This is the story of a runaway who finds a friend in one of her classmates. ( )

I enjoyed this coming-of-age story about a boy whose life changes after meeting a runaway girl who can see the future in the flame of a candle. It is a Christmas tale in the sense that it takes place during the Christmas season. However, it is also a sad story, so be prepared with plenty of Kleenex. ( )

I think this was well written. It was heartbreaking yet inspiring at the same time. As a result of the situation as a child he became a advocate of abused children. ( )

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

If one were to look up the definition of "grace," this is what one would find: a virtue coming from God or disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency among others. But either of these definitions could apply to the beautiful story written by Mr. Evans.

GRACE is another amazing story written by the author of THE CHRISTMAS BOX. For those who have never read anything by Mr. Evans, GRACE will not disappoint, and will most likely lead you to read the rest of his works.
For those that are already fans (such as myself), this is another wonderful novel. Many of Mr. Evans' stories celebrate the Christmas season. Though not completely revolving around the holiday, GRACE reaches into the heart and touches all that is special with the Christmas spirit.

Eric's life is far from wonderful. After his father hurt his back, the family packed up everything they owned and moved from California to Utah. Money has dried up in the summer of 1962 and, to survive, his family moves into the house left vacant by the death of his maternal grandmother. The house is falling apart, but they are together and have family nearby to help them.

To help with finances, Eric works at McBurger Queen after school. It's there, while cleaning up after closing, that he discovers a girl "dumpster diving" (sorting through the Dumpster for food). He recognizes the girl from one of his classes, but doesn't want to embarrass her. Instead, he invites her inside and offers her the food that would otherwise be discarded.

While she is eating, he learns her name is Grace. She admits she is running away. Eric can't fathom what a girl his age will do to survive. Without thinking of the consequences, he offers up the only place he can think of, the clubhouse in the far corner of his backyard that he built with his younger brother, Joel.

He sets Grace up in the clubhouse with a heating pad for warmth, a flashlight, a transistor radio, and a supply of sleeping bags. As time goes by, the two become friends. He sneaks her food when he can. She sneaks out when it seems safe, and passes her time in the clubhouse with a collection of books from the library.

But her family starts a frantic search for Grace. Announcements are made at school. Flyers are put up around town. And eventually it makes the evening news. Eric is terrified he will be found out and that they will find Grace. He vows to keep her secret. His resolve grows more so when she reveals the reason for running away.

Eric is only fourteen, and the pressure from all sides start to mount. He knows Grace can never be turned over to her family, but what can a teenager do to help her in the end?

Eric berates himself as a grown man that he couldn't help Grace more. He continues to search for the grace he doesn't feel he deserves. Reminiscent of the ending of Saving Private Ryan, the main character searches for the goodness that he hopes he has lived up to in the eyes of those that have gone before him.

Mr. Evans has a way of bringing forth buried feelings. GRACE touches you deep in the spirit and makes you want to be a better person. With the upcoming Christmas season, may we all show a bit of grace to those around us. ( )

This novel tells the story of Grace, a runaway teenager who has run to escape the perils of childhood trauma and abuse. From about the 4th chapter I was interested and read straight through..the first part of this book was slow for me. Many of the behaviors Grace exhibited are common for victims of childhood abouse and domestic violence. The story mad me laugh, cry and ultimately pray for a "system" that is not as broken as the child protective system is today. ( )

Eric remembers a boyhood romance that ends in trajedy. He helps a runaway and she becomes his first love. He had to deal with what he felt was his parents betrayal and the guilt he felt over what happens to Grace. This event infulences what profession he chooses in his adult life. ( )

At Christmastime, Eric looks back on a defining moment in his life when he was a young teenage boy growing up in the sixties. His father temporarily paralyzed, Eric and his family move to Utah where he lives in a poor neighborhood, goes to a rough school, and has to work to help out. While at work, he finds a classmate, Grace, dumpster hopping. She's run away from home. Taking pity on her, he brings her home to live in a clubhouse way back in the woods behind his house, giving her food, being a friend, protecting her. But she has a secret he can't guess, and the results of the fall and winter dramatically affect him.

If you've read any Richard Paul Evans, then you know his trademark is tearjerkers, and this was no different in that department. I liked the characters, and wanted to hug Grace so badly. Though often sad, there's hope in the story, too. ( )

An older gentleman looks back at the time in his life when, at the age of 14, he meets a runaway girl. He reflects on how the relationship has shaped the rest of his life.

I will not be surprised if most people like this more than I did. What spoiled it for me was the fact that both the thoughts and dialog of Eric and Grace were way too mature for 14 year olds - making it an unrealistic read. I did enjoy following the relationship and loved the final outcome, but overall it was just an okay book. (3/5)

Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..." ( )

Eric’s life changes the moment he sees Grace dumpster diving outside the restaurant where he works. He immediately recognizes her from his Spanish class, however he has never spoken to her. After a brief conversation, Eric feels compassion towards Grace and invites her in for a meal, his treat. Grace discloses she ran away from home and doesn’t have a place to go. Eric invites her to stay in the clubhouse in his backyard and Grace, at first hesitates, but then agrees.

So begins a significant relationship in Eric’s life. Grace becomes his first love and this relationship will shape Eric’s life in years to come. Grace is a touching, compelling story about love and loss. ( )

The premise: Eric doesn't really know what he's getting into when he helps a girl from his Spanish class runaway. He finds her shelter, makes certain she has food, and even falls in love with her, but soon the news of her disappearance is all over the news, and she refuses to go back home. Grace has secrets of her own, secrets she fears, and secrets she has a right to fear. She can see the future in the flame of a candle, and knows exactly what's ahead of her. Eric doesn't.

My Rating

Worth the Cash: much better than The Gift. This tale has a little more meat on the bones and a little more meaning, if that makes sense. It's inspirational as well as it is, well, educational in that Evans sits down to look at child abuse and tell a reader a story that's realistic and also moving. I always forget that Evans is involved in several charities, and the one he mentions at the end of this book, Operation Kids is certainly worth considering for those readers who want to help abused children find/make a better life. That's what this fictional tale was about, and while the ending is bittersweet, it points out that life doesn't always have to end that way.

The full review, which does include spoilers, may be found in my journal. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Richard Paul Evans's GRACE

Happy Reading! :) ( )

I love all of Richard Paul Evans' books and wait for the new one every year. This one actually made me cry at work. I could not put down this touching story. Eric meets and falls in love with Grace by chance saving her from a terrible home life. However, being that they are only children, he can't save her forever and she is eventually forced to return. This heart-renching story shows how one experience can change and shape the rest of our lives and how just one person can make all the difference in the world. ( )

Eric is having a tough time after a recent move, his father not being able to work due to an injury, and just the normal teenage stuff. He works part-time at a burger joint to help out and this is where he meets Grace, while she is digging in a dumpster for food. He is kind and invites her into the restaurant to eat. They talk and Grace tells Eric that she is a runaway. He tells her she can stay in the clubhouse on his parents' property and she accepts. Grace and Eric's lives will never be the same after this Christmas...

I truly love books by Richard Paul Evans and this one is no exception. It is a tender story that brought out all my emotions. I felt for Eric and for Grace, both had tough choices to make. The only problem I had with the book was how come neither Eric or Grace told the authorities what had really happened with her step-dad? That part was unbelievable to me, but otherwise a very touching Christmas story. ( )

She was my first kiss, my first love. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She was a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.

Richard Paul Evans is a powerful writer. His stories are always a great read and I find that they are too short in length (or maybe I read them too quickly!!) This story is about a boy (Eric) who discovers a young girl from his classroom going through the trash behind the place he works. He offers to take her home and keep her hidden and feed her. In time they become friends and fall in love. What has happened to the girl could have happened to anyone of us or we know of someone like this. This is a very touching story. ( )

Richard Paul Evans always delivers. A story of a young woman, raped by her stepfather, and a good friend - doomed to lose his innocence with the world that he lives in. An excellent book and a tearjerker as usual. ( )