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Grace
In the beginning there was me and Mum and Dad and the twins.
And talk about happy families, we were bountiful.
But it came to pass that I started doing sins.
And lo, that when all our problems began.
And talk about happy families, we were bountiful.
But it came to pass that I started doing sins.
And lo, that when all our problems began.
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First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Morris Gleitzman
120 books974 followersMorris began his writing career as a screenwriter, and wrote his first children's novel in 1985. His brilliantly comic style has endeared him to children and adults alike, and he is now one of Australia's most successful authors, both internationally and at home. He was born in England in 1953 and emigrated to Australia in 1969 so he could escape from school and become a Very Famous Writer.
Before realising that dream, he had a colourful career as paperboy, bottle-shop shelf-stacker, department store Santa Claus, frozen chicken defroster, fashion-design assistant and sugar-mill employee. In between he managed to gain a degree in Professional Writing at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. Later he became sole writer for three award-winning and top-rating seasons with the TV comedy series The Norman Gunston Show.
Morris wrote a number of feature film and telemovie screenplays, including The Other Facts of Life and Second Childhood, both produced by The Australian Children's Television Foundation. The Other Facts of Life won an AWGIE Award for the Best Original Children's Film Script.
He also wrote live stage material for people such as Rolf Harris, Pamela Stephenson and the Governor General of Australia. Morris is well known to many people through his semi-autobiographical columns in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald magazine, Good Weekend, which he wrote for nine years.
But the majority of Morris' accolades are for his hugely popular children's books. One of his most successful books for young people is Two Weeks with the Queen, an international bestseller which was also adapted into a play by Mary Morris. The play had many successful seasons in Australia and was then produced at the National Theatre in London in 1995 directed by Alan Ayckbourn, and also in South Africa, Canada, Japan and the USA.
All his other books have been shortlisted for or have won numerous children's book prizes. These include The Other Facts of Life, Second Childhood, Misery Guts, Worry Warts, Puppy Fat, Blabber Mouth, Sticky Beak, Belly Flop, Water Wings, Bumface, Gift Of The Gab, Toad Rage, Wicked! and Deadly!, two six-part novels written in collaboration with Paul Jennings, Adults Only, Toad Heaven, Boy Overboard, Teacher's Pet, Toad Away, Girl Underground, Worm Story, Once, Aristotle's Nostril, Doubting Thomas, Give Peas A Chance, Then, Toad Surprise, Grace, Now, Too Small To Fail, and his latest book, Pizza Cake. Morris' children's books have been published in the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia and Czechoslovakia, Russia and China.
Before realising that dream, he had a colourful career as paperboy, bottle-shop shelf-stacker, department store Santa Claus, frozen chicken defroster, fashion-design assistant and sugar-mill employee. In between he managed to gain a degree in Professional Writing at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. Later he became sole writer for three award-winning and top-rating seasons with the TV comedy series The Norman Gunston Show.
Morris wrote a number of feature film and telemovie screenplays, including The Other Facts of Life and Second Childhood, both produced by The Australian Children's Television Foundation. The Other Facts of Life won an AWGIE Award for the Best Original Children's Film Script.
He also wrote live stage material for people such as Rolf Harris, Pamela Stephenson and the Governor General of Australia. Morris is well known to many people through his semi-autobiographical columns in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald magazine, Good Weekend, which he wrote for nine years.
But the majority of Morris' accolades are for his hugely popular children's books. One of his most successful books for young people is Two Weeks with the Queen, an international bestseller which was also adapted into a play by Mary Morris. The play had many successful seasons in Australia and was then produced at the National Theatre in London in 1995 directed by Alan Ayckbourn, and also in South Africa, Canada, Japan and the USA.
All his other books have been shortlisted for or have won numerous children's book prizes. These include The Other Facts of Life, Second Childhood, Misery Guts, Worry Warts, Puppy Fat, Blabber Mouth, Sticky Beak, Belly Flop, Water Wings, Bumface, Gift Of The Gab, Toad Rage, Wicked! and Deadly!, two six-part novels written in collaboration with Paul Jennings, Adults Only, Toad Heaven, Boy Overboard, Teacher's Pet, Toad Away, Girl Underground, Worm Story, Once, Aristotle's Nostril, Doubting Thomas, Give Peas A Chance, Then, Toad Surprise, Grace, Now, Too Small To Fail, and his latest book, Pizza Cake. Morris' children's books have been published in the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia and Czechoslovakia, Russia and China.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 25, 2011
Eleven-year-old Grace has been brought up in a very strict religious community where questions and individual thinking are not allowed. This has become a problem for Grace as she is starting to grow up and be curious about life. She is also stubborn and independent and this is absolutely frowned upon by the Elders in her community.
This book is not anti-religion but deals with themes such as tolerance, family, authority, closed-mindedness and freedom. It will provoke discussion about prejudice and how we treat those who are different to us.
I believe children will be able to relate to Grace, not from her up bringing but from the frustration of having grown ups ignore them or not listen to their view or opinions. I would not recommend this for those under eleven unless they have quite a broad view of the world, otherwise, be prepared for a lot of 'why' questions.
I grew up reading Gleitzman, from Blabbermouth and Two Weeks With the Queen to Worry Warts. He has such a brilliant writing style and has the amazing ability of being able to write about tough subjects and current affairs in a way that reaches out to children (for example, Toad Rage, Boy Overboard and Once). Grace was released this time last year, and while the topic was not something I would have usually chosen to read, I picked it up anyway because Gleitzman had written it. Because of the subject matter, this book will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a damn good book!
This book is not anti-religion but deals with themes such as tolerance, family, authority, closed-mindedness and freedom. It will provoke discussion about prejudice and how we treat those who are different to us.
I believe children will be able to relate to Grace, not from her up bringing but from the frustration of having grown ups ignore them or not listen to their view or opinions. I would not recommend this for those under eleven unless they have quite a broad view of the world, otherwise, be prepared for a lot of 'why' questions.
I grew up reading Gleitzman, from Blabbermouth and Two Weeks With the Queen to Worry Warts. He has such a brilliant writing style and has the amazing ability of being able to write about tough subjects and current affairs in a way that reaches out to children (for example, Toad Rage, Boy Overboard and Once). Grace was released this time last year, and while the topic was not something I would have usually chosen to read, I picked it up anyway because Gleitzman had written it. Because of the subject matter, this book will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a damn good book!
February 22, 2011
If you have a child aged between 8 and 11 then there's one author I would highly recommend. His name is Morris Gleitzman. His books gripped me as a child, even in my early teens and surprisingly still. He's a proper author - he treats his readers with respect. Despite the recommended age for Morris' latest book Grace, it is clear that he does not patronise his young readers. This is a pattern in all of his books and why he rates so highly on my list of children's writers.
Sure, Grace is written in an easy to read style that makes it accessible to all readers in the age group, however, Gleitzman has created a book that entwines adventure and fun with a most serious undertone. The story is set in an extreme Christian community in Australia. Asking questions is forbidden but Grace has many. Under her father's influence she has swayed somewhat from the indoctrinating ideals the church wishes to force upon her. Her father is banished from the community for this and prevented contact with any of his three children or even his wife, the daughter of one of the church elders.
On one level Grace is about friendship, love and trust but then it's also a story about the dangers of extremist religious communities. When does religion go too far and perhaps more importantly how can we get a good balance between teaching religious beliefs and allowing the child to make their own decision about what they truly believe? It will be interesting to see what children make of this book and whether it makes them consider what they believe.
Grace is a superb character, she's headstrong and remarkable. At just eleven she knows when her grandfather is lying and she also knows how to express her discontent for extreme church rules whilst ensuring she doesn't go too far and jeopardize her own family. I hope she can show the next generation of young people that you can still have faith even if you question it. The comparison between her and her friend Delilah, also a member of the church, is really important too. It shows how Grace might have been if her father hadn't taught her the importance of asking questions. The phrase on the book cover sums it up perfectly, 'If you don't ask, you'll never know...'
I urge parents not to discourage their children from reading this. This book does not discourage religion. After the end of the book Morris Gleitzman writes 'My gratitude also to the people who enriched my childhood with their loving and compassionate Christianity. Although I don't share their religious beliefs these days, I will always cherish their values'. In some ways this acknowledgement sums up Grace's father - he believes in God but he wants a compassionate Christianity that doesn't compromise his children's right to broaden their minds to the wider world.
Read Grace and get your kids to read it too. Gleitzman is brave and talented.
Sure, Grace is written in an easy to read style that makes it accessible to all readers in the age group, however, Gleitzman has created a book that entwines adventure and fun with a most serious undertone. The story is set in an extreme Christian community in Australia. Asking questions is forbidden but Grace has many. Under her father's influence she has swayed somewhat from the indoctrinating ideals the church wishes to force upon her. Her father is banished from the community for this and prevented contact with any of his three children or even his wife, the daughter of one of the church elders.
On one level Grace is about friendship, love and trust but then it's also a story about the dangers of extremist religious communities. When does religion go too far and perhaps more importantly how can we get a good balance between teaching religious beliefs and allowing the child to make their own decision about what they truly believe? It will be interesting to see what children make of this book and whether it makes them consider what they believe.
Grace is a superb character, she's headstrong and remarkable. At just eleven she knows when her grandfather is lying and she also knows how to express her discontent for extreme church rules whilst ensuring she doesn't go too far and jeopardize her own family. I hope she can show the next generation of young people that you can still have faith even if you question it. The comparison between her and her friend Delilah, also a member of the church, is really important too. It shows how Grace might have been if her father hadn't taught her the importance of asking questions. The phrase on the book cover sums it up perfectly, 'If you don't ask, you'll never know...'
I urge parents not to discourage their children from reading this. This book does not discourage religion. After the end of the book Morris Gleitzman writes 'My gratitude also to the people who enriched my childhood with their loving and compassionate Christianity. Although I don't share their religious beliefs these days, I will always cherish their values'. In some ways this acknowledgement sums up Grace's father - he believes in God but he wants a compassionate Christianity that doesn't compromise his children's right to broaden their minds to the wider world.
Read Grace and get your kids to read it too. Gleitzman is brave and talented.
August 29, 2011
I really liked the Christian aspect of the story.
It made me think of the type of church I go to, and it made me know that I attend a great church.
Big difference between culture and religion...Grace dwells in a place where, touching an outsider is seen as a sin, where all food had to be microwaved, asking question was forbidden by the elders and the mentality that only the people from her church can go to heaven. Grace does not stick to these rules, she sticks to her own rules.
I really like the character Grace, i love her persistence through out the book, she never gave and no matter what she never stopped loving God, this is one of the best character I have ever read, she is strong and brave, even though her grandparent and church elders had strict views on her creativity and condemned it as SIN, she does not change! My favorite part is when she then feels like talking to God and decide to go into a lions park in the zoo, just as Daniel from the Bible did this was to prove the elders God loved her only if God saved her from the Lions, just as David was saved. Unlucky for her she gets scratched id, and taken to hospital due to a lot of blood loss... I learnt that you should NOT TEST God.
Grace never lost hope and continued with her own believes and always stood along side her dad, but when her dad is taken away she is forced to work on her own, and her mum could not do anything to help...
awesome book
It made me think of the type of church I go to, and it made me know that I attend a great church.
Big difference between culture and religion...Grace dwells in a place where, touching an outsider is seen as a sin, where all food had to be microwaved, asking question was forbidden by the elders and the mentality that only the people from her church can go to heaven. Grace does not stick to these rules, she sticks to her own rules.
I really like the character Grace, i love her persistence through out the book, she never gave and no matter what she never stopped loving God, this is one of the best character I have ever read, she is strong and brave, even though her grandparent and church elders had strict views on her creativity and condemned it as SIN, she does not change! My favorite part is when she then feels like talking to God and decide to go into a lions park in the zoo, just as Daniel from the Bible did this was to prove the elders God loved her only if God saved her from the Lions, just as David was saved. Unlucky for her she gets scratched id, and taken to hospital due to a lot of blood loss... I learnt that you should NOT TEST God.
Grace never lost hope and continued with her own believes and always stood along side her dad, but when her dad is taken away she is forced to work on her own, and her mum could not do anything to help...
awesome book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2014
I picked up 'Grace' with a lot of anticipation as Morris Gleitzman is possibly my favourite children's author. Many of Gleitzman's hallmarks are here - an engaging, likeable, mature-beyond-their-years child narrator & hero, an "issue" in society to be addressed and plenty of humour. I enjoyed Grace as a character and the "be true to yourself" and "be willing to question" main themes.
However, I didn't quite get the need for the setting. Gleitzman's books have addressed issues that are very relevant to children in contemporary society - dealing with severe illness, prejudice against homosexuals or asylum seekers, fallout from the GFC etc. - or else reminded us of the senseless horrors of the holocaust. I didn't get why we needed to have a book addressing a fanatical religious cult. While unfortunately these cults do exist, and a small percentage of people are affected by them, it doesn't seem to be a target relevant to most of us. An examination of religion generally, and the need to think things through for yourself and ensure you have a basis for your faith, may have been more interesting. As it is, the cult Grace belongs to is so demonised, hypocritical and unreasonable in their actions that you cannot help but be outraged and cheer for their downfall. The faith of Grace & her Dad are not explored in enough depth to see what substance lies behind it, but I am pretty sure they would enjoy being part of our church :).
Overall, I enjoyed the book as a quick read, but this is the first Gleitzman book in a while that I haven't seen as a "must read" and immediately wanted to share with the children in my family and at my school.
However, I didn't quite get the need for the setting. Gleitzman's books have addressed issues that are very relevant to children in contemporary society - dealing with severe illness, prejudice against homosexuals or asylum seekers, fallout from the GFC etc. - or else reminded us of the senseless horrors of the holocaust. I didn't get why we needed to have a book addressing a fanatical religious cult. While unfortunately these cults do exist, and a small percentage of people are affected by them, it doesn't seem to be a target relevant to most of us. An examination of religion generally, and the need to think things through for yourself and ensure you have a basis for your faith, may have been more interesting. As it is, the cult Grace belongs to is so demonised, hypocritical and unreasonable in their actions that you cannot help but be outraged and cheer for their downfall. The faith of Grace & her Dad are not explored in enough depth to see what substance lies behind it, but I am pretty sure they would enjoy being part of our church :).
Overall, I enjoyed the book as a quick read, but this is the first Gleitzman book in a while that I haven't seen as a "must read" and immediately wanted to share with the children in my family and at my school.
October 10, 2009
Gleitzman may at last have found the perfect character for his particular style of storytelling, which frequently employs a child protagonist who is naive and unworldly—in some cases, perhaps a little unrealistically so, although he always pulls it off in the end. In this case, Grace, the protagonist-narrator, is truly unworldly and believably naive. She's been raised in a closed, fringe Christian sect, kept away from outsiders/sinners, but also encouraged to ask questions and always be true to herself by her parents. But when her father oversteps the mark with the elders and is expelled from both church and family, Grace has to sort out the truth behind everything she's been raised to believe. Recommended.
November 22, 2012
I can't believe I picked this book up by accident and read it in one sitting. What a powerful and personal novel. I could relate so much to Grace's organised-religious experiences, and it was wonderful to come across a book with such a positive tone.
It separates God from Church beautifully - how warped and deformed good aspects of the Bible can become by cult-like religions. I love how the book draws phenomenal parallels between biblical stories and the present narrative - constantly playing with the idea of Daniel in the Lion's Den.
This is obviously a young adult book, but the naive perspective of the child-narrator was so refreshing and conductive to the message... the simplicity made me want to cry.
All children should read this book and consider where they invest their faith.
It separates God from Church beautifully - how warped and deformed good aspects of the Bible can become by cult-like religions. I love how the book draws phenomenal parallels between biblical stories and the present narrative - constantly playing with the idea of Daniel in the Lion's Den.
This is obviously a young adult book, but the naive perspective of the child-narrator was so refreshing and conductive to the message... the simplicity made me want to cry.
All children should read this book and consider where they invest their faith.
March 8, 2016
I found this story delightful. Grace's internal thoughts are hilarious. It is about family who eventually leave a church group because it doesn't encourage free thought.
August 28, 2021
I thought this might be one for my little niece, but I think probably more for the 10-11 year old. I actually didn’t mean to read it, but it completely read itself. It does tackle some big issues; tolerance, religion, ignorance and power…Also some lovely ones too, friendship and family spring straight to mind. I just loved Grace and so wanted to reach in when she was at the zoo…
January 14, 2024
This book is a fictional story about a girl that has grown up in a strict religious family, who wants to explore the world & all the questions that come with it.
It was a short and easy read.
It was a short and easy read.
September 16, 2024
Written from the point of view of a child brought up in a religious society. Sometimes sad, others funny but always with love.
April 21, 2011
Grace and her family are members of a church sect with rather extreme beliefs and when her father is expelled for questioning the ways of the church, Grace and her mother find out just what lengths the church elders are prepared to go to to keep the family apart. Grace is a very entertaining character who speaks in biblical terms, but unlike many members of her church she has managed to retain her humanity in the face of religious nuttery.
March 17, 2018
Goodness me! What a powerful book. Almost too powerful to be a kids' book, but nonetheless it is. This is a story of abuse that young Grace suffers at the hand of the Christian fundamentalist church her family belong to. It is written with lots of 'lo' , 'it came to pass' and 'behelds' which is quite charming and somehow really highlights the naivety of Grace.
June 6, 2019
This book is honestly amazing. Such a beautiful and tragic story so well told. It was the first ever chapter book I remember reading in a day and having basically read it in a day again I remember why! Highly recommend for everyone!!
September 12, 2014
I loved this book it was quite sad although it was a great book
January 5, 2023
Easily my favourite book of all time. The story follows 11-year-old Grace Hillgrove who has to navigate life in her fundamentalist religious cult after her father is banished ('expelled') from the church for challenging their ideas and encouraging Grace and her siblings to ask questions. Grace is a tale that is uplifting, heart-wrenching, beautiful, funny, thought-provoking and ground-breaking. Throughout the book Grace struggles in the half-way point between the oppression that is forced upon her by her church and the open-mindedness encouraged by her father, and we can see how she inhabits both naive/obedient and courageous/independent traits that create for an interesting and well-rounded character who we can understand is confused about what she truly believes. Many contrasts are made between Grace and her peers, such as Delilah, the Elders, her parents, and the outsiders she interacts with. The events in the book, the suspense, the extremely mature and, at times, morbid themes explored through the eyes of a child, and the incredible writing all work together to produce a tale that perfectly depicts the point in one's life when they begin to break free from the ideas they've been raised with and think for themselves. The cult community in the book is fantastically contrasted with raw faith and trust in God, and you can see how each is boldly defined and the individual effects they have on Grace and her family - through this contrast it's very obvious the book is not anti-religion, rather using religion to explore group mentalities, the consequences of trying to control what people think, and the results of becoming independent from everything you thought you knew. Simple things throughout the book such as Grace's frequent comparisons of modern-day events to Biblical stories really add to the authenticity of story and make it all the more incredible to read.
Morris Gleitzman has absolutely outdone himself. This book is what truly made me fall in love with his writing, and I have yet to read a book that opens my eyes to the world the way Grace did. I encourage everyone of all ages, genders, religions and tastes to read Grace - it is unironically life-changing.
Morris Gleitzman has absolutely outdone himself. This book is what truly made me fall in love with his writing, and I have yet to read a book that opens my eyes to the world the way Grace did. I encourage everyone of all ages, genders, religions and tastes to read Grace - it is unironically life-changing.
July 22, 2018
WARNING: I apologise and don't mean to harm or hurt anyone with my review and I hope it does not offend anyone!
My god I love this book. I read this book years ago and I just forgot how much I love this book. Its not what you expect and I found the rules of the religious society in which Grace finds herself interesting and intriguing as she navigates paths and goes through triumph and fail. It found it interesting how religion affects people in many kinds of ways and how when Grace, as mentioned in the blurb starts ''committing sins'' her whole life turns upside down. I found the rules and restrictions placed upon her, barriers and found myself in a part of Grace. I related to where she was at and her bravery inspired me. She defies the rules and when she does that, that's when everything spirals out of control. I just want to make one mention that the rules of Grace's religious community can be quite confronting for some I might imagine however they intrigue me as I would always wonder why, as the religious society in which she finds herself, the rules and restrictions enforced, some of them I was breaking in everyday life. For example, THIS MAY BE A SPOLIER: not living around people who are the same religion as you, or not letting them borrow a lawnmower or piece of equipment. It was these regulations in place that I found curious and personally was not quite accustomed to, but was an interesting and insightful journey to take and really opened my eyes to the world. I would recommend this book to ages above 10 although if you are reading this book it is for slightly mature readers. I haven't read this book in a while and from what I can remember it is a book for all ages. I would also suggest when reading this book to keep and open-mind and take it all in.
My god I love this book. I read this book years ago and I just forgot how much I love this book. Its not what you expect and I found the rules of the religious society in which Grace finds herself interesting and intriguing as she navigates paths and goes through triumph and fail. It found it interesting how religion affects people in many kinds of ways and how when Grace, as mentioned in the blurb starts ''committing sins'' her whole life turns upside down. I found the rules and restrictions placed upon her, barriers and found myself in a part of Grace. I related to where she was at and her bravery inspired me. She defies the rules and when she does that, that's when everything spirals out of control. I just want to make one mention that the rules of Grace's religious community can be quite confronting for some I might imagine however they intrigue me as I would always wonder why, as the religious society in which she finds herself, the rules and restrictions enforced, some of them I was breaking in everyday life. For example, THIS MAY BE A SPOLIER: not living around people who are the same religion as you, or not letting them borrow a lawnmower or piece of equipment. It was these regulations in place that I found curious and personally was not quite accustomed to, but was an interesting and insightful journey to take and really opened my eyes to the world. I would recommend this book to ages above 10 although if you are reading this book it is for slightly mature readers. I haven't read this book in a while and from what I can remember it is a book for all ages. I would also suggest when reading this book to keep and open-mind and take it all in.
October 19, 2017
THIS...BOOK...IS...GREAT
I absolutely l0oved this book. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I was glad I read it. Ranges from ages 10-14 yo.
It gives a great outlook on someone's problems and what love means. I read it a while ago, but remember most bits cause it was that good. A read for ALL GIRLS! and boys, I'm not excluding you! A dad is lost (taken) by the family's religion because he disobeyed their rules.
The religion also has one rule that is important...
and you'll find out when you read this book
I absolutely l0oved this book. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I was glad I read it. Ranges from ages 10-14 yo.
It gives a great outlook on someone's problems and what love means. I read it a while ago, but remember most bits cause it was that good. A read for ALL GIRLS! and boys, I'm not excluding you! A dad is lost (taken) by the family's religion because he disobeyed their rules.
The religion also has one rule that is important...
and you'll find out when you read this book
June 3, 2018
In this book we follow Grace's family, who are at war with their cult-like church for questioning things. Labelled disobedient and disrespectful, Grace thinks that she is at fault for her father being expelled from the church. She sets out to bring her dad home, and to get her family out of their overbearing community.
It was a very interesting read, and rather that discourage religion, it focused on asking questions, to better understand what it is that you believe in. It wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking, and I can't help but feel like the underlying issues were not resolved.
It was a very interesting read, and rather that discourage religion, it focused on asking questions, to better understand what it is that you believe in. It wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking, and I can't help but feel like the underlying issues were not resolved.
January 22, 2020
I cannot recommend Morris Glietzman enough. The story telling, the humour, the characters, the issues he tackles...I loved his stories in a more light hearted way as a child, and with so much more depth and understanding as an adult.
I read this, like some of his other books, with my 10 year old daughter. It created a lot of conversation, and she loved it as much as me.
I read this, like some of his other books, with my 10 year old daughter. It created a lot of conversation, and she loved it as much as me.
May 22, 2022
I remember reading Morris Gleitzman in class back when I was 9 or 10, I was enthralled by his writing. I still love his writing as an adult.
Funny but cleverly written.
This book talks about religion, organised faith and what it means to 'disobey' the church. It is very accessible.
3* - read for the 'God' Prompt for Bookoplathon 48hr Readathon
Funny but cleverly written.
This book talks about religion, organised faith and what it means to 'disobey' the church. It is very accessible.
3* - read for the 'God' Prompt for Bookoplathon 48hr Readathon
October 14, 2024
Morris Gleitzman was one of my favourite authors as a kid, and alongside Two Weeks with the Queen and the Once Then Now series, Grace is one of his more intense books. But despite the subject matter of escaping an oppressive religious sect, it's a quick, enjoyable and emotionally impactful book, in large part because of Gleitzman's distinct style.
November 21, 2024
This is a good Young Adult novel based on Grace, a young girl who creates a bible with a chapter about her family. The Elders of her church find this offensive and her father is excommunicated from the church. Grace and her family struggle to come to terms with this decision. What will now happen?
January 26, 2018
I loooooove Morris Gleitzman so I decided to read this book. It is so good!! I love how rebellious Grace is. You just cannot put this book down.
May 13, 2018
I have a vague memory of reading this in year seven, and I remember very little about it except being very interested in what it was talking about. I know I enjoyed it
July 19, 2018
I recently got this for the school library from the Scholastic Book Club (i actually thought it was a new release didn't realise it had been around for a long time. Was an insightful read!
January 21, 2020
A lovely story about a Christian sect told through the eyes of the innocence and the faith of a child.
November 27, 2023
Fascinating story of a family in a religious cult.
September 16, 2024
Loved this, unique take, interesting, short but impactful, tween/teen fiction. Never read Morris Gleitzman growing up but keen to read more now.
September 24, 2025
I love how he makes hard concepts simple. I know his books are aimed at children. But damn they are good!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews