Not a thriller. Not grand. Two stars cuz the author spent time writing this mash. ( )

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I started reading it because my daughter wanted to play with other kids on the playground thing at McDonalds and there wasn't much I could do but supervise. I got the Kindle version for free (I doubt it's still free, but it's worth a check) so I figured I had nothing to lose. I'm so glad I gave it a try!
Let me begin by saying that the author had me as soon as he introduced the character named Harlan Chesterton. That name made me expect good things, and sure enough, I got them. I won't summarize the story here, as I'm sure everyone has already beaten me to it, but I will say that it is a fairly realistic book for young adults, with believable characters, mystery and suspense, good messages, a dollop of the supernatural, a surprising amount of wisdom, and an ending that I actually never saw coming. The Doctor Who reference not only made me smile; it is important. Trust me. ;)
I think I've got my husband wanting to read Grand & Humble now and I hope you'll read it too :) ( )

I am so glad I gave this book a try. I really enjoyed the story and I loved the way it gradually came together to its conclusion through so many twists and turns . Leaves the reader thinking long after the book is finished. ( )

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Two boys, who on the outside couldn't be more different. Harlan Chesterton is good looking, popular, the rich son of a prominent Senator. He's an ace on the school swim team, he's dating the beautiful Amber, his best friend, Ricky, has street cred. If it weren't for the debilitating panic attacks, along with the flashes of tragic premonition that Harlan experiences, his life would be perfect. After all, that's what his mother is aiming for--running the lives of her husband and son until every detail is absolutely perfect.

Manny Tucker, on the other hand, is a geek. A theater geek, to be exact. Never one to attract attention, Manny prefers working behind the scenes with the lighting, bringing the stars of the stage into perfect, shining glory. He's not popular, he's often picked on by the other kids in school, and his good friend, Elsa, is deaf. He likes working on the computer, coming up with movies to film with Elsa, and living a simple life with his single-father dad. Except lately he's been having vivid nightmares that seem to portend a tragic ending.

How is it that two boys, so far removed on both a social and financial level, should share the same feelings of dread and uncertainty that Harlan and Manny do? And how is the intersection of Grand and Humble, a scene which both see in their unwanted "visions" of either the past or future, involved?

GRAND & HUMBLE is an engaging mystery that delves into the paranormal. The result is a thriller with twists and turns and a surprise ending that will leave even the best of detectives guessing until the final page. Not to be missed by all lovers of a good, thought-provoking "what if" story, GRAND & HUMBLE is sure to please! ( )

Two very different boys experience similar visions of death in a tightly-plotted, well-written, suspense book.

Manny is a geek. Into theatre lighting and film, he's practically invisible to at his high school. Harlan is a high-school superhero. A handsome, charming jock, son of a senator, with a smokin' girlfriend. The two boys have nothing in common, except both have been having debilitating nightmares.

The boys take different approaches to discover the source of the premonitions; Manny talks to his dad, while Harlan tries to hide the visions and their effect on him. Manny's dad, usually understanding and supportive, acts suspicious when Manny mentions the dreams to him, and it's getting harder and harder for Harlan to keep the terror he feels hidden, especially from his control freak mom.

As the two boys discover the root of their dreams, they discover surprising secrets about themselves, leading to a well done twist ending.

This is a fast and suspenseful read, one that I would not normally pick up on my own. The secrets to the twist ending are nicely woven into the plot, and the ending is a genuine surprise. Everything ends a little pat, but strong characters and a fast pace make up for it. (cross-posted from MeriJenBen) ( )