News from Me, Lucy McGee (Lucy McGee Series #1)

by Mary Amato, Jessica Meserve (Illustrator)

Overview

When the coolest girl in the class invites you to her exclusive after-school club, how can you say no?

Even if it means skipping out on Songwriting Club? Even if she's always been too popular to give you the time of day?  Even if she asks you to paint the walls and serve the tea...? 

Soon Lucy McGee realizes she's been tricked into becoming mean girl Scarlett Tandy's errand girl—and she's getting in trouble for skipping her after-school activities.  Things get complicated as she tries to balance school, friends, frenemies, songwriting, and family expectations.  Clearly Lucy has to strike back!  But it turns out that singing and playing your ukulele—and having loads of fun doing it—are the best revenge. 

In this new series from  state-award favorite Mary Amato, a spunky heroine matches wits with a mean girl and learns that middle school can be a balancing act—so you can't lose sight of what's important.

This heavily-illustrated chapter book features a durable paper-over-board cover, three of Lucy's songs, and a sneak peek of Book Two, Sing With Me, Lucy McGee!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823438716
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	10/09/2018
Series:	Lucy McGee Series , #1
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Mary Amato writes fiction for children, such as the hilarious Riot Brothers series, but she is also a singer-songwriter who performs in the Washington D.C. area. Her music can be heard on SoundCloud. In addition, she is a co-founder of Firefly Shadow Theater, a puppet company for which she writes and directs shows. Her novels have appeared on children's choice state award lists around the country. She lives in Hyattsville, Maryland

Jessica Meserve has written and illustrated her own picture books, including Small Sister. She illustrated the Daisy Dawson series by Steve Voake as well as other books that have been published in the US and UK. She was born in Maine and lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

"Readers will relate to likeable Lucy, who is kindhearted and genuine. Short chapters filled with pen-and-ink illustrations keep readers moving quickly through the action."—School Library Journal

"Fun accompanied by useful life lessons."—Kirkus Reviews

"Goofy siblings, amiable parents, and an unflaggingly cheerful and forgiving classmate make up a warm supportive cast, and scribbly black and white illustrations match Lucy’s enthusiasm"—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

10/01/2018
Gr 2–5—Lucy McGee always looks on the bright side of life, but she has a dilemma. Her dad signed her up for the Songwriting Club after school, but at recess one of the most popular girls, Scarlett, told her about the new Craft Club and chose Lucy to help her. Lured by the big surprise that Scarlett promised, she decides to skip the Songwriting Club even though it means disappointing her friend Phillip and lying to her parents. It turns out that getting the Craft Club ready means doing all the work that Scarlett dictates. While cleaning and painting wasn't the surprise she had in mind, Lucy remains enthusiastic. But her lying leads to stealing and necessitates more lying before it all comes crashing down around her, and she learns that she wasn't the only one not telling the truth. Despite her missteps, Lucy turns things around and figures out what it really means to be a friend. Readers will relate to likeable Lucy, who is kindhearted and genuine. Short chapters filled with pen-and-ink illustrations keep readers moving quickly through the action. VERDICT Recommended for libraries in need of short, accessible chapter books.—Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY

School Library Journal

2018-08-14

Nine-year-old Lucy McGee is enduring the type of manipulative bullying that's familiar to many grade schoolers.

Popular Scarlett (whose bedroom features white carpeting!) invites her to join a new crafts club at her house. Lucy is supposed to be attending a school club, but who can turn down an invitation from someone like Scarlett? Sadly, the first club meeting only involves Lucy cleaning out the filthy garden shed while Scarlett crafts decorations. The following week, Scarlett convinces Lucy to take paint from the art room, telling her the teacher has given permission. Not only is that a lie, but when the pair gets to Scarlett's house, it's Lucy who has to do the messy wall painting while Scarlett rests. Bedazzled by Scarlett, Lucy repeatedly skips the Songwriting Club started by Phillip, a nice classmate who could use a friend. With brief text, characters are only sketched but are fully recognizable nonetheless. Thanks to Phillip's friendly overtures, her parents' gentle guidance, and some soul-searching, spirited Lucy eventually finds a better path to walk than being Scarlett's hapless sycophant, offering a nondidactic message to readers as well. Lucy and Scarlett appear white in Meserve's humorous sketches, but Phillip's skin is a shade darker. The children's spontaneous songs—all cleverly rhymed—are included along with a link to an online audio version.

Fun accompanied by useful life lessons. (Fiction. 8-10)

Kirkus Reviews

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