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!
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.'
Review
In this seventh installment in the Just Grace series, any day now Graceand#8217;s 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 Mimiand#8217;s family is
notadopting a brand-new sisterand#8212;and instead she is getting a brand-new brother. (Oh, brother!) And to heighten the excitement even further, Grace is in for
anotherbig surprise!
Just Grace and the Terrible Tutuon our Fall 2010 list
Just Grace and the Snack Attack
"New characters, such as the hyperactive "Owen 1," keep the story fresh, but readers will most enjoy Grace's 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 Grace's artistic talent." --Booklist
"[R]eaders will appreciate her straightforward, honest discussion of strong emotions they'll be sure to relate to." --Horn Book
Just Grace Goes Green
"Girls who are settling into chapter book series featuring Clementine and Judy Moody will love the fast pace and familiar school and family situations. . . . Harperand#8217;s sketches add interest and break up the text, leaving the new reader time to pause and smile. "-Horn Book
Just Grace Walks the Dog
"Graceand#8217;s cartoon illustrations and charts enliven the conversational, first-person text. . .Her ruminations about the ways that peopleand#8212;and animalsand#8212;may not be what they seem will provide both entertainment and food for thought for a wide range of readers."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
"Harper has created a quick enjoyable read in this third 'Grace' book."and#8212;Library Media Connection
Still Just Grace
"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." and#8212;Booklist
"Dealing with the problems of friendship and change in a lively way...a good addition to the middle-grade shelves." and#8212;School Library Journal
Just Grace
Booksense Summer Selection 2007
"The kids come alive in the story, and Harper, the author of several previous books, including the graphic novelFashion 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. Sheand#8217;s a hero through and through. Give this to fans of Ann Nagdaand#8217;sMeow Means Mischief(2003) or anyone looking for a funny book." and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"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." and#8212;School Library Journal
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
"Gooney Bird doesn't need much help putting herself on the map. She'll be famous for years to come."-Kirkus
"In this fifth book in the series, Lowry deals with the ticklish classroom issue of students gloating about vacations. She (and Mrs. Pidgeon and Gooney Bird) handle it well, helping young readers reflect on the competitive chatter that often strains the fabric of a class right before holidays."-Horn Bookand#160;
"Witty and perceptive in equal measure, the book features fine-tuned dialogue, kid-friendly illustrations, and a strongly realized classroom setting." -Booklist
Synopsis
Grace loves cats. She also loves taking pictures of cats and drawing Not-So Super comics. She doesnand#8217;t like Sammy Stringer, a boy in her class. Sheand#8217;s got lots and lots of ideas, and when her neighborand#8217;s cat goes missing, Grace does her best to make Mrs. Luther feel less lonely. But as the mystery of the missing cat continues, Graceand#8217;s well-intentioned plan backfires, and she finds herself in a bit of trouble. Maybe, just maybe, Sammy Stringer will help her through.
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 sisterand 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
After some of the kids in class get jealous of their classmates who are going away for February vacation, Gooney Bird gets the whole class involved in a map project that makes everyone feel likeand#160;they are going somewhere. This is the 5th chapter book installment in the Gooney Bird series.
Synopsis
Gooney Bird Greene returns for another rollicking classroom adventure in this fifth installment of two-time Newbery Award Winner Lois Lowry's Gooney Bird series.
Synopsis
Gooney Bird Greene returns for more adventures in this chapter-book series from two-time Newbery Medaland#8211;winner Lois Lowry, with Middy Thomasand#8217;s black-and-white illustrations bringing the classroom to life throughout. Mrs. Pidgeonand#8217;s second grade class has a lot to celebrate in February: presidentsand#8217; birthdays, Valentineand#8217;s Day, and school vacation. Of course, the students are talking about their awesome vacation plans every chance they get. It can be hard to focus on subtraction problems when youand#8217;re heading to Hawaii or Florida in seventeen minus seven days! But most of the class (twelve minus three of them, in fact) will be staying home during vacation. Can Gooney Bird Greene keep spirits up while everyone is feeling down? Gooney Bird has a great idea that sends her classmates and her on a snowy spin through U.S. history and geography!
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.