Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy) Book

So far, fifth grade at Lake Harriet Elementary School is not exactly a thing of joy. Julia Gillian's best friend, Bonwit Keller, is keeping a secret from her. Trumpet lessons with Mr. Mixler, her favorite teacher, are much harder than expected. And most upsetting of all, the kind lunch lady has been replaced by a tyrant known as the Dumpling Man. Where is the joy? Amidst all this, Julia Gillian starts keeping secrets of her own--secrets that feel an awful lot like lies. To set things right, she will have to learn a little bit about friendship and honesty.

PRAISE FOR JULIA GILLIAN (AND THE ART OF KNOWING):

* "Julia Gillian is acutely conscious of achieving a new maturity that allows her to question authority and to assert herself -- not bad for a nine-year old." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

"McGhee's story will ring true true to young readers dealing with their own fears." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The book is well paced, laced with line drawings that capture Julia Gillian's slightly whimsical personality, and overall as satisfying as the strawberry bubble tea served at the Quang Restaurant." -- Publishers Weekly

"Lively ink-and-pencil drawings show Julia making her rounds, wearing a fierce raccoon mask for courage and realizing that, while life doesn't always turn out the way she wants it to, that's okay." -- The Horn Book

Publishers Weekly

In the second installment of a planned trilogy, McGhee again focuses in on the everyday life of the upstanding title character from Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing), as she seeks to add to her list of accomplishments. Fifth grade is proving to be harder than Julia Gillian anticipated-there is a strict new lunchroom monitor, her best friend is becoming more independent and Julia Gillian can't master the trumpet. Though she wants to solve her own problems, Julia Gillian ends up lying to cover up for her inabilities, which makes matters worse ("That was the problem with being a liar and a hider. Once you started, you just had to keep going"). While the day-to-day narration can be repetitive and the resolution comes a bit quickly and conveniently-Julia Gillian comes clean, learns to play the trumpet and realizes the lunch monitor is not as bad as he seemed-her inner conflicts and fears remain highly relatable. Generously spaced text and frequent, creative use of Kozjan's loose art, which exudes personality, should appeal to new and reluctant readers alike. Ages 9-12. (Apr.)

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