Welcome to Litsy!

It‘s tough enough if your mom has #abandoned you as a child, but it‘s exacerbated when your mom dotes lovingly on her stepkids and ignores you completely 💔💔

#aboutaugust @Eggs

Gertie is hilarious and heart breaking! She lives with her daddy and her auntie after her Mom ran off. Gertie tries to be magnificent so her mom will realize her mistake and come back...

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Picked up these younger fic books from the library at the recommendation of the other children's librarians! Anyone read any of these? #librarylove #bookhaul

This is between a "Pick" & a "So-So". I enjoyed Gertie's spunk, but left with an important question unanswered. I get the sense the author left room for a sequel. We'll see...

Thank you for participating in our #mgbuddyread. Remember to join in when you can!

Question #9 #mgbuddyread

Question #8 #mgbuddyread

Question #7 #mgbuddyread

Question #6 #mgbuddyread

Question #5 #mgbuddyread

Question #4 #mgbuddyread

Question #3 #mgbuddyread

Question #2 #mgbuddyread

Question #1 #mgbuddyread

Good morning all! It's time for the #mgbuddyread. I will be posting questions over the next hour or so. Please jump in when you can. Remember to tag anyone you are responding to when you comment. I'm looking forward to our discussion!

Just a reminder - the #mgbuddyread is tomorrow starting around 10:00. Questions will be posted. Join in when you can!

My first Thanksgiving meal is in the books. We all pitched in here and there, but got the job done. Although I missed being with extended family, it was nice to have my boys all to myself. Time to finish this book! #grateful #mgbuddyread

A week from today will be our #mgbuddyread of this story. Note that we'll be discussing on a Sunday instead of a Saturday this time. Join in when you can! Please repost with the hashtag to spread the word!

Don't forget - Our #mgbuddyread discussion will be next Sunday. Have you gotten your copy yet???

This is the first middle grade book I‘ve read in years and I️t was actually pretty good. Gertie is a spunky girl that wants to be the best fifth grader ever to try to entice her mother to stay in town. Of course she runs into bumps in the road and learning lessons, some touching and some very painful. I️ was a little surprised with all the bullying going on and no one stopping it in this day and age of anti-bullying. #mgbuddyread

Already finished this month's #mgbuddyread looking forward to our discussion at the end of the month.

Hey #mgbuddyread here is our book for November. Our discussion will be on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26th. Can't wait to chat with you!

A good wholesome book with a quirky fifth grade character. Gertie is determined to be the "best" at something in order to catch her mother's eye and get her to stay. That's not going to be easy when a new student comes to town.

"You're so busy wanting what you haven't got that you don't properly appreciate what you do got". - Aunt Rae

Current family read-aloud selection. Gertie is absolutely hilarious and we are loving every line! #chapterbooks #readaloud #debut #middlegrade

Prepping for a Mock Newbery discussion. (Not pictured: Maybe a Fox and Garvey's Choice.)

Kate Beasley's Gertie is a strong-willed, modern day Anne of Green Gables. Gertie has a knack for misunderstandings. Gertie has "missions" that never seem to go quite as she plans but somehow work out. The cast of supporting characters is lovable, especially Aunt Rae. Perfect Christmas gift for your middle grade reader.

One of those books that make your heart squeeze and your throat thick.

☆☆☆☆

In a lot of ways, this was a nuanced look at friendship and family and class. As an adult reader, I found it somewhat frustrating, though. #chapterbook #realistic fiction

If you've got any middle grade readers in your life, check this one out. If you're a budding writer, google Beasley and read her story. I got to hear her at the Texas Book Festival this weekend and she was highly entertaining (and SO young! She and her sister are both recently published authors.)

Perfect book to read in a cabin by the lake. Perfect reading anywhere- Gertie is equal parts strong and vulnerable, you will be rooting for her from page one.

For #funphotofriday, here's a favorite MG book. I adored Gertie and her spunk, and the illustrations by Jillian Tamaki were just perfect.

"She could almost feel herself twinkle." A character to root for. With illustrations by Jillian Tamaki that really capture the character.

Reading slump slowed me down but I did a good job reading women and POC authors. Picking my favorite was hard though!

Now on to July!!

I loved this book! And not just because my daughter's name was almost Gertie. She does have the same determination & stubborn streak though. 😜

This is a great middle grade novel about getting back up when life (or other kids) knock you down. And how to find what makes you great.

Gertie is a delight. Her mission to become the best fifth grader ever is entertaining and full of mishaps, and her motivations are heart wrenching. Jillian Tamaki's illustrations bring Gertie and her greatness to life vividly.

World, meet Gertie. She's like a cross between Ramona Quimby and Gilly Hopkins and she's 100% not-from-concentrate awesome.

4⭐️ for this adorable middle grade book about Gertie, a girl that is determined to be the best fifth grader in the whole wide world to show her mom she's worth staying for. Heartfelt, funny, cute, and definitely quotable. Pubs Oct 2016 🎃

Ridiculously excited for this beautiful MG novel written by VCFA sister Kate Beasley!