Synopses & Reviews
The third-grader Grace Stewart gets stuck with the name “Just Grace” when she tries to distinguish herself from the three other Graces in her class. Grace is plenty different, though. She has a “teeny-tiny superpower,” for instance—she can tell if someone is unhappy and often tries to fix it. When she concocts an elaborate scheme to help her neighbor Mrs. Luther feel less lonely, however, her good intentions backfire rather dramatically. Headlines such as “What Happened At Home That Was Completely Surprising” and “Spying For A Good Reason Is Not Bad” keep things lively, as do various lists (“Boy Things,” “Rooms You Can Jump In”), comic strips, and the authors cartoonish spot art. A funny glimpse into a third-graders madcap world of dashed hopes, perceived enemies, possible friends, cats, and sandwiches.
Dont miss the Just Grace website www.justgracebooks.com with its superpower quiz, podcasts, excerpts, and downloads . . . or the other books in the Just Grace series: Still Just Grace, Just Grace Goes Green, Just Grace Walks the Dog, Just Grace and the Snack Attack, Just Grace and the Terrible Tutu, and Just Grace and the Double Surprise!
This book features a teaser chapter from Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power.
Review
"New characters, such as the hyperactive “Owen 1,” keep the story fresh, but readers will most enjoy Graces angst-ridden first-person narrative, delivered with her usual comic touch. Cartoon illustrations (and directions for creating a zine) enliven the text and help to showcase Graces artistic talent. A sixth adventure is planned."--Booklist
Review
The kids come alive in the story, and Harper enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Give this to...anyone looking for a funny book.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
Just Grace--so named because she is the fourth Grace in her classroom--is an engaging and empathetic little girl who enjoys drawing, helping others and making lists. . . . An appealing chapter book with just a hint of mystery for middle-grade girls.
Kirkus Reviews
Grace's spirited annotated drawings and her inimitable narrative's arrangement into brief vignettes makes this a good choice for kids just beginning to tackle chapter books.
Publishers Weekly
"This charming book [is] written in an authentic young voice...just delightful fun...very appealing chick lit lite..." - Vicki's Bookshelf Midwest Book Review
Review
"[R]uminations about the ways that people--and animals--may not be what they seem…provide…entertainment and food for thought." Kirkus 3/15/08
Kirkus Reviews
"Perfect for beginning chapter book readers…Youngsters will identify with the protagonist…Everything rings true in the book.” SLJ March 2008 School Library Journal
"Harper has created a quick enjoyable read in this third 'Grace' book. "- LMC 05/01/08 Library Media Connection
"...expertly written in realistic and easy-to-read first-person narrative...Harper perfectly captures the voice and language of a spunky 8-year-old." Pittsburg Post Gazette
Review
"With short, snappy sentences and lots of small black-and-white cartoons, the book features young grade-schoolers realistic talks about feeling mad, jealous, and happy with classmates and family (“How to make a bad day worse”).Grace is also concerned about pollution and what kids can do about it, and Harper offers specific suggestions, from recycling and decorating plastic water bottles to saving endangered red pandas, switching off the lights at home, and holding a yard sale. Instead of boring arithmatic, Grace wants exciting lessons about how to save the planet, and readers will want them too after finishing this enjoyable read."--
Booklist "Girls who are settling into chapter book series featuring Clementine and Judy Moody will love the fast pace and familiar school and family situations. Graces amusing lists and headlines such as "How to Make a Bad Day Worse" and "What I Did That Was Unusual" will keep readers entertained, and Harpers sketches add interest and break up the text, leaving the new reader time to pause and smile."--Horn Book
"This is an appealing book for early chapter-book readers. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy it, but it can stand on its own."--School Library Journal
"A fun read for kids and adults."--BookPage
Review
andquot;This entertaining entrandeacute;e into the world of chapter books will leave young readers laughing, pondering and eagerly anticipating Graceandrsquo;s next adventure.andquot;andmdash;Bookpage
andquot;Easy for readers to relate to, and her voice is consistently funny, frank, and believable.andquot;andmdash;The Horn Book
andquot;Short chapters, frequent black-line illustrations, and Harperandrsquo;s sure voice as the blossoming Grace mark this as one of the better series for emerging chapter-book readers.andquot;andmdash;Booklist
Just Grace and the Snack Attack
andquot;[R]eaders will appreciate her straightforward, honest discussion of strong emotions they'll be sure to relate to.andquot; andmdash;Horn Book
Just Grace Goes Green
andquot;Girls who are settling into chapter book series featuring Clementine and Judy Moody will love the fast pace and familiar school and family situations. . . . Harperandrsquo;s sketches add interest and break up the text, leaving the new reader time to pause and smile.andquot;andmdash;Horn Book
Just Grace Walks the Dog
andquot;Graceandrsquo;s cartoon illustrations and charts enliven the conversational, first-person text. . .and#160;Her ruminations about the ways that peopleandmdash;and animalsandmdash;may not be what they seem will provide both entertainment and food for thought for a wide range of readers.andquot;andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
andquot;Harper has created a quick enjoyable read in this third 'Grace' book.andquot;andmdash;Library Media Connection
Still Just Grace
andquot;Harper's strength is her understanding of third-grade angst...she explores with a comic touch...Suggest this reassuring look at friendship and family to fans of Judy Moody and Clementine.andquot; andmdash;Booklist
andquot;Dealing with the problems of friendship and change in a lively way...a good addition to the middle-grade shelves.andquot; andmdash;School Library Journal
Just Grace
Booksense Summer Selection 2007
*andquot;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. Sheandrsquo;s a hero through and through. Give this to fans of Ann Nagdaandrsquo;s Meow Means Mischief (2003) or anyone looking for a funny book.andquot; andmdash;Booklist, starred review
andquot;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.andquot; andmdash;School Library Journal
Review
"Thoroughly entertaining . . . readers will easily sit back and enjoy the fun."--Booklist
Synopsis
In this eighthand#160;installment of the beloved Just Grace series, Grace finds out she's invited to a wedding! A rich combination of art and text, this book perfectly captures the ups and downs of the life of a third-grader.
Synopsis
Life as third-grader Just Grace is not easy. Her neighbor is getting married and Grace has to get over her disappointment at not being chosen for a flower girl—and think of what to give as a wedding present! But with a touch of girl power, Grace musters up a marvelous idea that takes a lot of planning and little help from all of her friends, her dog Mr. Scruffers and Crinkles the cat. Will her plan go off without a hitch on wedding day? This eighth addition to the acclaimed Just Grace series—a series that showcases Charise Mericle Harper's appealing combination of both art and storytelling—is recommended by the Horn Book for girls "who are settling into chapter book series featuring Clementine and Judy Moody and who will love the fast pace and familiar school and family situations. . . . Harpers sketches add interest and break up the text, leaving the new reader time to pause and smile."
Synopsis
Fresh, innovative, and loaded with laugh-out-loud wit and humor, Just Grace is a series
that stands out from the pack, just like Grace herself. Author Charise Harper weaves
together distinctive, quirky illustrations and vibrant characters in fast-paced stories that
capture familiar school and family situations that every young girl can relate to in a truly
authentic voice. Artist, comedian, animal-lover, environmentalist, cook, sister, good friend
and#8212;Grace is the quintessential 3rd graderand#8230; just a little bitand#8230; different.
In this eighth addition to the seriesand#8212;Grace has major problems. Her neighbor is
getting married and she has to get over her disappointment at not being chosen for a
flower girl, not to mention figure out what to give as a wedding present! But with a touch
of girl power, Grace musters up a fantastic idea that takes a lot of planning and a little
help from all of her friends; her dog, Mr. Scruffers; and Crinkles the cat. Will her plan go
off without a hitch on wedding day?
Synopsis
After reading this new book about Just Grace you will know how to . . . 1. turn your favorite potato chips into a tasty chipwich.
2. draw and fold up your very own zine, which is a cool little book made from only one piece of paper.
3. look for and use the special powers of the wish chip. This book will not help you know how to . . . 1. do fancy hairstyles for your cat.
2. make a flower garden in your room.
3. bake a four- or even five-layer cake. But this book might make you feel a little bit hungry, and if it does, then you will know you are having a “snack attack” just like Grace! Move over Judy Moody, Amber Brown and Clementine, there's a new spunky third grader on the block! Learn more about Just Grace at www.justgracebooks.com This book features a teaser chapter from Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power.
Synopsis
Grace loves cats. She also loves taking pictures of cats and drawing Not-So Super comics. She doesnt like Sammy Stringer, a boy in her class. Shes got lots and lots of ideas, and when her neighbors cat goes missing, Grace does her best to make Mrs. Luther feel less lonely. But as the mystery of the missing cat continues, Graces well-intentioned plan backfires, and she finds herself in a bit of trouble. Maybe, just maybe, Sammy Stringer will help her through.
Synopsis
Things you learn in this book: 1). Sometimes it is o.k. to be sneaky if you don't get caught.
2). How to do flashlight morse code.
3). What happened at school that was exciting: nothing.
4) How it feels to walk into your class after going to the principal's office!
5) Many other things, most importantly, how to convince your parents to MAYBE let you get a dog. A real one, not one made of cardboard.
Synopsis
Grace can do a lot of things...but can she save the planet???? Or at the very least, can she help her best friend Mimi get her favorite stuffed animal back?
Lots of exciting things are happening to Grace and her friends. Most exciting of all, Mimi's older cousin Gwen is coming to stay with Mimi, and Miss Lois's class is GOING GREEN! For their "green" project, Grace and Mimi aim to inspire their friends and classmates to conserve plastic bottles. But a far more important issue is that Gwen has taken a strong liking to Mimi's favorite stuffed toy, Willoughby. Just Grace uses her empathy superpower to figure out ways to make her best friend feel better, and she makes a difference for the environment too. Yard sales, toy owls, decorated plastic water bottles, flaming onion rings, and a very entrepreneurial Sammy Stringer make this another winning entry in the JUST GRACE series.
Synopsis
A fun new boy has just moved in next door to Graces best friend, Mimi. When Grace has to go away on a family trip during school, she is terrified that when she comes back Mimi will be best friends with Max instead! After her trip, not only does it seem her fear has come true, but Mimi is even friends with the disgusting Sammy. Now Just Grace has to team up with two other Graces in her third-grade class for a school project, including the Big Meanie.
Synopsis
In this seventh installment in the Just Grace series, any day now Graces best friend in the whole world, Mimi, is going to be getting a brand-new sister. Grace is really excited, plus nervous, plus worried, plus happy all mixed together. But both Grace and Mimi are in for a surprise when they find out that Mimis family is not adopting a brand-new sister—and instead she is getting a brand-new brother. (Oh, brother!) And to heighten the excitement even further, Grace is in for another big surprise!
Synopsis
In the sixth installment of the acclaimed Just Grace series, best friends Grace and Mimi take on a new adventure as mother's helpers when they learn Mimi's going to be a big sister! Playful and easy to relate to, Just Grace and the Terrible Tutu is perfect for emerging chapter book readers.
Synopsis
In this sixth installment in the Just Grace series, Grace and Mimi have a secret . . . Mimi is going to be a big sister. Then when Lily, a visiting four year old, turns into the Terrible Tutu, Grace can't escape her, and Mimi can't wait to be with her. Using all her empathy powers Grace shows Lily and Mimi the creative path towards a new friendship.
Synopsis
In this eighthand#160;paperback installment of the popularand#160;Just Grace series,and#160;third-grader Graceand#160;Stewart finds out she's invited to a wedding. And even though she's NOT the flower girl, Grace gets involved in a big way along with a menagerie ofand#160;cats and dogs!and#160;
Synopsis
Grace has major problems. Her favorite grown-up neighbor is getting married, and she has to get over her disappointment aboutand#160;not being chosen for a flower girl. She also has toand#160;figure out what to give as a wedding present!and#160;With a touch ofand#160; girland#160;power, Grace musters up a fantastic idea that takes a lot of planning and a little help from all of her friends and a menagerie of cats and dogs.and#160;But will her plan go
off without a hitch on the wedding day? Find out in this eighth paperback in the popular Just Grace series!
About the Author
Charise Mericle Harper is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including the Just Grace series. In a starred review, Booklist called Just Grace "hilarious" and said, "The kids come alive in the story, and Harper enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Give this to . . . anyone looking for a funny book." Charise lives in New York City. Visit her website at www.chariseharper.com.