Say Goodnight, Gracie

by Julie Reece Deaver

There are friends we can't imagine living without.

Morgan and Jimmy were kids together, whirling around the porch on hot summer days. They've been friends forever, and by now they know each other inside out. They do everything together--from cutting high school to go into the city to coaching each other at dance auditions and acting workshops. They even argue well. A perfect friendship. Best friends. For life.

So how could life be so right and then be so wrong? After a terrible accident, Morgan suddenly has to face life alone. Without Jimmy around, though, it's like the best part of her has died. How could he do this to her? And why is love so hard?

1989 Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
1988 Young Adult Editors' Choices (BL)
Young Adult Choices for 1990 (IRA)
Children's Books of 1988 (Library of Congress)
1988 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Grief, Romance, Contemporary, Death

214 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 1988

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in the 5th grade, and even after 14 years I still remember this as one of my favorite books. I only read it the one time, so I don't remember all the details of the book. I cannot tell you how well it was written, but I remember being so connected to the story that it had me in tears. One of those books that make you sad when its over. I have books like this, that I read as a child, to thank for my love of getting lost in the story of a book.

[Katie Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over and over and over when I was in 9th grade!! I loved it so much I named my daughter after the main character, Morgan!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, easy read, but one of my all- time favorites. Within the first few pages, the author tells you that Jimmy is going to die an untimely death. Yet, I have read this book over and over, hoping that the outcome will change! It is a heart-wrenching story of best friendships and tragic loss and how both things truly change a person. I am no literary critic, so the writing might be terrible, but all I know is that you fall in love with the characters and feel for them every page of the way. I end up crying my eyes out every time I re-read this book, and it's probably never at the same part twice.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com

Jimmy and Morgan have been friends all of their lives. After seventeen years of friendship, the two know everything about each other. There is no one in the world that knows as much about Morgan as Jimmy does. He knows how to calm her, how to make her brave, and how to make her laugh.

But after Jimmy is killed in a car crash, Morgan has a big void in her life -- one that used to be occupied by Jimmy's friendship.

The road to recovery is hard for Morgan. She doesn't know how she can live without Jimmy, this constant she's had her whole life. With the help of her parents, her aunt, Jimmy's parents, and a school friend, Morgan finally comes to cope with Jimmy's death.

Julie Reece Deaver writes a very touching story about losing a best friend. While hopefully readers never have to relate to this event, nevertheless, it is very touching and helps readers understand the importance of friendship and love.

SAY GOODNIGHT, GRACIE is a story to stay with readers for a lifetime.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time! I have read this book probably seven or eight times and I have loved it again and again.

It is a story about a friendship that was supposed to last a lifetime until a car crash takes Jimmy away. The rest of the story features how Morgan tries to go on with life and cope with the death of her best friend. If you have a heart, this book will make you cry.

I think that the main reason why I loved this book so much was the fact that I felt it had certain parallels to my friendship with my best friend from a very young age. His nickname was even Jimmy. It certainly made me think of the unthinkable and made me cry even harder when Jimmy passed away.

[Bel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been years since I read this book, and it's still one of my favorites. It's the one book that's made me cry every time I read it, and while the details of the story haven't stuck with me, the emotions that it brought up have. This is a book that makes you appreciate the people in your life, miss the ones you've lost, and make you wish you had a friend that has been there for you for your entire life. It's a little different even from just having a best friend who loves you despite and knows you best. Morgan and Jimmy's relationship started at birth and will last until she dies.

[Grace*dnfing books since 2022* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books ever.

Everyone I know who has read the book after I recommended it liked it. Why is there no electronic version of this book??

[Miranda Dallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the first time in the 8th grade. I went to the library and checked it out every year for about 10 years. I cried like a baby every time I read it. Now I own "Say Goodnight Gracie" and I still read it from time to time. Maybe for nostalgic reasons...but it's been one of my favorites for years.

[Wei Lun · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Knowing what you have to lose, but risking the loss anyway. That's what it's all about", personally I think that's a amazing sentence that I found in the last page of the book. This book is a sad story but warm and peaceful book. It talks about a terrible accident brought a girl's life best friend away, and she suddenly has to face her life all alone.

[Rha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I haven't read this book in ages, I remember feeling attached to this book for years. It was my favorite book for the longest time growing up, and always be at the top of my list. This story brings you into the shear pain of losing the one person who truly understood you and loved you for you. I recommend this book to all.

[Brittany Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in Middle School. I'm not going to lie. I cried towards the end when that very sad event happened. (This is me trying to not include spoilers.) I've read a lot of books in my lifetime, and it really speaks volumes when I am able to remember one of them. (I don't have the best memory.) For some reason, I have never forgotten Say Goodnight, Gracie. This story has stuck with me like few stories have. I deeply recommend that you enjoy this novel as well.

[Diana Townsend · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book, about love and grief. I fell in love with Jimmy, even though I knew his end was near, but not so much with Morgan, although I'm not sure why. I wish grief was as easy and simple as this book leads you to believe but it's not. At least, it isn't for me.

[elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best "weepies" ever (IMHO)! I don't remember a whole lot of the story, but I do remember having to keep from sobbing loudly on the subway in NYC.

[Lucy Millington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried from Jimmys death until the end

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: this book is really sad.

[⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪gracie⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to be a bit honest, I only read this book because my name is Gracie, and it’s ’Say goodnight Gracie’ also the non-existent character ‘Gracie’ had nothing to do with the book, I found the whole thing so sad. Morgan’s passage through grief, how she doesn’t know who to turn too, or what to do with the rest of her life, the whole book wraps around grief, and how you have to hurt in order to heal.

[Faithsbookdiary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the relationship the main character has with everyone but I was kinda bored. I would say don’t read the summary of this boo and going into blind and your experience would be better than mine. The summary tells you the whole plot and it made me not have any shocking memories when reading since I already knew the plot before reading the book.

[Lindsey (Bring My Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read somewhere that the music that you listen to at age 14 impacts you more intensely than at any other age (/impacts your later taste in music) and it's fascinating - but it always makes me think about how much books that I was reading at that age impacted me, which is even more fascinating.

Perfect example? Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver.

✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷

When I was a kid, they had these MASSIVE library sales for the entire city that they would cram inside a school cafeteria over a week during the summer, and it was basically heaven - $1.00 for hardcovers & $0.50 for paperbacks, and I would get TWENTY DOLLARS to spend. I mean, HELLO?

We would grab our red wagon, head down there, and browse to our hearts content for hoouuurrrsss (thanks, mom!). And the year I turned 14 actual magic happened. It was the year I started looking for books that were a little older, a little more mature. And it was the year that I found this book. This amazing, heartbreaking, wonderful, book.

It tells you upfront that the main character has suffered the loss of her best friend (pg 1, seriously) and then takes you through their friendship; the ups, the downs, the ease, the complexities, the memories, the love. And it shows how earth shatteringly difficult it is to move forward after loss, but also some of the simple joys that can be found during that journey.

It meant a lot to me at age 14, and still means a lot to me now - I think I might need to buy another copy & go for a reread (I keep giving my copies away and having to buy new ones, that's how you know it's good).

I don't anticipate many people seeing a review for a book that came out in 1988 and adding it to their TBR, but if even one more person knows about this beautiful book I will consider it an honor to have shared Jimmy & Morgan's story with them. <3

(Speaking of books that impacted us as teens, does anybody else remember Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey?!?!)

[Lolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me crying so hard in middle school. Another one of my sister's that I stole from her shelf. I felt so connected to the character and kept reflecting my best guy friend in hers. Good for the age where you start taking life slightly more seriously (middle school) and helps with learning to deal with pain.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really enjoyed this book, I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it before reading Looking for Alaska by John Green, which deals with many of the same themes in what I feel is a more sophisticated and true-to-life way. That said, in terms of reading level and subject matter, I think Say Goodnight, Gracie would be great for a younger teen audience, say 12-14.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember that I loved this book when I was younger. I'm guessing I was in high school when I read it. Even twenty years later, I have random moments when I think of this book, it had that big of an effect on me.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really awesome book, liked how it tells of this girls life and problems

[Sheila Halverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!
No more to say.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was in 7th grade. Besides the Harry Potter books this is the only book I remember reading back in middle school. It was an amazing book that had me in tears.

[Shermika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in middle school. It is such a great story that I still remember to this day.

[Kearsten Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book in the 6th grade. I've always been a fan of reading but this is the first book that has ever made me cry. I could read this book everyday all day if I had to. it is an amazing book.

[Holly Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child...early teens. I reread it as an adult and wasn't so impressed but I gave it 5 stars for nostalgia.

[Toni Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartfelt, gutwrenching, wonderful

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my long time favorite books!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book wrecked me in junior high and 12 years later the re-read delivered and I am absolutely in shambles.