Kate the Great, Except When She's Not

June 16, 2014
In this illustrated diary-style novel, Becker (Everything I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat) fills her prose and accompanying line illustrations with entertaining observational comedy. Fifth-grade spitfire Kate Geller groans when her mother asks her to “show extra kindness” to a standoffish classmate, Nora, while Nora’s father is away on an extended business trip to Hong Kong. “Maybe he can take Nora with him,” Kate scoffs, above an image of Nora strapped to a jet. “Kate, that’s not funny,” her mother responds. “Translation: That is funny but it’s not nice.” Kate’s valiant, if disgruntled, efforts to befriend Nora lead to some humorous dilemmas, and Becker supplements Kate’s school-day tribulations with snippets of home life, enlivened by her warm, quick-witted parents (the family’s dinner conversations revolve around prompts and quotes pulled out of “Bob,” the “Big Ol’ Bowl” that sits on the table). Becker does an excellent job of channeling the behind-adults’-backs humor and friendship frustrations of the middle-school crowd, and Kate’s doodles provide extra sass to this promising series launch. Ages 8–12. Agent: Edite Kroll,
Edite Kroll Literary Agency.

June 15, 2014
In this heavily illustrated, comic slice-of-life novel aimed at girls, Kate Geller, almost 10, struggles to be a good daughter, sister, friend, student, Junior Guide and flute player.This fifth-grade heroine may not believe, to paraphrase Albert Einstein, that the "most important decision you will ever make is whether you live in a friendly or a hostile universe," but she nonetheless works to make hers as filled with harmony as possible. There are plenty of little bumps in the road, but the biggest involve Kate's nemesis, Nora Klein, a fellow fifth-grader, bus mate, Junior Guide and flute player, who is inexplicably unfriendly, standoffish and sometimes even mean. Kate's troubled relationship with Nora and her attempt, strongly encouraged by her mother, to make friends, is the heart of the story, as it contains the most emotional juice. Becker does a good job of giving readers a sense of the specifics that make up Kate's day-art class, band practice, school and Junior Guide projects-but overall, there's not enough friction to keep the story rolling. The lively black-and-white drawings fill some of these dramatic gaps by adding humor and helping to illustrate Kate's inner life, but the story sags in places.Although amusing and easy to relate to, Kate's fifth-grade experience could use more dramatic flair. (Fiction. 8-12)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-Debut novelist Becker employs doodles, cartoons, and comic strips reminiscent of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (Abrams) and Lincoln Peirce's "Big Nate" (HarperCollins) books in this middle-grade series opener featuring fifth grader Kate Geller. Kate's story revolves around her school and family life and is told in a realistic and humorous tone. Kate gets involved with band and Junior Guides. Much of the plot involves Kate's desire to get to know a fellow student, Nora, who has isolated herself and doesn't have any friends. The protagonist's parents are influential in this, as they encourage their daughter to be friendly to Nora, even when the shy girl doesn't always make that easy. Fans of Rachel Renee Russell's "Dork Diaries" (S. & S.) and Jenni Holm's "Babymouse" (Random) will likely find a kindred spirit in Kate, in this latest in illustrated offerings.-Lauren M. Sinacore, George M. Davis Elementary School, New Rochelle, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Grades 3-6 Fifth grade is going to be great; Kate Geller is sure of it. She has an awesome best friend, she's turning 10, and she's certain she'll be voted squad leader of her junior-guides pod and make flute section leader in band. But, as with most plans, nothing seems to go her wayfirst her mom tells her to be nice to weird girl Nora; then a new pod leader takes over and institutes all kinds of terrible changes (no more squad leaders!); and she gets picked for cosection leader with none other than Nora. A few misunderstandings and little fibs get Kate in trouble, but with patient parents and supportive friends, she manages to make everything right again, even when it's not easy to be nice to a difficult new friend like Nora. Becker's first illustrated novel falls neatly in line with many others of its ilk, series such as Big Nate and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, particularly with regards to Kate's insouciant tone, exaggerations, and silly illustrations full of jokes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)