Pieces of Georgia Book

Like her mother, Georgia McCoy is an artist, but her dad looks away whenever he sees her with a sketchbook. Sometimes it’s hard to remember what it was like when her mother was still alive . . . when they were a family . . . when they were happy. But then a few days after her 13th birthday, Georgia receives an unexpected gift–a strange, formal letter, all typed up and signed anonymous–granting her free admission to the Brandywine River Museum for a whole year. And things begin to change.
An accessible novel in poems, Pieces of Georgia offers an endearing protagonist–an aspiring artist, a grieving daughter, a struggling student, a genuine friend–and the poignant story of a broken family coming together.

Publishers Weekly

Bryant's (The Trial) tale of a quiet, observant 13-year-old unfolds as a free verse journal. Most of the other kids on the "At Risk" list have "substance abuse" next to their names, but beside Georgia McCoy's name the guidance counselor, Mrs. Yocum, writes "financial/single parentfather/possible medical?" When Georgia can't put her feelings about her mother's death six years ago into words, Mrs. Yocum gives her a journal and suggests, "write down what you might tell, or what you might ask,/ your mother/ if she were here." This, combined with a membership to the Brandywine River Museum from "anonymous" nudge Georgia to further explore her love of drawing. In her journal, she describes the loss of her artistic mother, life with her taciturn father, and her overachieving friend Tiffany. Georgia's eloquent, spare musings convey both her wisdom and sense of fairness. The kindnesses shown her by the school nurse, who explains puberty, and the art teacher, who gives Georgia old supplies to foster her talentand also to protect her pridecounterbalance her father's silent grief and the cruelty of kids who tease her about her poverty. Georgia's powerlessness to help Tiffany through her anxiety and exhaustion seems very real, as does Georgia's evolving relationship with her father. Through Georgia's artwork, noticing details others miss, learning about painters like O'Keeffe and Wyeth, and reaching out to others, the fragmented pieces of this steely, gentle heroine become an integrated whole. Ages 10-14. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.