Book Recommendation - THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.

I love this book!

Description from Indiebound:

"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 project draws near, life keeps getting in the way."

Kate Messner has such a way with characters and details, I felt like I was a part of Gianna's family. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Gianna, her mom, and Nonna walk the Frost trail. There, Gee and Nonna read Robert Frost poems on little signs and contemplate why the poems are placed in the particular spots. I SO want to go there!! Anyway, then Gianna climbs a tree, and from there, with the help of wonderful Nonna, she's able to see her mother in a little different light.

Here's a little taste:

"And my perfect tree has a perfect view. The shoe box on the root looks tiny from up here. But the mountains, all hazy purple in the distance, still look big and old. And the trees are amazing. My eyes skim the tops of fluffy red and yellow trees still holding on to September, then swoop down into the dark spaces where the leaves have already fallen, where black branches scratch the edges of the hills."

Such beautiful writing, and yet totally accessible for kids too. Gianna is funny and her family is quirky and they all wiggle their way into your heart and stay there.

THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. by Kate Messner releases September 1st. Read it!!