Gertie’s Leap to Greatness is Heartwarming and Hilarious
It’s the night before the first day of school, and Gertie Reece Foy, the irrepressible star of Gertie’s Leap to Greatness, is about to embark on Phase One of her mission to become the greatest fifth-grader in the whole universe. Armed with a zombie frog in a shoe box, she is ready for a summer speech sure to catapult her to the top of her class at Carroll Elementary in their coastal Alabama town. But though she has both of her best friends in her class, Junior Jr. and Jean the Jean-ius, a new girl named Mary Sue Spivey steals not only Gertie’s front row seat, but also threatens to take the coveted title of greatest fifth-grader. Will Gertie, who prides herself on her stubbornness and determination to achieve her dreams, have to default on her mission?
Gertie's Leap to Greatness
Hardcover
$10.96
$16.99
Gertie's Leap to Greatness
By
Kate Beasley
Illustrator
Jillian Tamaki
Hardcover
$10.96
$16.99
No! She can’t give up, because Gertie passes her motivation every day on her bus route—a big “For Sale” sign stuck in the front yard of the nicest house on Jones Street, the one with the the big poplar tree. That’s where he mother, Rachel Collins, lives. And that’s the house she’s selling in order to move away and get married to a man in Mobile, Alabama. Gertie is bound and determined that once she proves definitively that she is the greatest, she can arrive on her absentee mother’s doorstep and show her what she’s been missing all these years—while also proving that Gertie doesn’t need her, anyway.
After all, Gertie lives with her loving father, who works on an oil rig, and her affectionate Aunt Rae, who reminds her regularly to “Give ‘em hell, baby!” as she passes her Twinkies to eat on the bus on the way to school. And Aunt Rae babysits a little girl every afternoon named Audrey, who proves to be like a little sister, in both sweet and annoying ways, to Gertie. So there’s no lack of love and family in Gertie’s life, but still, she just has to show Rachel Collins before she leaves for good that Gertie is doing just fine without a mother, and then she can give back her mother’s locket she found in Aunt Rae’s desk. But what can Gertie do now that she’s failed Phase One of her mission?
No! She can’t give up, because Gertie passes her motivation every day on her bus route—a big “For Sale” sign stuck in the front yard of the nicest house on Jones Street, the one with the the big poplar tree. That’s where he mother, Rachel Collins, lives. And that’s the house she’s selling in order to move away and get married to a man in Mobile, Alabama. Gertie is bound and determined that once she proves definitively that she is the greatest, she can arrive on her absentee mother’s doorstep and show her what she’s been missing all these years—while also proving that Gertie doesn’t need her, anyway.
After all, Gertie lives with her loving father, who works on an oil rig, and her affectionate Aunt Rae, who reminds her regularly to “Give ‘em hell, baby!” as she passes her Twinkies to eat on the bus on the way to school. And Aunt Rae babysits a little girl every afternoon named Audrey, who proves to be like a little sister, in both sweet and annoying ways, to Gertie. So there’s no lack of love and family in Gertie’s life, but still, she just has to show Rachel Collins before she leaves for good that Gertie is doing just fine without a mother, and then she can give back her mother’s locket she found in Aunt Rae’s desk. But what can Gertie do now that she’s failed Phase One of her mission?
This One Summer
Paperback $17.99
This One Summer
Illustrator
Jillian Tamaki
By
Mariko Tamaki
In Stock Online
Paperback $17.99
Middle grade readers will be both touched and entertained by this book, which highlights with humor, sensitivity, and wisdom, all the foibles and fickleness (as Aunt Rae would say) of elementary school, from fights with friends, to trips to the office, and auditions for the school play. It’s also a story of the journey of a young girl, as she develops her own self-confidence and discovers who her real family and friends are, when faced with the very sad, stinging absence of her mother. Not only will readers of all ages root for Gertie, but they will find that Gertie’s gumption, stick-to-itiveness, and love of herself will encourage them to remember what they too love about themselves as they face their own challenges and crises. Written by debut author Kate Beasley, with illustrations by Jillian Tamaki (who illustrated the award-winning This One Summer), Gertie’s Leap to Greatness is an instant classic that will leap into your children’s hearts (and yours).
Gertie’s Leap to Greatness is on B&N bookshelves now.
Middle grade readers will be both touched and entertained by this book, which highlights with humor, sensitivity, and wisdom, all the foibles and fickleness (as Aunt Rae would say) of elementary school, from fights with friends, to trips to the office, and auditions for the school play. It’s also a story of the journey of a young girl, as she develops her own self-confidence and discovers who her real family and friends are, when faced with the very sad, stinging absence of her mother. Not only will readers of all ages root for Gertie, but they will find that Gertie’s gumption, stick-to-itiveness, and love of herself will encourage them to remember what they too love about themselves as they face their own challenges and crises. Written by debut author Kate Beasley, with illustrations by Jillian Tamaki (who illustrated the award-winning This One Summer), Gertie’s Leap to Greatness is an instant classic that will leap into your children’s hearts (and yours).
Gertie’s Leap to Greatness is on B&N bookshelves now.