Synopsis:
Morgan and Jimmy were best friends, perhaps on the verge of something more, when tragedy strikes.

Review:
Back when I was in high school, Say Goodnight, Gracie was one of my favorite books, and I was curious to see if it held up so many years later. I can remember being drawn powerfully to their friendship and aching over Morgan’s grief. I wanted a best friend like Jimmy, though it wasn’t until reading it now that I realized that author Julie Reece Deaver had planted some seeds showing that they might also be finally falling in love. That was a nice touch that made Morgan’s anguish all the more poignant.

The book feels a bit quaint, now, with some archaic touches like a doctor who smokes in her office, and references not to pop culture but to George Burns and Fred Astaire. Morgan and Jimmy don’t feel like 21st century kids, but I found that refreshing. The story has emotional honesty and resonance and it remains a beautiful read.