Review of Scraps of Grace

[Judy Burr]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Scraps of Grace" by Jon F. Harmon.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Scraps of Grace introduces the reader to Tyler Manion, a young man, a newly bereaved widower, and his toddler son, Robbie, living in Detroit, Michigan. His mother lives in his childhood home in Akron, Ohio, where she suffers from fear and anxiety and hardly ever goes outside her house. Robbie has a babysitter, Nicki, who plays basketball. Robbie and Tyler enjoy watching her play at the high school games.

Tyler has two friends, Rucker and Foster. Foster’s nickname is ‘Neticut,’ because he “drops the first syllable or two leading off a string of words.” Because he is from Connecticut, where they have a clipped accent, he doesn’t mind the nickname. When together, the three revert to silly teenagers, googling the waitresses and then discussing their attributes.

Tyler’s favorite pastime is watching, dreaming, and daydreaming about baseball and basketball. Readers will enjoy Tyler’s reminiscent moments of the players of the past—his play-by-play and his acting out a great play. Tyler also dreams of his beautiful deceased wife, Christie. He works diligently to take care of himself, his home, and little Robbie. He takes pride in raising his son and loves him very much.

Despite the stress in Tyler’s life, he stays strong in his faith. Readers will find themselves drawn to him and enjoy his humor and feelings. Life gets large for Tyler, with events that could devastate some. As the road becomes rough, readers will cheer him on. He meets people along the way who give him a hand up, and he finds he has grown in his relationship with God with help from an old “hippie” nun and a relationship that became a new friendship with a wise old man.

This setting was in the 1990s. There is a background of news and events that were memorable. The events of the changing population and economics in Detroit are also part of the background. Tyler watches and feels the effects. Racial prejudices by ignorant people are stated; although these were not nice to read, that was part of the background of this time in history.

I liked everything about this book. The author did not write one boring moment or any long descriptions. The quality of the conversations was superb. The mourning of Tyler missing his wife is masterly portrayed. The author has a sequel that will be published in 2025. There was not anything that I disliked about this book. There were no typos because the book had been professionally edited. Anyone from teenagers to adults would like this book. Because of the reasons above, this book has my 5 out of 5 stars rating.

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Scraps of Grace
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[precious Samuel 11]

In one's life their are things that matters, mostly our relationship with God matters and we can see that Tyler never let anything come in between him and God my making is faith stronger in God.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Alooma is a well-written book that captivates readers from start to finish. The author expertly portrays the protagonist's grief and his strong faith through relatable and humorous moments. The setting in 1990s Detroit adds depth to the story, showcasing the changing population and racial prejudices of the time. The quality of conversations and absence of boring moments make this a compelling read. Overall, I give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Intriguing mystery, kept me guessing until the end.

[Joe Alex 2]

The portrayal of Tyler’s journey through grief and personal growth, alongside the rich setting and realistic conversations, makes this book sound emotionally engaging. It also seems to tackle meaningful themes like faith and personal resilience. Although I haven’t read it, the heartfelt story and strong character development might make it worth reading, especially for those who enjoy character-driven narratives.