The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka
on October 31, 2023
ISBN: 1536228788
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka

Sixteen year old Gracie Byrne, like most teenagers, wishes her life were different.  Her parents are recently divorced and her grandfather has passed away. Gracie, her mom, and her brother have decided to move in with her grandmother, whose Alzheimers has gotten worse.  Having social anxiety does not help with starting a new school.  

Gracie stumbles upon a blank journal of her grandmother’s.  A gifted writer, Gracie starts weaving tales, using the cute popular boy from her new school as a muse.  Then the impossible happens.  The stories begin to come true.  Acting as a moral compass, her friend and cute neighbor, Tom, helps Gracie navigate the ins and outs of this magical “gift.”

The author skillfully blends family, friendship, romance, and magical realism into this novel for young adults.  Younger readers of the middle grade novels The Silver Pencil by Alice Dalgliesh or The Bronze Pen by Zilpha Keatley Snyder will age up and love this novel as well. 

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME.