The brilliant fall of Gianna Z.

by Kate Messner

Paper Book, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

[Fic]

Genres

Children's Books

Fiction

Collection

YA Salon

Publication

New York : Walker, 2009.

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. HTML: 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 sectionals 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. Readers are sure to fall for this funny and poignant middle-grade novel..… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member stephxsu

Gianna Zales is a seventh-grade cross-country star, but her running career and glory is jeopardized by the upcoming science project deadline. Gianna must collect and identify 25 leaves, but that’s a hard thing to do when your grandmother’s memory is failing, the mean girls at school are out to

get you, your father drives you to school in a hearse, and you’ve never been one for deadlines. Still, perhaps with the help of some fantastic people in her life, Gianna will be able to learn from all her hardships, while still completing her leaf project.

Can you really go wrong with a 2009 middle-grade novel? THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z seems to say that no, you can’t. Kate Messner is a shining new voice in middle-grade fiction, and her characters will rank right up there with Sharon Creech’s for best-friend potential.

Messner effortlessly introduces us to the totally normal yet exceptionally charming Zales family within just a few pages. Characterization leaps off the page: Gianna’s mother, father, little brother, and grandmother all sound like they could be your next-door neighbors, the smoothness with which their characters are developed an unfortunately rare accomplishment in fiction. There are hardly any stereotypes, and those that are a bit flat (like Gianna’s mean classmates) are completely excusable and perfect in their two-dimensionality.

The story is a beautiful weave of school troubles, family troubles, dealing with memory loss, and exploring new romantic feelings for your close friend. That’s a lot to pack into a book, but it never feels overwhelming in THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. Messner proves that it’s not about the number of issues you are or aren’t allowed to include in a book, but rather the way the author integrates the problems. And she does it beautifully.

It may be a little early to say this for sure, but Kate Messner just might become one of my favorite middle-grade authors. Her prose is effortless and her characters rich, and readers of all ages will be able to fall in love with the characters and find a bit of themselves in the book. THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z transcends its genre boundaries and becomes a classic tale of growing up that will reach anyone’s heart.

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LibraryThing member skstiles612

This story will definitely resonate with middle schoolers. Gianna Z. needs to turn in the science project to compete with the track team. She has a habit of leaving things until the last minute. For the project she has to collect and classify 24 different leaves. Throw in to this mess typical

changes that occur in middle school and you have a great story. Gianna’s childhood friend has started looking at her through a “boys” eyes. Her grandmother Nona lives with them and she loves doing things with her. She has started getting forgetful. As she collects the leaves she starts looking at those around her and comparing them to certain leaves. There is a lot of coming of age in this book. I think it will make a great read aloud to my class.

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LibraryThing member apendry

Gianna's hectic, haphazard style makes getting schoolwork done difficult, a theme many will identify with. Descriptions of a new found awareness of the opposite sex, a mother she find difficult to identify with, a bully and new family challenges told from the main character's perspective create an

authentic narrative of many of the issues pre-teens deal with today.

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LibraryThing member librarybrandy

An endearingly disorganized protagonist trying to hold herself together while everything she's worked for is going to pieces--and her grandmother is, too.

Gianna may be in 7th grade, but I think her target audience is more like 5th grade. Still, a quick read, which is good because the owning

library called me today to shake me down for it because it was two measly days overdue. Bad librarian.

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LibraryThing member KimJD

Grades 4-7
Seventh grader Gianna Zales loves art and cross-country running. She is not so crazy about research projects or anything involving time-management skills, so although she has known about Mrs. Loring’s leaf project for several weeks, somehow she’s gotten to within a week of the due

date without anything to show for it. 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 the natural beauty of the land. Except it IS hard. Although her best friend Zig tries to help her get focused, family obligations keep getting in the way. 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, her wonderful grandmother who has lived with them and cooked for them all of Gianna’s life is forgetting everything—Nonna almost burns the house down when the batch of wedding cookies in the oven slips her mind. To make matters worse, Coach Napper has told Gianna that she won’t be able to participate in sectionals if she doesn’t bring her science grade up—and beautiful, arrogant Bianca would love to take her place as the team’s star runner. Gianna’s mother means well, but is struggling herself with Nonna’s failing health, and shows a remarkable lack of empathy for Gianna’s school responsibilities. Readers will find much to relate to in this likeable 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. Recommend this to fans of Deborah Wiles, Cynthia Lord, and Linda Sue Park.

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