Although she lives in the same town, Gertie's mom decided when Gertie was a baby to leave her in the care of her dad and aunt and pursue her own life without Gertie. Filled with spunk and determination, Gertie decides she will prove to her mom that she is worthy to be recognized by her by becoming the "greatest fifth grader" at everything. And so the adventure for greatness begins. Published in 2016, author Kate Beasley and illustrator Jillian Tamaki help us turn sorrow into smiles as Gertie realizes the true meaning of "greatness." Powerful themes include what it means to be a family, how we handle loss/abandonment, disappointment, and friendship.
