The State of Grace

Starred review from June 18, 2018
With enormous insight, British writer Lucas (My Box-Shaped Heart) shares the thoughts of high schooler Grace and brings readers into the experiences of a teen with Asperger’s. Grace is fine when she’s at the stables with her beloved horse, Mabel; it’s when she’s in public that she starts having trouble. While Grace’s best friend, Anna, and younger sister, Leah, seem to know instinctively what to say and how to act in every situation, Grace is always making blunders: “Sometimes I feel like everyone else was handed a copy of the rules and mine got lost,” she says. Nonetheless, her crush, Gabe, has become interested in her, and being around him is a lot less awkward than Grace expects. Things are looking up, but there are still people who make her miserable, particularly her long-time nemesis, Holly, and her mother’s obnoxious friend Eve. Grace’s keen sense of humor and honesty are irresistible, and the book exudes positivity and warmth, with a whole crew of individuals—Grace’s family, Anna, ever-patient Gabe, and stable-owner Polly—respectfully walking alongside Grace. Ages 13–18.