Gertie's Leap to Greatness

For fans of Three Times Lucky and The Penderwicks, this endearing new classic spins together sparkling humor, sizzle-pop writing, and a sassy main character with an unforgettable voice.

Gertie Reece Foy is 100% Not-From-Concentrate awesome. She has a daddy who works on an oil rig, a great-aunt who always finds the lowest prices at the Piggly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. So when her absent mother decides to move away from their small town, Gertie sets out on her greatest mission yet: becoming the best fifth grader in the universe to show her mother exactly what she'll be leaving behind. There's just one problem: Seat-stealing new girl Mary Sue Spivey wants to be the best fifth grader, too. And there is simply not enough room at the top for the two of them.

From debut author Kate Beasley comes a classic tale of hope and homecoming that will empty your heart, then fill it back up again--one laugh at a time.

Kate Beasley holds a master’s degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives with her family in Claxton, Georgia, along with two dogs, one parrot, lots of cows, and a cat named Edgar. It’s a noisy household, but she can still hear bullfrogs croaking from the pond in her backyard at dusk. You can follow her on Twitter at @_katebeasley.