avoiding its owner for fear of the woman's new cast, Grace sets out to do some good. It does not work out the way she planned, but her perseverance is admirable. When the adults find out her intentions were good, she still gets in some trouble, which does not seem to faze her but surprised me! The text includes drawings and postcards created by Grace. There aren't chapters, but there are short sections with titles, which reinforces the feeling of reading a journal. The voice was not completely successful in my opinion, it did not fully endear me to Grace, perhaps because the story was a tad too quiet and we did not share a really strong crisis or other emotional roller coaster ride. That may not happen in other books. If my read aloud of this one inspires my daughter to try more, maybe she'll let me know.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick read consisting of short chapters and many small illustrations. It's just the right level for a lower-elementary school reader who is just getting into chapter books.

I have to admit, I had a bit of a shaky start with this book. I was a little put off by how Grace got her classroom name of "Just Grace". When my daughter first explained to me the title of this book - before I read it myself - I thought Grace liked her fun and unusual nickname! As it turned out, though, it was all a big misunderstanding, and she hated it. It seemed like Grace was setting a poor example by complaining about her nickname rather than simply approaching her teacher to clear everything up and choose a new nickname. If the series really hinged on her nickname being "Just Grace", I would have preferred it if Grace at least didn't mind her nickname.

I was also bothered by a passage near the beginning of the book in which Grace categorized certain likes and activities as "boy things". Even though Grace declared that she likes some "boy things", I thought it was really unfortunate that this book reinforced at all the notion of gender dictating likes and dislikes. Why can't she just like what she likes?

After getting past those hurdles, I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed Grace's matter-of-fact first-person perspective. I think her literary voice was spot on, just what young children might be thinking if they really were that articulate. Sometimes the way she first described others was a bit harsh... But it was realistic, and by the end of the book, she learned some lessons in getting to know others. I loved that Grace fancied herself a superhero with the power of empathy! In that regard, she is a great example of how one can be thoughtful and compassionate.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Grace is just silly. No chapters, simply Just Grace (that really is the character's name due to one of her teachers) rambling on with occasional larger text, numbered lists, comic strip style illustrations and cute photos of a Crinkles the cat to break up the story.
Readers will either love it or strongly dislike it almost immediately.

[Chloe (Always Booked)]

We started to read this and within the first few sections (doesnt have chapters) we were really turned off. There was a lot of brattiness, gender stereotypes and crudness that we just didnt want to read.

[Xyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had to force myself to continue reading this one. This is a journal style story seen specifically through the eyes of Grace and she does a lot of whining at the beginning and throughout the book, but the beginning was the worst.

The author really knows how to channel her inner child and think and speak and write in that pattern. A completely different take on "stream of consciousness."

As I noted above, Grace whines about what she can't do, doesn't like, doesn't learn, etc. In addition, Grace is sneaky. Had she gone to her parents with her plan all would have been better.

There are a couple redeeming situations throughout the book.
1. Grace tries to help a neighbor.
2. Grace does eventually open her eyes to see another side of Sammy.

Other than that, Grace really sounds like a whiny, selfish brat the whole way through the book. Thankfully this was a short book and didn't take a lot of time. I read the first 20+ pages one night and the rest the following day.

[I don't remember being this judgmental when I was in elementary or middle school.]

As journal style books go, I did like the doodles, pictures, and headers in this one. However, I prefer Emily the Strange's prattling to Grace's whining.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Just Grace series by Charise Mericle Harper. The narrative is certainly written from a child's point of view and the illustrations are very much in a child's style as well. I love the way she describes her "superpower" and the actions she takes to cheer up her neighbor. I also love that it tells about the real fears a child has, no matter how insignificant they may seem to someone else.

The book is written as a continuous story, with small subsections, but no real chapters to speak of. We enjoyed reading this story together and I'm sure we will read more of the books in this series, but I get the feeling these books are best read independently. Either way, we liked this first installment in the series. Recommend for girls in grades 2-4.

interesting quote:
"Projects sure get a lot more complicated once you are really doing them and not just thinking about doing them." (p. 83)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Grace is a great chapter book for readers in second and third grade. The title will appeal mostly to girls, though neither Grace nor the book are particularly girly. The language is fairly simple and the plot is easy to follow. While Grace goes to school, the story focuses mostly on Grace's interest in her neighbor. I especially like that Grace is kind and considerate in a way that second and third grades can relate to. She's generous and forgiving with her friends but has a hard time applying those same empathetic attitudes to those that she doesn't like.

Recommended to Ivy and Bean lovers. I would probably purchase this for an elementary collection, especially for school libraries where Clementine and Ivy and Bean are already popular. I found the book charming and fun though not particularly unique or special.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is actually the worst book in existence. As a grace I feel deeply offended that this book is a thing and uses my name in it. WHAT STUPID ASS TEACHER THINKS THAT SOMEONE WANTS TO BE CALLED LITERALLY "JUST GRACE" THAT IS THE DUMBEST GODDAMN THING SHE COULD HAVE DONE. HOW DID THAT WOMAN PASS SCHOOL AND END UP TEACHING? SHE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PRISON FOR THAT CRIME. I COULDN'T EVEN FINISH BECAUSE OF HOW MAD I WAS. AND HOW IS THERE A WHOLE SERIES FOR THIS DUMPSTER FIRE?? DO NOT GIVE THIS TO YOUR 7 YEAR OLD NIECE NAMED GRACE BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S CUTE BECAUSE IT ISN'T. IT'S JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND WILL MAKE HER ASHAMED OF BEING NAMED GRACE.

[Addison S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book(s) are amazing the way Charise Mercile Harper knows what a 3rd grader sounds like and actually captures it into a book is amazing. I'm in high school and I still read these books even though I'm "too old" because they are so good.


it's about a 3rd grade girl who has a old fashioned teacher who won't stop saying her name wrong, she loves cats and when her neighbor next door Mrs. Luther breaks her leg she wants to make her feel better by taking pictures of Mrs. Luthers cat and sending them to her. The way the author captures stinky, 8 year old boy rivalry with Grace and her best friend Mimi is outstanding. I seriously would belive this story actually happened its so well written. I also like how they make up in the end by saving Mrs. Luther's cat is so, so cute.

I gave this to my grandma who's cat died and it made her feel better so I recommend it to anybody ❤️

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good writing. Its boring

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace Stewart has the bad luck of having three other Graces in her third-grade class, so she is given the label of “Just Grace,” which she despises. Not a great way to start out the school year, but at least she is with her best friend, Mimi, and they don’t have to deal with the awful Sammy Stringer too much.

Grace’s life is also filled with adventures involving her downstairs tenant, Augustine Dupre (from France!), and her odd next-door neighbor, who also happens to be a teacher at her school, Mrs. Luther. When Mrs. Luther breaks her leg and must wear a “scary” orange cast, Mrs. Luther’s cat, Crinkles, becomes scared of her. Grace decides that she needs to brighten up Mrs. Luther’s life, so she embarks on a project that has surprising results.

Just Grace is a cute, fun book that kids will love to read themselves or have read to them. It is divided into small sections rather than chapters, so it is easy to pick up and put down again, no matter how much time one has to read. I read it aloud to my two children (one who happens to be a seven-year-old named Grace), and they both enjoyed it immensely. Each evening they wanted to find out what antics Grace would be up to.

The writing style is conversational and incredibly kid-friendly, run-on sentences and all. Its great humor builds up rather than tears down, and it's not dumbed down just to be at a child’s level. The illustrations are superb and truly add an extra dimension to the story.

The sequel, Still Just Grace, will be released soon. This is a series both boys and girls will enjoy, and parents will get a kick out of it as well. Highly recommended for young readers.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Grace was a very good story about Grace and her life. I enjoyed this book as I was growing up.

[Roxy the Fury · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a book club read. A group of my mom-friends got together and we decided to make our daughters read for the summer. So I believe my review should hold more weight as ten girls read this book and ten girls hated it, along with the moms that had to read it with them (present company included).

Why this is considered an early reader chapter book beats the heck out of me. For a group of girls that are learning to read and write proper English this book was extremely difficult. The constant run on sentences and whining literally made reading this book feel like hearing nails being scraped on a chalkboard.

Grace complained about everything. While that is a true characteristic of most girls in this age group, reading about it was ten times worse than reading through it. Grace is mean and vindictive. The plot did not come into the story until the last forty pages. By that point I wanted to take a pencil and stab it through my eyeballs.

I would not ever recommend this series nor this author to anyone. Well, I lie. I might recommend it to that one mom that goes out of her way to make all the other moms feel like they just don't get it. Yeah, I'd recommend it to that mom.

[Nobies57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to like character driven stories and I liked Grace. She is in 4th grade, I think, and explains things very clearly, and very simply. In fact she is a little one dimensional, but it's cute because it sounds like the way a child would think. She believes herself to have super hero powers in the way of empathy. When her neighbor, Mrs. Luther, loses her cat, Grace photoshops the cat into places around the neighborhood and makes these pictures into postcards that she sends to Mrs. Luther. She thinks this will make Mrs. Luther feel better, but instead, Mrs. Luther believes her cat has been catnapped and is blaming Sammy String, the paperboy. And even though Grace does not like Sammy String, not even one little bit, she partners with him and finds Crinkles for Mrs. Luther.

Listened to this in audio book format. Very well done.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 reasons why I like this book:

1) Grace has the superhero power of "empathy". How many 3rd graders even know what that word means? How many of them care?

2) I love how her parents gently try to teach her to be responsible for her actions. Something this world could use a LOT more of!

3)The main lesson in this book was(although it doesn't say this in these exact words) "the road to ruin is paved with good intentions". A kid could learn a lot from Grace.

4) The other many mini-lessons on friendship scattered throughout the book.

5) The book was written in diary format in the voice of Grace in a way that I think is appealing to kids of that age group.

[Kermit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on CD. It was a charming, little book--only 2 CDs long. If I had read it in hard copy, it may have been less charming---but the narrator of this book "voiced" the protaganist Grace with humor and she gave a 3rd grade kind of emphasis to many of the sentences. Grace is one of 4 Graces in her 3rd grade classroom and is called Just Grace as opposed to Grace F., Grace L., and Grace N. It's reminiscent of Junie B. Jones but less frenetic. Grace is a thoughtful 9-year-old who tries to brighten the day of her next-door-neighbor who has lost her cat, Crinkles. I like cats, and I like Grace because she likes cats. :-)

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

REREAD SEPTEMBER 2021

3.5 stars*

i can totally see why younger-me thought this story was okay. it really wasn’t her cup of tea, and i can’t blame her for that! i recall enjoying the later books in this series much more, so maybe i’ll reread those as well.

i thought this was cute the second time around. now that i’m much older, i can see why i preferred the sequels. this book lacked major character development, and as someone who enjoys stories that focus more on character development, it makes perfect sense to me why i didn’t enjoy this particular story, but loved the sequels more.

that’s all i got! it’s been fun revisiting my childhood favorites before heading off to college. :)

[Nura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It happened to me, too! Susah yak punya nama pasaran. Waktu kelas dua smp ada empat orang Nur di kelas. Nur Pambudi, Nuraini, Nur Sari Ningsih, dan me. Luckily, all of us got our own nicknames already. XD

***

Tadinya mau kasih tiga bintang tapi pas inget bagian Grace moto-moto si Crinkles karton di mana-mana bareng sama Mimi, trus ngeprint sendiri, gw harus nambahin satu bintang lagi. Girls, you're so awesome! and they just on their third grade. Anak sekarang emang pada pinter2 kali ya?

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute, easy to read book that I was able to laugh at (in a good way). A good read for younger readers. =)


You can check out my review for Just Grace and many other books/movies at my blog:
The Real World According To Sam

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5 and 7year old enjoyed this book we listened to on cd about a dynamic 3rd grade girl named Grace. 7 yr old is now reading the next book.

[Titis Wardhana · Rating 4 out of 5]

yang menarik dari buku ini adalah ilustrasinya yang lucu, sooooo kid, lumayan buat selingan novel2 tebel

[Gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love just grace.the end

[Jessie Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book. I mostly play all day, but that book caught my attention for the first time.

[Yana "Always Forgets to Log Out" Gaskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice entertaining quick read.

[Dorothy Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an eclectic reader, I enjoy books for readers of all ages. I was looking for a book to send a young friend who is an avid reader when I stumbled across Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper. It is the first in a series featuring Grace Stewart as the main character.

Grace has the misfortune to be in a third-grade class with three other girls named Grace. Miss Lois, the teacher, says, “Grace Wallace, you will be Grace W. Grace Francis can be Grace F., and Grace Landowski can be Grace L.” However, Grace L. asks to be Gracie. That’s when our heroine Grace says, “I want to be just Grace.” Of course, she means she would like to be called Grace, not JUST Grace, but Miss Lois misunderstands and replies, “Perfect. Let’s see, we have Grace W., Grace F., Gracie, and Just Grace.”

Imagine Grace’s frustration at being now called Just Grace!

Harper is the writer and illustrator of Just Grace. The story is funny and captivating. Readers follow Grace on a number of adventures including the rescue of her neighbor’s cat. Get to know Grace and follow her on her adventures. I enjoyed seeing Grace mature over the course of the story. She sees a situation and surmises one thing about it, but then she learns that her first assumptions are not true. That’s one mark of a good story: the character grows and learns through the story.

I highly recommend Just Grace and the books that follow!

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently I came across this book in August 2009 and marked it "read me soon." Only 8 1/2 years later, I finally did. I guess I don't listen to myself very well!

It's actually a really fun book (and start to a series)--a beginning chapter book with plenty of illustrations and a bit of sass. Grace is one of 3 Graces in her class--thus the name "just Grace." The others are "Gracie" and "Grace" + last initial. After they figure this out, the teacher says, "Now let's move on to the Owens." I found this hilarious.

Grace is a bit whimsical, somewhat suspicious of her neighbor (and the African masks on her wall), and not afraid to take a few risks. All of this leads to some hijinks with a cat, the downstairs neighbor (who's an airline stewardess from France), and a jar of lion poop.

Kids who are like funny books about real kids with a little adventure and illustration will enjoy this!

To the parents who ask me about book characters' attitudes--Grace is not a saint. She may not even be as repentant or respectful as you prefer, so just know that going in. I do think she is typical and has a good heart and that this book would be a great conversation piece, esp. about how we think of other people.