Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook (Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook, 1) - Hardcover

Palmer, Iva-Marie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062391801 ISBN 13: 9780062391803

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 2017

Synopsis

Dear fans of Dork Diaries and Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life—meet your new favorite kid-next-door hero! Gabby Garcia an overly confident baseball-obsessed sport nut who’s going to win your heart.

If life were a baseball game, all-star pitcher Gabby Garcia would be having her Best. Season. EVER! Until she’s suddenly sent to another school and her winning streak is about to disappear—both on and off the field.

But Gabby never gives up! She has a PLAN to keep her champion status intact, and every step of is written out—PLAY by PLAY. How could it not work?

This new series written by Iva-Marie Palmer is filled with funny illustrations, sports facts, and blooper-reel moments that will have readers laughing and rooting for more.

About this title

About the Author:

Iva-Marie Palmer is the author of the novels Gimme Everything You Got, The End of the World as We Know It, and The Summers. A former journalist in Chicago’s south suburbs and still a bit of a jock who loves to box, run races, and swing big at batting cages, Iva now lives with her husband and two sons in Burbank, California. You can find her online at www.ivamariepalmer.com.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4–6—The first in a planned series. Gabby Garcia is a 12-year-old baseball prodigy, and she knows it. She's on her best win streak ever when she's forced to switch to a new school—one with a very good and established ball team. Gabby expects to waltz into her new school and be welcomed onto the team with open arms and grateful praise, but things don't exactly go as she hoped. When Gabby is relegated to the field hockey team—the worst field hockey team ever—she discovers that the ragtag group is comprised of incredibly talented peers. The team members are entering the state talent contest together, and Gabby is determined to help them take first place, but she just can't get her heart away from the ballfield. This novel joins the plethora of middle grade books in hand-drawn, journal format, though Gabby would tell readers this is "definitely NOT a diary!" The cast is diverse, both in description and illustrations. The Chicago Cubs are referred to as "loveable losers" who haven't had a World Series win since 1908 and who haven't played in the World Series since 1945; however, they recently won the pennant in 2016. The plot is mildly interesting but not likely to keep most readers engaged for the long haul. VERDICT It's refreshing to see a female ballplayer protagonist in a middle grade novel. Consider for robust collections or where baseball stories circulate well.—Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

About this edition

• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0062391801
• ISBN 13: 9780062391803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304
• Illustrator: Kissi Marta