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Greta Grace: A Greta Grace Gibson story about bullying and self-esteem
Ages: 9-12
Grades: 4-6
Lexile: 600L
F&P: W
What’s worse than being invisible? Being noticed by the school bully.
Greta Grace likes her life. She isn’t the most popular girl in school—some days she even feels invisible—but she gets good grades and stays out of trouble.
She has a best friend in Samantha and a grandmotherly neighbor who is never too busy for a chat. Her mom can be a bit overprotective, but Greta Grace doesn’t blame her. Being a single parent probably isn’t the easiest job in the world.
When her longtime crush finally starts noticing her, Greta Grace thinks her life might even be perfect.
But when a merciless bully takes aim at Greta Grace, her carefree existence suddenly ends.
Who ever knew that school could be so hard?
5 star review by Lexi Fox - Readers' Favorite
It’s a difficult time in a young person's life to be on the cusp of teenage years, the playfulness of early childhood being slowly left behind as the infamous puberty years loom ahead. Things change, feelings are amplified, and every dark situation feels like it has the potential to be world-ending. It’s amongst this hotbed of emotional changes that Joanna Quinn has set this story, and as a former teacher, it’s a world she has unique expertise in. Greta and her peers are all wonderfully fleshed-out characters with all the accuracy and complexity of people their age. The subject matter of bullying is a very serious one for a book aimed at children, with those who have experienced it often regarding it as one of the worst chapters of their lives. Greta Grace manages to skillfully walk a very delicate line between realistic depiction and a sensitive discussion of the subject, making the book an extremely important resource for parents and educators wanting to open a dialogue with young people about the subject.
5 star review by Susan - Readers' Favorite
Beautifully written, Greta Grace by Joanna Quinn is a middle-grade book realistically depicting children's drama and bullying at school. The story is right on the edge of the teen years and young adulthood, and the advice and wisdom the adult characters share are illuminating. I loved the spiritual aspects of the story and how Greta Grace's mother and Mrs. McGee guided her through the difficulties she experiences. I thought it was ingenious how they incorporated yoga into Greta Grace's life to equip her with a sense of well-being and allow her to pause, let go of the situation, and breathe. It is a fabulous story that is certain to connect with and entertain eight to twelve-year-old readers.
4 star review by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite
Relatable and interesting, Greta Grace by Joanna Quinn is an entertaining read. I liked that the book was written in the first- person narrative from Greta Grace’s perspective because it made me feel like I really got to know her. The story tackles many issues that school-aged readers may relate to, such as bullying, sickness of a loved one, and friendship fights, and reading this book may help them feel like they’re not alone. I enjoyed reading the book, and so I would recommend it, especially to middle- schoolers.
Grades: 4-6
Lexile: 600L
F&P: W
What’s worse than being invisible? Being noticed by the school bully.
Greta Grace likes her life. She isn’t the most popular girl in school—some days she even feels invisible—but she gets good grades and stays out of trouble.
She has a best friend in Samantha and a grandmotherly neighbor who is never too busy for a chat. Her mom can be a bit overprotective, but Greta Grace doesn’t blame her. Being a single parent probably isn’t the easiest job in the world.
When her longtime crush finally starts noticing her, Greta Grace thinks her life might even be perfect.
But when a merciless bully takes aim at Greta Grace, her carefree existence suddenly ends.
Who ever knew that school could be so hard?
5 star review by Lexi Fox - Readers' Favorite
It’s a difficult time in a young person's life to be on the cusp of teenage years, the playfulness of early childhood being slowly left behind as the infamous puberty years loom ahead. Things change, feelings are amplified, and every dark situation feels like it has the potential to be world-ending. It’s amongst this hotbed of emotional changes that Joanna Quinn has set this story, and as a former teacher, it’s a world she has unique expertise in. Greta and her peers are all wonderfully fleshed-out characters with all the accuracy and complexity of people their age. The subject matter of bullying is a very serious one for a book aimed at children, with those who have experienced it often regarding it as one of the worst chapters of their lives. Greta Grace manages to skillfully walk a very delicate line between realistic depiction and a sensitive discussion of the subject, making the book an extremely important resource for parents and educators wanting to open a dialogue with young people about the subject.
5 star review by Susan - Readers' Favorite
Beautifully written, Greta Grace by Joanna Quinn is a middle-grade book realistically depicting children's drama and bullying at school. The story is right on the edge of the teen years and young adulthood, and the advice and wisdom the adult characters share are illuminating. I loved the spiritual aspects of the story and how Greta Grace's mother and Mrs. McGee guided her through the difficulties she experiences. I thought it was ingenious how they incorporated yoga into Greta Grace's life to equip her with a sense of well-being and allow her to pause, let go of the situation, and breathe. It is a fabulous story that is certain to connect with and entertain eight to twelve-year-old readers.
4 star review by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite
Relatable and interesting, Greta Grace by Joanna Quinn is an entertaining read. I liked that the book was written in the first- person narrative from Greta Grace’s perspective because it made me feel like I really got to know her. The story tackles many issues that school-aged readers may relate to, such as bullying, sickness of a loved one, and friendship fights, and reading this book may help them feel like they’re not alone. I enjoyed reading the book, and so I would recommend it, especially to middle- schoolers.
188 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 22, 2021
'Greta Grace' is a heartfelt story about a 13-year-old girl who is trying to navigate school, friendship problems, crushes, and then the class bully decides to make her life miserable. There are a ton of great topics the book talks about including family, friendship, trust, faith, bullying, forgiveness, and believing in yourself.
I don't normally read this genre and I'll admit I was a bit wary going in, but I ended up loving it! I really connected with the main character, Greta Grace. I can vividly remember when I was her age and felt all the things she did. I was bullied much like she was and my heart broke for her throughout the story. I felt the exact same way and did the same things she did. I will admit that she ends up dealing with it much better than I did though.
I don't do spoilers in my reviews, but there are a lot of things she is forced to deal with and I think the author did a phenomenal job at capturing what would be going on in a 13-year-old girl's mind. I loved that the author wrote the book in the first person point of view because it lets the reader really connect with the narrator, which was Greta Grace in this case. No other writing style can capture that, in my opinion, and it's by far my favorite. This is a wonderful book for readers of all ages to read and I highly recommend it for fans of MG fiction and contemporary fiction.
Disclosure: I recieved a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't normally read this genre and I'll admit I was a bit wary going in, but I ended up loving it! I really connected with the main character, Greta Grace. I can vividly remember when I was her age and felt all the things she did. I was bullied much like she was and my heart broke for her throughout the story. I felt the exact same way and did the same things she did. I will admit that she ends up dealing with it much better than I did though.
I don't do spoilers in my reviews, but there are a lot of things she is forced to deal with and I think the author did a phenomenal job at capturing what would be going on in a 13-year-old girl's mind. I loved that the author wrote the book in the first person point of view because it lets the reader really connect with the narrator, which was Greta Grace in this case. No other writing style can capture that, in my opinion, and it's by far my favorite. This is a wonderful book for readers of all ages to read and I highly recommend it for fans of MG fiction and contemporary fiction.
Disclosure: I recieved a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2021
Greta Grace by Joanna Quinn
I picked this book up because the description was well, relatable. In this book, our main character Greta Grace is being bullied in middle school. We follow her experience coping with that and the recent hospitalisation of a closed one. The positives i found in this books were as follows:
1. Very easy writing. I finished it in one sitting.
2. Sweet relationship with a parent.
3. Realistic reluctance to report the bully to the authorities.
Cons:
1. Female characters villianised constantly.
2. Female characters judged for wearing clothes of their choice.
3. The boyfriend getting off the hook in every situation.
4. The main character being shown as the best person in the whole universe who is actually kinda selfish.
5. weird character development, she just went from hate hate hate to forgivness real quick.
In conclusion, this book was just not for me. I think some kids in catholic schools might like it.
I picked this book up because the description was well, relatable. In this book, our main character Greta Grace is being bullied in middle school. We follow her experience coping with that and the recent hospitalisation of a closed one. The positives i found in this books were as follows:
1. Very easy writing. I finished it in one sitting.
2. Sweet relationship with a parent.
3. Realistic reluctance to report the bully to the authorities.
Cons:
1. Female characters villianised constantly.
2. Female characters judged for wearing clothes of their choice.
3. The boyfriend getting off the hook in every situation.
4. The main character being shown as the best person in the whole universe who is actually kinda selfish.
5. weird character development, she just went from hate hate hate to forgivness real quick.
In conclusion, this book was just not for me. I think some kids in catholic schools might like it.
October 6, 2021
Quick synopsis: I could not put Greta Grace down. Quinn crafts a narrative that allows readers to connect with GG while maintaining enough distance to recognize that her handling of bullying is not ideal. Casey, the bully, wages war against GG on two fronts: at school and online. GG's response is to ignore it, meditate, and turn to God. Her best friend, however, abandons GG in order to befriend Casey and remove herself as another possible bullying target. GG's meditation and mindfulness help her maintain some level of peace of mind, but they don't stop Casey or get her best friend back. On top of the school situation, the woman who is like a grandmother to GG lies comatose in the hospital. Greta Grace is a compelling story that acknowledges the challenges of middle school and the seeming impossibility of resolving them.
The strength of Greta Grace is twofold: GG embodies the multitudes contained by tweens and teens and she models positive mental health practices. Although her friends don't always get it, she meditates the way her mother and "grandmother" have been teaching her for years. She knows what works for her – this is something we discuss with T, namely knowing what helps him calm himself or feel less scared (sometimes all those monster books catch up with him). GG also mentions God a few times; prayer is a part of her life. No particular faith is mentioned, but I inferred a Christian slant (you see what you are, right?). The natural integration of belief and practice stands out to me as a particular reason to read this. You know I'm always on the lookout for books that depict people of faith without focusing on that faith. Greta Grace really hits that target. It's worth reiterating. She knows what's right for her, that it might not be the same for her friends, and she is okay with that (most of the time).
GG is certainly intimidated by Casey and doesn't want adults involved; readers will likely identify with her feelings. She also navigates the uncertain terrain of like-liking a boy who may or may not like-like her back. They become friends when GG's best friend bails; the growth of their friendship has its natural ups and downs, but demonstrates to GG that she is valued by other classmates. As a parent, I appreciate how the relationships – both good and bad – ring true and provide an example of what is healthy (or not). Readers really don't know how the bullying issue will turn out, or whether the grandmother will awaken. The plot and subplot move along quickly but with a level of detail that allows the reader to immerse herself in GG's life. Greta Grace is one I'd have had in my classroom and on my suggested book report reading list for fourth and sixth graders.
I recommend Greta Grace.
Disclosure: I hereby disclose partnership with The Children's Book Review and Emerald Lake Books. A digital copy of the book was provided for the purpose of this blog tour. All thoughts are my own.
The strength of Greta Grace is twofold: GG embodies the multitudes contained by tweens and teens and she models positive mental health practices. Although her friends don't always get it, she meditates the way her mother and "grandmother" have been teaching her for years. She knows what works for her – this is something we discuss with T, namely knowing what helps him calm himself or feel less scared (sometimes all those monster books catch up with him). GG also mentions God a few times; prayer is a part of her life. No particular faith is mentioned, but I inferred a Christian slant (you see what you are, right?). The natural integration of belief and practice stands out to me as a particular reason to read this. You know I'm always on the lookout for books that depict people of faith without focusing on that faith. Greta Grace really hits that target. It's worth reiterating. She knows what's right for her, that it might not be the same for her friends, and she is okay with that (most of the time).
GG is certainly intimidated by Casey and doesn't want adults involved; readers will likely identify with her feelings. She also navigates the uncertain terrain of like-liking a boy who may or may not like-like her back. They become friends when GG's best friend bails; the growth of their friendship has its natural ups and downs, but demonstrates to GG that she is valued by other classmates. As a parent, I appreciate how the relationships – both good and bad – ring true and provide an example of what is healthy (or not). Readers really don't know how the bullying issue will turn out, or whether the grandmother will awaken. The plot and subplot move along quickly but with a level of detail that allows the reader to immerse herself in GG's life. Greta Grace is one I'd have had in my classroom and on my suggested book report reading list for fourth and sixth graders.
I recommend Greta Grace.
Disclosure: I hereby disclose partnership with The Children's Book Review and Emerald Lake Books. A digital copy of the book was provided for the purpose of this blog tour. All thoughts are my own.
October 4, 2021
Greta Grace Gibson is a sensitive girl who has so much going in her life. She lives with her mom and has a beloved neighbor who is like a grandmother to her. Mrs. McGee spends a lot of time with Greta Grace and her mom. Greta Grace comes to see her every day after school.
When Greta Grace begins to get bullied at school by Casey and her friends, she just takes it and doesn’t tell her mother or teacher. The bullying gets so bad that her best friend turns against her, because she doesn’t want to also be attacked. Greta Grace’s crush befriends her and then becomes her boyfriend. She’s thrilled, but the bully continues to escalate the attacks.
Greta Grace becomes very distraught after Mrs. McGee is in the hospital in a coma. She visits daily and tells the old lady about her life and begs her to come back to her. Greta Grace talks to God and her angels. Her mother also encourages her to practice meditation and yoga. There is more spiritualism than faith in this book.
As things become too much for her, Greta finally shares with her mother. Her mother quickly handles things. But, there are more problems that need to be resolved. There is so much darkness and so many problems for such a young girl to deal with. The author seems to enable the characters to deal with many of the issues in their lives, and points out how young people should reach out and be truthful about what they might be facing.
The book has a very abrupt ending. There will be more to the story in the next book of the series about Greta Grace. The book is clean and free of bad language. There are discussion questions at the end of the book, and parents need to read these and see if they are appropriate for their faith.
This review is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Emerald Lake Books.
When Greta Grace begins to get bullied at school by Casey and her friends, she just takes it and doesn’t tell her mother or teacher. The bullying gets so bad that her best friend turns against her, because she doesn’t want to also be attacked. Greta Grace’s crush befriends her and then becomes her boyfriend. She’s thrilled, but the bully continues to escalate the attacks.
Greta Grace becomes very distraught after Mrs. McGee is in the hospital in a coma. She visits daily and tells the old lady about her life and begs her to come back to her. Greta Grace talks to God and her angels. Her mother also encourages her to practice meditation and yoga. There is more spiritualism than faith in this book.
As things become too much for her, Greta finally shares with her mother. Her mother quickly handles things. But, there are more problems that need to be resolved. There is so much darkness and so many problems for such a young girl to deal with. The author seems to enable the characters to deal with many of the issues in their lives, and points out how young people should reach out and be truthful about what they might be facing.
The book has a very abrupt ending. There will be more to the story in the next book of the series about Greta Grace. The book is clean and free of bad language. There are discussion questions at the end of the book, and parents need to read these and see if they are appropriate for their faith.
This review is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Emerald Lake Books.
December 13, 2021
Greta Grace is a young lady going through the trials and tribulations of middle school with a few extra helpings of why-of-why-does-it-have-to-be-me thrown in for good measure.
This young lady has a great support team built in. Grant it, she doesn't always let them in, but it doesn't mean they're not there, and when push comes to shove, they've got her back. Even when the "culprit" is someone she trusted, the lessons learned far outweigh the embarrassments she suffered. Now, I'm not saying in the moment it wasn't you-know-what, but with hindsight and some distance like her dear old mom and best grandma-like-friend told her, forgiveness will come. We deal with a variety of topics ranging from bullying to first crushes to loss, and none are cast aside as lesser than another. I mean, think about it...everything felt SO IMPORTANT at that age. It was a first time for everything type of time and we seem to feel things THAT much more. So yeah, the bully was a problem, the crush was intense, the secrets revealed were like the end of the world, the chance that we may lose someone we care for no matter how remote was life changing, but the author handles each long enough to help readers understand what is within our own power and what we sometimes need to let a higher power help us with.
All in all, a great start to what sounds like a promising series to promote positivity in life with a healthy look at emotions, and beliefs.
This young lady has a great support team built in. Grant it, she doesn't always let them in, but it doesn't mean they're not there, and when push comes to shove, they've got her back. Even when the "culprit" is someone she trusted, the lessons learned far outweigh the embarrassments she suffered. Now, I'm not saying in the moment it wasn't you-know-what, but with hindsight and some distance like her dear old mom and best grandma-like-friend told her, forgiveness will come. We deal with a variety of topics ranging from bullying to first crushes to loss, and none are cast aside as lesser than another. I mean, think about it...everything felt SO IMPORTANT at that age. It was a first time for everything type of time and we seem to feel things THAT much more. So yeah, the bully was a problem, the crush was intense, the secrets revealed were like the end of the world, the chance that we may lose someone we care for no matter how remote was life changing, but the author handles each long enough to help readers understand what is within our own power and what we sometimes need to let a higher power help us with.
All in all, a great start to what sounds like a promising series to promote positivity in life with a healthy look at emotions, and beliefs.
September 11, 2021
Greta Grace
A Greta Grace Gibson story about bullying and self-esteem
by Joanna Quinn
Pub Date 21 Sep 2021
Emerald Lake Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Self-Help
I am reviewing a copy of Greta Grace: A Greta Grace story about bullying and self-esteem through Emerald Lake Books, Independent Book Publishers Association and Netgalley:
There is something worse than being invisible, that is being noticed by the school bully.
Greta Grace likes her life, she isn’t popular, in fact she often feels invisible but she gets good grades and stays out of trouble.
Her best friend is Samantha as well as an grandmotherly neighbor who is never too busy for a chat. Her mom can be a bit overprotective, but Greta Grace doesn’t blame her. Being a single parent probably isn’t the easiest job in the world.
After a longtime crush finally starts to notice her Greta Grace thinks her life might be perfect.
But when the merciless school bully takes aim at Greta Grace, her carefree existence suddenly ends.
Who ever knew that school could be so hard?
I give Greta Grace: A Greta Grace Gibson story about bullying and self-esteem five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
A Greta Grace Gibson story about bullying and self-esteem
by Joanna Quinn
Pub Date 21 Sep 2021
Emerald Lake Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Self-Help
I am reviewing a copy of Greta Grace: A Greta Grace story about bullying and self-esteem through Emerald Lake Books, Independent Book Publishers Association and Netgalley:
There is something worse than being invisible, that is being noticed by the school bully.
Greta Grace likes her life, she isn’t popular, in fact she often feels invisible but she gets good grades and stays out of trouble.
Her best friend is Samantha as well as an grandmotherly neighbor who is never too busy for a chat. Her mom can be a bit overprotective, but Greta Grace doesn’t blame her. Being a single parent probably isn’t the easiest job in the world.
After a longtime crush finally starts to notice her Greta Grace thinks her life might be perfect.
But when the merciless school bully takes aim at Greta Grace, her carefree existence suddenly ends.
Who ever knew that school could be so hard?
I give Greta Grace: A Greta Grace Gibson story about bullying and self-esteem five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
September 10, 2021
I´m not sure as to how many stars this book actually deserves. My teenage daughter liked it, but not a lot. She said it´s "relatable". So it´s good. Simple language and short sentences make it easy read. Too easy if the book´s target are teenagers.
If I got it right there is a little logical error in the story. SPOILER HERE:
While Greta is visiting Mrs. McGee she accidentally hears a voicemail from a local doctor, who happens to be an oncologist) urging Mrs. McGee to make an appointment. As later Greta´s mom explains there´s a lump and a doctor wants to get it checked. I don´t get it. It´s as if the doctor himself has found the lump and only is calling asking his patient to get the biopsy done. As far as I know things don´t work this way. It´s a patient who discovers something and it´s a patient who goes to doctor asking to get it checked. What´s more, this is within 20% of book or so and then all of a sudden the problem disappears. Magic!
END OF SPOILER
I liked the perfect mother-daughter relationship, that has nothing to do with reality. Idyllic, sweet. Like a huge chocolate fountain in a chocolate factory.
If I got it right there is a little logical error in the story. SPOILER HERE:
While Greta is visiting Mrs. McGee she accidentally hears a voicemail from a local doctor, who happens to be an oncologist) urging Mrs. McGee to make an appointment. As later Greta´s mom explains there´s a lump and a doctor wants to get it checked. I don´t get it. It´s as if the doctor himself has found the lump and only is calling asking his patient to get the biopsy done. As far as I know things don´t work this way. It´s a patient who discovers something and it´s a patient who goes to doctor asking to get it checked. What´s more, this is within 20% of book or so and then all of a sudden the problem disappears. Magic!
END OF SPOILER
I liked the perfect mother-daughter relationship, that has nothing to do with reality. Idyllic, sweet. Like a huge chocolate fountain in a chocolate factory.
January 7, 2022
I enjoyed this YA/ Middle grade story with all of the characters. The main character was Greta Grace.
Greta Grace is in middle school. She get good grades and stays out of getting into trouble. But one day a girl from her school starts to bully her. Because she will not let the girl see the answer on her paper. By doing this the girl gets mad and start to bully her every day. By not showing the answers her life turn for the worst. Not only now she dealing with the bully she also dealing with other things to. Her best friend turns against her and her neighbor that feel like a grandmother falls and gets hurt quite badly. Her life is falling apart.
With all that happens in this story there is also a happy ending. Most of the beginning of story is a little sad because you go through what Greta Grace is deal with. From the bully to her best friend and also her neighbor.
This story has a lot of different emotion throughout it. The part that made me quite sad was when her neighbor gets hurt and is in a coma.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.
Greta Grace is in middle school. She get good grades and stays out of getting into trouble. But one day a girl from her school starts to bully her. Because she will not let the girl see the answer on her paper. By doing this the girl gets mad and start to bully her every day. By not showing the answers her life turn for the worst. Not only now she dealing with the bully she also dealing with other things to. Her best friend turns against her and her neighbor that feel like a grandmother falls and gets hurt quite badly. Her life is falling apart.
With all that happens in this story there is also a happy ending. Most of the beginning of story is a little sad because you go through what Greta Grace is deal with. From the bully to her best friend and also her neighbor.
This story has a lot of different emotion throughout it. The part that made me quite sad was when her neighbor gets hurt and is in a coma.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.
August 28, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. This did not influence my review.
Greta Grace is a novel about a girl standing up to bullying. Greta Grace has been bullied for a while by Casey, though she will not tell anyone about it because she fears that will make the bullying worse. The only person that she tells about this is her elderly neighbor, Mrs. McGee. However, when Mrs. McGee falls and goes into a coma, she has to figure it out herself.
This was a decent novel, a fast read, but it did have some problems. One of the biggest ones was Greta Grace herself. She was supposed to be thirteen but I thought that she sounded more like a nine year old doing things that a thirteen year old would do. It also wasn’t very realistic how not involved the adults were. Any teacher would have noticed the things that Casey did, but no one helped Greta Grace.
Overall, I think that this might be good for young girls under ten.
Greta Grace is a novel about a girl standing up to bullying. Greta Grace has been bullied for a while by Casey, though she will not tell anyone about it because she fears that will make the bullying worse. The only person that she tells about this is her elderly neighbor, Mrs. McGee. However, when Mrs. McGee falls and goes into a coma, she has to figure it out herself.
This was a decent novel, a fast read, but it did have some problems. One of the biggest ones was Greta Grace herself. She was supposed to be thirteen but I thought that she sounded more like a nine year old doing things that a thirteen year old would do. It also wasn’t very realistic how not involved the adults were. Any teacher would have noticed the things that Casey did, but no one helped Greta Grace.
Overall, I think that this might be good for young girls under ten.
October 22, 2021
Greta Grace is a story about a girl who is navigating middle school while being bullied.
Highly sensitive children might feel that the book starts off on a rather jolting note because it begins with a diatribe about how a character is similar to the toxicity of cancer.
On the other hand, children with behavioral struggles that incline them towards aggression may find the introductory scene amusing as it describes specific instances of bullying behavior.
The tone of the book is dramatic, and as a sensitive person I felt like I had to shield myself from accessing an incompatible vibration. However, some will find the book to be relatable because it covers real issues that we face on Earth.
My main concern with this book is that the tone is not the most uplifting.
One of the characters laments the following over a bully: “Is it bad to wish that she would gently die in her sleep?” The character is told, “Yeah” and the Golden Rule is mentioned.
On the other hand, there are some inspiring quotes. One of the quotes I enjoyed was, “You can say anything you have to say to anybody as long as it comes from a place of love.”
I also like how the main character's mothers said: “Greta Grace, you are amazing, strong, loveable and beautiful with an inner bright light shining that cannot be dimmed.”
If one can get over the drama and the fact that this book gives kids who are bullies a nice arsenal of phrases to add to their repertoire; one might find some useful nuggets to bring up for discussion .
In my opinion, this is a clear example of a book that either will resonate with you or it will not.
(I did not purchase this book, I received an advanced reader copy).
Highly sensitive children might feel that the book starts off on a rather jolting note because it begins with a diatribe about how a character is similar to the toxicity of cancer.
On the other hand, children with behavioral struggles that incline them towards aggression may find the introductory scene amusing as it describes specific instances of bullying behavior.
The tone of the book is dramatic, and as a sensitive person I felt like I had to shield myself from accessing an incompatible vibration. However, some will find the book to be relatable because it covers real issues that we face on Earth.
My main concern with this book is that the tone is not the most uplifting.
One of the characters laments the following over a bully: “Is it bad to wish that she would gently die in her sleep?” The character is told, “Yeah” and the Golden Rule is mentioned.
On the other hand, there are some inspiring quotes. One of the quotes I enjoyed was, “You can say anything you have to say to anybody as long as it comes from a place of love.”
I also like how the main character's mothers said: “Greta Grace, you are amazing, strong, loveable and beautiful with an inner bright light shining that cannot be dimmed.”
If one can get over the drama and the fact that this book gives kids who are bullies a nice arsenal of phrases to add to their repertoire; one might find some useful nuggets to bring up for discussion .
In my opinion, this is a clear example of a book that either will resonate with you or it will not.
(I did not purchase this book, I received an advanced reader copy).
August 17, 2022
This is a great book for kids who love reading chapter books. As this book covered bullying it would be a useful read for those who are experiencing these issues. I like the story and thought the author dealt with a difficult subject well. I tried this book on my 10 year old but it was a long shot as she only likes adventure or history books but I couldn't get her into it so I read it myself and enjoyed reading it. This is a great story that would be suitable for ages 9 plus. I believe this is part of a series based on Greta so I know from experience kids love series. It would be great to read how Greta develops through the series. I definitely recommend this book to kids who are having issues at school and to those ready to go to middle grade or high school.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for creating this great and useful story that kids will enjoy and learn from.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for creating this great and useful story that kids will enjoy and learn from.
September 2, 2021
I got this as an ARC from Netgalley because I loved the cover. It seems to be for a younger age than 13 which is the age of the main character Greta Grace. Or maybe, it is for the not so mature just teens! Having just read a book in which kids 10 and above were scarily precocious, this was a kind of relief though!
Greta is bullied for getting better grades than the class bully and when she refuses to do badly in school, she faces more bullying. Her relationship with her elderly neighbor is sweet. There is no real handling of the situation at first, at least that's not the focus of the story which reads more like a normal school story.
So it's a cute read which could have emphasized more on how to handle the bullying that it starts off with as the main theme.
Greta is bullied for getting better grades than the class bully and when she refuses to do badly in school, she faces more bullying. Her relationship with her elderly neighbor is sweet. There is no real handling of the situation at first, at least that's not the focus of the story which reads more like a normal school story.
So it's a cute read which could have emphasized more on how to handle the bullying that it starts off with as the main theme.
August 29, 2021
This review is based on an ARC of Greta Grace which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Emerald Lake Books).
The author is passionate, I'll give her that. You can feel the dedication to the story behind the authors' words. However, as far as being a novel, Greta Grace is a touch dull. The subject is overplayed. I've read this same story a million times before, making Greta Grace nothing more than underwhelming filler fiction.
Greta Grace is a cute story with a solid cast of characters, but it isn't profound.
The author is passionate, I'll give her that. You can feel the dedication to the story behind the authors' words. However, as far as being a novel, Greta Grace is a touch dull. The subject is overplayed. I've read this same story a million times before, making Greta Grace nothing more than underwhelming filler fiction.
Greta Grace is a cute story with a solid cast of characters, but it isn't profound.
February 13, 2022
With the school bully gunning for you and your friends have deserted you for fear of reprisal, you need to talk to the head honcho, mum. Greta Grace's journey through her teenage years has just begun, and she needed to develop a hard outer core fast and learn to stand up for herself. Greta Grace's journey was like most teenagers, and it had just begun. The road ahead was going to be rough and sometimes turbulent, but with love, the correct guidance, and faith Greta’s journey was a memorable one. This book was very entertaining, enlightening, and inspirational.
August 29, 2021
I didn't read this book but my 11 year old daughter did. She said it was a great read that would appeal to 9 - 13 year olds. While some of the adult reviewers had concerns about Greta's character, my daughter did not share those concerns - and she would certainly not be shy to speak up if she did! She said there was definitely a message in the book. She gave the book four stars. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2021
AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 29 YEARS, I WAS REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THIS BOOK WOULD OFFER. IT WAS AMAZING!! IT WAS WELL WRITTEN AND INCLUDED RELATABLE EXPERIENCES THAT MOST MIDDLE SCHOOLERS GO THROUGH. THE ADULTS IN THE STORY WEAVE IN GREAT WORDS OF WISDOM THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.
IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE FOR KIDS, PARENTS AND EDUCATORS. GRETA GRACE'S BULLYING EXPERIENCES WILL OPEN UP THE DIALOG ON HOW TO DEAL WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE FOR KIDS, PARENTS AND EDUCATORS. GRETA GRACE'S BULLYING EXPERIENCES WILL OPEN UP THE DIALOG ON HOW TO DEAL WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
September 21, 2021
This is a refreshingly good read for young people that delivers exactly what it promises. Joanna Quinn provides a story that can spark important conversations between parents and children and peers alike. At the end of the day, Greta Graces’ experiences are the result of her thoughts and responses. This is a message that most adults would benefit from understanding. Highly recommend for young readers.
November 11, 2021
Greta Grace reminded me of my 13 year old self, trying to fit in with a group and feeling the same things that she did in this book. I love reading middle grade books every now and then as it brings me back to my childhood and they often have very important topics in them that are portrayed in a great way.
the book is written in 1st person and I found that it helped me connect to the character a lot more because you could see exactly how she was feeling in the circumstances that were being thrown at her.
I was given a e copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
the book is written in 1st person and I found that it helped me connect to the character a lot more because you could see exactly how she was feeling in the circumstances that were being thrown at her.
I was given a e copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
My 12 year old daughter read this book and absolutely loved it- a new favorite of hers! She said it was extremely relatable and a fun, easy read. She felt like the author gave a lot of great advice on issues that she (along with many girls her age) are similarly going through. I am a 6th grade teacher, so after my daughter's raving reviews, I wanted to read it to see if it would be good for my students. I really enjoyed it and am excited to add it to my classroom library. I would definitely recommend this book to all- I think there are a lot of great messages for kids weaved throughout this well- crafted story. 5/5 stars!
September 16, 2021
A wonderful story with many valuable lessons for middle school age children. I highly recommend this book! It will help kids learn valuable ways to navigate tough adolescent situations that tend to arise.
September 6, 2021
Had my daughter read it and she loved it!
September 6, 2021
Highly recommend this book! Greta Grace is someone that every child can relate to. If you have a pre-teen in your life, gift them this book!
September 17, 2021
Loved it.
October 8, 2021
Greta Grace was a quick light-hearted read but it wasn't the most memorable.
The character of Greta Grace was flat and unrealistic making her unrelatable. The plot was just a series of events that occured without any relation making it seem incoherent.
Most loose ends were not tied up properly and the ending seemed unsatisfactory in my opinion. The themes it carried however were quite inspiring and probably the best part of this book.
Overall this was a good read. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
The character of Greta Grace was flat and unrealistic making her unrelatable. The plot was just a series of events that occured without any relation making it seem incoherent.
Most loose ends were not tied up properly and the ending seemed unsatisfactory in my opinion. The themes it carried however were quite inspiring and probably the best part of this book.
Overall this was a good read. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
February 27, 2023
This book read like an afterschool special (probably dating myself there...) with a complete lack of organization and timing. The author seemed to grasp at a few hard topics without really addressing them and then glossing on to the next issue, repeat.
Greta Grace is a 7th grader whose dad left at an early age and has completely disappeared from her life (first issue, not addressed fully). Greta Grace has also become the target of a bully (second issue, in more depth but resolution was a little hinky). While being bullied, her best friend abandons her for said bully and GG does not want to tell anyone she is being bullied, despite it being obvious to nearly all the adults in her life. Then her friend Mrs. McGee falls down the stairs and winds up in a coma and GG is convinced she is going to die (third issue - lasts for a few chapters, mom never addresses WHY GG is convinced the hospital kills people and her friend is going to die). There are a handful of other heavy topics thrown in, all of them given the four to five chapter treatment and then everything is coming up roses. The whole thing struck me as a bit ridiculous.
I realize this review makes me sound like a miserable miser who doesn't believe in happy endings. That is not the case but I just feel like there are so many underlying problems here blanketed by these brief descriptions and resolutions that it is completely unrealistic, especially since the author is a "life coach." The way the book is formatted is months pass in the blink of a page and the book ended to abruptly I was literally flipping pages for the rest. I suppose the author was setting this up for another book but again, BIG BOMBSHELL TOPIC dropped in the last three paragraphs and POOF! Story over.
Would NOT recommend this book for young kids, ESPECIALLY those being bullied. The advice in here is nearly as bad as "If you ignore them, they'll get tired and move on to someone else" (spoiler alert - that's wrong).
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Greta Grace is a 7th grader whose dad left at an early age and has completely disappeared from her life (first issue, not addressed fully). Greta Grace has also become the target of a bully (second issue, in more depth but resolution was a little hinky). While being bullied, her best friend abandons her for said bully and GG does not want to tell anyone she is being bullied, despite it being obvious to nearly all the adults in her life. Then her friend Mrs. McGee falls down the stairs and winds up in a coma and GG is convinced she is going to die (third issue - lasts for a few chapters, mom never addresses WHY GG is convinced the hospital kills people and her friend is going to die). There are a handful of other heavy topics thrown in, all of them given the four to five chapter treatment and then everything is coming up roses. The whole thing struck me as a bit ridiculous.
I realize this review makes me sound like a miserable miser who doesn't believe in happy endings. That is not the case but I just feel like there are so many underlying problems here blanketed by these brief descriptions and resolutions that it is completely unrealistic, especially since the author is a "life coach." The way the book is formatted is months pass in the blink of a page and the book ended to abruptly I was literally flipping pages for the rest. I suppose the author was setting this up for another book but again, BIG BOMBSHELL TOPIC dropped in the last three paragraphs and POOF! Story over.
Would NOT recommend this book for young kids, ESPECIALLY those being bullied. The advice in here is nearly as bad as "If you ignore them, they'll get tired and move on to someone else" (spoiler alert - that's wrong).
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
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