LindseyfromBFCG reviewed In Front of God and Everybody (Confessions of April Grace, Bk 1) on + 117 more book reviews
About this book:
Growing up in the country is never easy, but it sure is funny--especially if you happen to have a sister obsessed with being glamorous, a grandma just discovering make-up, hippie friends who never shower, and brand new neighbors from the city who test everyone's patience. From disastrous dye jobs to forced apologies and elderly date tagalongs, you'll laugh 'til you cry as you read the "Confessions of April Grace"!
Here are just a couple of April's thoughts: On her sister, Myra Sue: "How anyone can be that dumb and still be able to eat with a fork is beyond me." On senior citizen lovebirds: "What if they started smooching right at the table in front of God and everybody?"
In spite of all the loony characters in her life, April Grace is able to learn from her parents as they share the love of God--to even the craziest of characters!
Series: Book #1 in the Confessions of April Grace series. There are currently three books and the author is working on the 4th.
Spiritual Content- Mentions of Scriptures & the Second Coming; Hymns; Talks about God, forgiveness, trusting others they way you would want to be, and church; Prayers & the Saint Francis Prayer.
*Note: Estelle Durwood is a hippie along with her husband and they go by Temple & Forest Freebrid (She says she is the temple of her inner goddess, and he says he inhabits the souls of trees.); another mention of being a goddess; Temple mentions about centering yourself in the center of the universe; The St.James are not religious & Isabel says so; April Grace when describing Isabel: Im pretty sure she was trying to keep her eyeballs from bursting into flames like those pictures you see of S*tan..
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a blasted, a oh my word, a wretch, two idiots, three drips, three hushs, nine stupids, 16 dumbs, and Myra Sue & April Grace call each other names (like You look like dog poop, big, fat pain, brat, hicks, etc.); Ian & Isabel both cuss & use the Lords name in vain (theyre not written, but are cut-off or , April Grace adds that she would get in trouble for mentioning and then sometimes adds so just use your imagination.), others also cuss but its not written; Myra Sure rolls her eyes; Sarcasm & Smart-Alecking; Isabel smokes a lot & wants a drink; Mentions that Ian lost their money gambling;
*Note: Soap Operas & Celebrities are mentioned; Isabel says shes a registered Democrat.
Sexual Content- Grandma Grace says a man kissed her yesterday (which April Grace overhears this and is grossed out at the thought of her Grandma and some man kissing); Mr. Rance smooches Grandma; In the bathroom when April Grace is looking for something she comes across a box of feminine you-know-whats;
*Note: *Spoiler* A mention that Lily caught Myra Sue staring in the minor saying something about her huge butt.; Myra Sue gets the notion after hanging out with Isabel (who is as skinny as a rail) that shes fat and the size of a house; Thanks to Isabels influence, Myra Sue develops an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. April Grace notices that she can see Myra Sues rib and tells her folks; When Myra Sue goes to the doctor, Isabel wonders if Myra Sue has a boyfriend and hints to if shes pregnant (which shes not and April Grace tells her so.) *End of Spoiler*
-April Grace Reilly, age 11
1st Person P.O.V. of April Grace
Set in 1986
288 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{ Most families will most likely not want their Early High School Teen or younger daughter reading this book. }
April Grace might be eleven, but I wouldnt recommend this book for girls near this age. Because of all the cussing (which isnt written but still) & Isabels influence on Myra Sue, age 14. The youngest I think it would be okay for is Myra Sues age and up. Ive read In Front of God and everybody three times now and I still laugh just as hard when I first read it, but some families wont want their girls reading this series, which I understand completely.
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
Growing up in the country is never easy, but it sure is funny--especially if you happen to have a sister obsessed with being glamorous, a grandma just discovering make-up, hippie friends who never shower, and brand new neighbors from the city who test everyone's patience. From disastrous dye jobs to forced apologies and elderly date tagalongs, you'll laugh 'til you cry as you read the "Confessions of April Grace"!
Here are just a couple of April's thoughts: On her sister, Myra Sue: "How anyone can be that dumb and still be able to eat with a fork is beyond me." On senior citizen lovebirds: "What if they started smooching right at the table in front of God and everybody?"
In spite of all the loony characters in her life, April Grace is able to learn from her parents as they share the love of God--to even the craziest of characters!
Series: Book #1 in the Confessions of April Grace series. There are currently three books and the author is working on the 4th.
Spiritual Content- Mentions of Scriptures & the Second Coming; Hymns; Talks about God, forgiveness, trusting others they way you would want to be, and church; Prayers & the Saint Francis Prayer.
*Note: Estelle Durwood is a hippie along with her husband and they go by Temple & Forest Freebrid (She says she is the temple of her inner goddess, and he says he inhabits the souls of trees.); another mention of being a goddess; Temple mentions about centering yourself in the center of the universe; The St.James are not religious & Isabel says so; April Grace when describing Isabel: Im pretty sure she was trying to keep her eyeballs from bursting into flames like those pictures you see of S*tan..
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a blasted, a oh my word, a wretch, two idiots, three drips, three hushs, nine stupids, 16 dumbs, and Myra Sue & April Grace call each other names (like You look like dog poop, big, fat pain, brat, hicks, etc.); Ian & Isabel both cuss & use the Lords name in vain (theyre not written, but are cut-off or , April Grace adds that she would get in trouble for mentioning and then sometimes adds so just use your imagination.), others also cuss but its not written; Myra Sure rolls her eyes; Sarcasm & Smart-Alecking; Isabel smokes a lot & wants a drink; Mentions that Ian lost their money gambling;
*Note: Soap Operas & Celebrities are mentioned; Isabel says shes a registered Democrat.
Sexual Content- Grandma Grace says a man kissed her yesterday (which April Grace overhears this and is grossed out at the thought of her Grandma and some man kissing); Mr. Rance smooches Grandma; In the bathroom when April Grace is looking for something she comes across a box of feminine you-know-whats;
*Note: *Spoiler* A mention that Lily caught Myra Sue staring in the minor saying something about her huge butt.; Myra Sue gets the notion after hanging out with Isabel (who is as skinny as a rail) that shes fat and the size of a house; Thanks to Isabels influence, Myra Sue develops an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. April Grace notices that she can see Myra Sues rib and tells her folks; When Myra Sue goes to the doctor, Isabel wonders if Myra Sue has a boyfriend and hints to if shes pregnant (which shes not and April Grace tells her so.) *End of Spoiler*
-April Grace Reilly, age 11
1st Person P.O.V. of April Grace
Set in 1986
288 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{ Most families will most likely not want their Early High School Teen or younger daughter reading this book. }
April Grace might be eleven, but I wouldnt recommend this book for girls near this age. Because of all the cussing (which isnt written but still) & Isabels influence on Myra Sue, age 14. The youngest I think it would be okay for is Myra Sues age and up. Ive read In Front of God and everybody three times now and I still laugh just as hard when I first read it, but some families wont want their girls reading this series, which I understand completely.
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
