Rating: 
Summary: Gifted Or Cursed?
Review: Finch Nobles was badly burned as a child. This scared her for life, but at the same time she is gifted. She is able to communicate with the dead and makes it seem like if it is a normal thing that is done. Her burns make her isolate herself and cause her to pretty much be a loner. The cemetery, wild alley cats, and the dead are her only friends even though everyone knows her.
From the start this book was interesting. I liked how it opened up by saying, "Ain't you got no respect for the Dead?" Ain't you got no shame?" These kinds of words make the reader think. Death is something people prefer to ignore, but Sheri Reynolds makes this fictional story keep your attention focused. She touches this issue very carefully and smoothly.
Overall this is an easy and worthwhile book to read that carries out an interesting story.
Rating: 
Summary: Lessons from the dead
Review: "A Gracious Plenty" centers around Finch, a burn victim whose scarred appearance, coupled with a defiant attitude, have alienated her from her small-town Virginia community. She seeks consolation by talking to dead people in the cemetery she tends. Finch possesses a power that makes it possible to converse with the departed and to observe their behavior, but not to touch them.The dead include Lucy Armour, the suicide victim who teaches Finch to have patience and to forgive, William Blott, the closet cross-dresser who discovers, in death, an ability to nurture others, Finch's mother, whose guilt over the accident that burned Finch has caused her to withdraw into herself, and Finch's father, who still comforts and protects his daughter. Sheri Reynolds writes in a simple, accessible style replete with imagery. Her messages are clear and beautifully stated: people must connect with others in order to grow, and let go of past hurts in order to avoid bitterness. Despite the problems that Finch faces, the book resonates with optimism.
Rating:
Summary: warmly entertaining and thoughtful
Review: The author does a wonderful job of developing her characters, especially her main one, Finch Nobles. When Finch was a little girl she accidently spilled a pot of boiling water on herself and suffers massive scars. The reaction of others to her disfigurement cause her to retreat to caretaking of the graveyard her father is in charge of and then she herself inherits the responsibility. It is her security, because she has developed the ability to talk to the dead and has developed friendships among them that she doesn't have amongst the living. She has learned to erect a barrier when dealing with the people living around her. Because she can speak to both the living and the dead, she is sometimes used by the dead to try and communicate with the living and of course, she is considered rather strange to the living because of her disfigurement and her lifestyle. It is a book that gently reminds us that just because someone has a disfigurement or is a little different doesn't mean that they don't have feelings and such as everyone else and that true kindness and goodness should be practiced by everyone and for everyone regardless of any differences.
Rating:
Summary: Lessons from the dead
Review: "A Gracious Plenty" centers around Finch, a burn victim whose scarred appearance, coupled with a defiant attitude, have alienated her from her small-town Virginia community. She seeks consolation by talking to dead people in the cemetery she tends. Finch possesses a power that makes it possible to converse with the departed and to observe their behavior, but not to touch them. The dead include Lucy Armour, the suicide victim who teaches Finch to have patience and to forgive, William Blott, the closet cross-dresser who discovers, in death, an ability to nurture others, Finch's mother, whose guilt over the accident that burned Finch has caused her to withdraw into herself, and Finch's father, who still comforts and protects his daughter. Sheri Reynolds writes in a simple, accessible style replete with imagery. Her messages are clear and beautifully stated: people must connect with others in order to grow, and let go of past hurts in order to avoid bitterness. Despite the problems that Finch faces, the book resonates with optimism.
Rating: 
Summary: The Dead Talking to the Partial Dead
Review: What a bizarre, strange, yet interesting novel. Who would of ever think of writing a novel about a burnt-faced, outcast girl talking to the dead? A Gracious Plenty, written by Sheri Reynolds, has written such a mysterious, ironic, yet interestingly short novel that would capture anyone's attention. But, not always in a good way. Throughout the beginning of the book, there is hardly a plot nor anything to be solved in the end. What makes the novel interesting are the characters. From the beginning to the end, Finch, the main character, practically tells her whole life story. Finch's recollections surprisingly don't make this novel into a biography but, more of a novel about a lost soul. Different characters, dead and alive, all have bizarre life stories behind them. For example, Lucy, Finch's best friend, who is dead, was once a beauty queen, and a sripper, then commited suicide. William Blott, another dead character, is a cross-dresser who was born poor but died rich. The only living character who understands Finch is a vegetable farmer, who doesn't play a big role and a man named Leonard. Since Leonard's life is very similar to Finch's, the two can eventually find what they are looking for, the promise of touch. Sheri Reynolds has cereated such an ironic ending to this novel that it will practically put a person into shock. I recommend this novel to anyone who's in for a surprise endings.
Rating:
Summary: The Gracious Plenty
Review: I read this book for an English class. The book was about a girl who was burned as a child. She lived at and took care of a cemetary. After her parents died she was given the gift of the ability to talk to dead people. All of the charactors have stories to tell, and feelings that they must deal with. Although the storyline was written well, I had a hard time getting into the book.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you Wonder
Review: the book was pretty good, it leaves you with sort of a mystery in regards to the dead and the living. Its definetly worth reading, and makes you wonder a little about the non-existance. I say if youv'e never believed in ghost, after reading this book, you might have second thoughts. 4 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Not a Book for the Weak Hearted
Review: This is a story that you might have thought you heard, but you heard wrong. Told by a girl that can talk to the dead but with an original twist; you find yourself relating to a character you never thought possible. Reading the book you get to meet a lot of interesting people both alive and dead. Taking you from step to step the story will have you laughing, mad, and even sad. So if you want to read a good book I recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: What a great book!!!
Review: This is a good book for people of all ages to read. Its main character Fich is a girl who was badly bured as a child. After her mother passed away she was left to take care of her father. They both lived in a cementary but when her dad died she was left alone. being alone she descovers that she can talk to the dead.
This book has many interesting twists and keep the reads very intersted. As Finch goes on in life she uses the advice the dead share with her to make her life better. this is a good book for people of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: What a book!
Review: I wouldn't say that this book was that bad. I wouldn't read it again. I feel that it was to grafic and gross. It kind of reminded me of, "A Girl Named Zippy"; it was the cats that I didn't like.
When she talk about how her mother and father would scrape the scabs off her healing burns, made me clinch my teath. Over all it was an okay book, so I rate this one a four.
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