The Pull of Gravity [Hardcover]

Gae Polisner (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 10, 2011

While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him.

Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The very sentimentalism of the situation, the quest nature of the plot, and the quirkiness of the characters will appeal to many young readers.” --BCCB

“What summer reading list is complete without a road-trip novel? Especially one that extols the virtues of reading sad books and contains the sentence: ‘Parents are such idiots.’” –Newsday

“Polisner’s first novel begins with a bang and ends with another . . . . There is a great deal to enjoy throughout, and literary kids will surely enjoy a subplot involving John Steinbeck.” –Booklist

“Characters feel real . . . and the plot zips along, championing strength in adversity.” –School Library Journal

“She [Gae Polisner] is a writer young adult readers will surely want to hear more from.” –examiner.com

“The very sentimentalism of the situation, the quest nature of the plot, and the quirkiness of the characters will appeal to many young readers.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Although the teens’ best laid plans go oft awry, they discover that the force of the universe is with them—or at least friendship, family and romance. Pulls the heart in all the right places.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Scooter, Nick, and Jaycee are real, and they’re funny. I love how they yearn for something beautiful, warm, and true to lift them from the lousy, sad absurdity of their circumstances. And I love the unlikely places where they find it: Yoda. A possibly misguided bus trip. Red wax lips. Real lips. And each other. I love that they find it mostly in each other.”—Lynne Rae Perkins, Newbery Medal-winning author of As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth  

“Part love story, part adventure story, funny and serious, The Pull of Gravity is a delightful read.”—Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcelo in the Real World

“Gae Polisner writes with fluidity and grace. The Pull of Gravity will draw you in and keep you thinking long after you've closed the book.” –K.L. Going, author of King of the Screwups

“The Pull of Gravity is the whole package—realistic, quirky, fun, and weepy. Polisner is an author to watch.” —Mary E. Pearson, author of The Miles Between

“The Pull of Gravity is a clever, masterfully told tale of loyalty and redemption that will pull you in and hook you 'til the last page.—Chris Crutcher, author of Deadline

About the Author

Gae Polisner is a wife, mother, and family law attorney/mediator by trade, but a writer by calling. The Pull of Gravity is her first novel.

www.gaepolisner.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1 edition (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374371938
• ISBN-13: 978-0374371937
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #672,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"What summer reading list is complete without a road-trip novel? Especially one that extols the virtues of reading sad books and contains the sentence: 'Parents are such idiots.'" - Newsday

"Pulls the heart in all the right places." - Kirkus Reviews

Pennsylvania School Library Association's Top YA Fiction 2011
Bank Street College Best Childrens Fiction 2012 (ages 12-14)

Gae Polisner is a lawyer by trade, but a writer by calling.

The Pull of Gravity is her debut novel, a story of teens Nick and Jaycee who, armed only with the wisdom of Yoda and a rare first edition of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, set out on a secret, whirlwind road trip to keep a promise to their dying friend. It sounds sad, but it's quirky and funny too! Her next young adult novel will be out from Algonquin books soon!

When Gae isn't lawyering or writing, you can find her spending time with her kids or swimming in a pool or the open waters off Long Island. She is a facebook junkie and puts way too much mayonnaise on things. Her next novel will be published by Algonquin Books.

You can learn more about her here:

http://gaepolisner.com

Join her facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/gaepolisnerauthor

or check out THE PULL OF GRAVITY book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA5S51glK_I

More Praise for The Pull of Gravity

"Scooter, Nick and Jaycee are real, and they're funny. I love how they yearn for something beautiful, warm and true to lift them from the lousy sad absurdity of their circumstances. And I love the unlikely places where they find it: Yoda. A possibly misguided bus trip. Red wax lips. Real lips. And each other. I love that they find it mostly in each other." - Lynne Rae Perkins, As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth (Newbery Medal for Criss Cross)

"The Pull of Gravity is the whole package--realistic, quirky, fun, and weepy--Polisner is an author to watch." - Mary E. Pearson, The Fox Inheritance

"The Pull of Gravity is a clever, masterfully told tale of loyalty and redemption that will pull you in and hook you 'til the last page." - Chris Crutcher, Deadline.

"Gae Polisner writes with fluidity and grace. The Pull of Gravity is a very moving story with so much heart. It will draw you in and keep you thinking long after you've closed the book." - K.L. Going, King of the Screwups

"Part love story, part adventure story, funny and serious, The Pull of Gravity is a delightful read." - Francisco X. Stork, Last Summer of the Death Warriors

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Writing And A Great Story May 10, 2011

By Jim

Format:Hardcover

Gae Polisner's first novel is a big hit. She has a beautiful way with words and is a master storyteller. I was quickly draw in to the story and became very attached to all the characters. It will touch your heart in a very unique way. I always look for stories like this mostly in inspirational novels. While I usually don't read young adult novels, it was recommended by an author friend (Michael J Sullivan). I'm glad he recommended it to me because now I can share it with my daughter and friends. I hope Ms. Polisner continues to write more stories because she is so talented.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I gobbled up this book June 7, 2011

By Bettina M. Restrepo

Format:Hardcover

The Pull of Gravity was an excellent book that I read in a gulp, but thought about for weeks after. Written from the point of view of teen Nick - we follow him on a short trip to find a friend's father. Polisner captures the boy's voice perfectly. Tie in to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Good choice for the classroom, YA fan, or teen reader!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Quiet Little Book With a Big Heart. November 14, 2011

By J. A. Fielder

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A fever is what started it all. And then the story takes off at a feverish pitch and doesn't let up until the final words. Beautifully written and wonderfully paced, "The Pull of Gravity" does just what the title implies: It pulls you in.

Believable characters from the quirky Jaycee to the stumbling Nick to the insightful Scoot, everything about this book just works. It's a very fast read, but the story will stick with you even after you put it down . . . which you'll have a hard time doing.

It's not just a YA book for teens, adults will love the heart of Polisner's storytelling.

There is some language and subject matter that younger readers may find objectionable, but it's not overly wrought with it. Where it is, it feels right and true to the story and the characters.

Highly recommended, but make sure you bring Kleenex for some of the sadder scenes.