The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. [Hardcover]

Kate Messner (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Gianna Z has less than one week to collect, identify, and creatively display 25 leaves for her science project—or else she won’t be able to compete in the upcoming cross-country race. As the deadline for her leaf project draws near, life keeps getting in the way. Some things are within Gee’s control, like her own procrastination, but others aren’t, like Biana Rinaldi’s attempts at sabotage and Nonna’s declining health. If it weren’t for her best friend Zig, Gee wouldn’t have a chance at finishing. His knowledge of trees and leaves in their rural Vermont town comes in very handy, as does his loyalty to Gee. But when Nonna disappears one afternoon, things like leaves and cross-country meets suddenly seem less important.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—Seventh-grader Gianna Zales loves art and cross-country running. She is not so crazy about research projects or anything involving time-management skills, and has somehow gotten to within a week of the due date of a huge science assignment with no work to show. But how hard can it be to find and catalog 25 different varieties of leaves—especially in Vermont, where Robert Frost was inspired to write "Birches" and countless other poems about nature. However, family obligations keep interfering. Her father runs the town's funeral home, but even a close proximity to death can't prepare her for her own grandmother's decline. Suddenly, Nonna is forgetting everything. Also, Coach Napper has told Gianna that she must bring her science grade up to participate in sectionals, and beautiful, arrogant Bianca would love to take her place as the team's star runner. Gianna's mother means well, but is struggling with Nonna's failing health. Youngsters will find much to relate to in this likable protagonist's struggle to balance family and academic commitments. While it is no surprise when it all comes together in the end, plot twists keep readers engaged, and Messner's warm and humorous tone will capture even reluctant readers.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
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About the Author

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z is Kate Messner's first book. She teaches junior high in Plattsburgh, New York, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080279842X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802798428
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kate Messner is the award-winning author of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, winner of the 2010 E.B. White Read-Aloud Medal, as well as Sugar and Ice (Walker/Bloomsbury, 2010), the Marty McGuire chapter book series with Scholastic (May 2011), SeaMonster's First Day, a picture book coming from Chronicle in Summer 2011, and Over and Under the Snow (Chronicle, Fall 2011). Kate is also a National Board Certified middle school English teacher. Her first teacher resource, REAL REVISION: AUTHORS' STRATEGIES TO SHARE WITH STUDENT WRITERS, will be published by Stenhouse in Spring 2011. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family, where she enjoys spending time outside biking, hiking, swimming in the summer, skiing and skating in the winter. Of course, she also loves curling up with a good book any day of the year. Learn more at her website: http://www.katemessner.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, September 30, 2009

By 

Kaylie (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. (Hardcover)

I thought when I started this book that it would be just another boring middle school novel about due dates and boys. But I was pleasantly surprised. I love how Messner uses the symbolism of Gianna's ever-looming leaf project to illustrate all the struggles in Gianna's life--a wandering grandmother, unpleasant personalities, a quirky family, and finding her own unique style at school. Set in Vermont, this novel is also really funny and well-written. I hope Messner writes more!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book for Kids, October 11, 2009

By 

A. Hall "Vilate" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. (Hardcover)

Messner does a phenomenal job in making Gee, her friends, school and home life seem real. In many ways, Gee is a typical middle schooler who struggles with her school work, with budding emotions for her male best friend, and with the transformation of her family life due to her grandmother's failing memory. Without giving too much of the story away, Gee's quest to find 25 leaves and assemble them into a display for her science teacher becomes the metaphor for all of the changes and challenges that she is facing.

I loved the tender and fragile relationship between Gee and her grandmother. And as a teacher, I recognized in Gianna so many of my own students who struggle to attend and to conform to the system and structure called school. My only criticism was that Gianna's perspective often times seemed more mature than I would expect from a 12 year old who leaned more towards being a creative free-spirit than the "I've had to grow up too fast" type of kid. Much of Gianna's reactions and dialogue seemed fairly aligned with her character's persona, but at times the narration which was from Gianna's point of view seemed more adult like. However, I don't believe that it takes away from the story and I would recommend the book to children and adults, especially for children who are dealing with a close family member whose health concerns are impacting the lives of other the family members.

[...]

Review by Aly

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Falling for this book, November 12, 2009

By 

Linda Austin "Moonbridge" (USA Midwest) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. (Hardcover)

"There's more to a story than the part happening right now." Kate Messner manages to pack a lot around the themes of a family dealing with a beloved grandmother's illness and an important school leaf project. Family relationships, grief, bullies, friendship, procrastination, the awkward boy-girl thing, all provide for a thoughtful and intelligent look at a difficult time for a middle school girl. Gianna has a realistic voice - a frustrated tween with moments of understanding and wisdom unfolding. At times, though, the book is so beautifully descriptive that it is difficult to imagine the thoughts coming from a 7th grader..."My eyes skim the tops of fluffy red and yellow trees still holding onto September." Nonetheless it is a delightful and unusually layered story that tackles a number of difficult issues and comes out on top. Educational to boot. Not a happy ending, but a warm and satisfying finish, and you will love dear Nonna. Reminds me of the wonderful and equally layered Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park