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Julia Gillian (And the Dream of the Dog)
by
Alison McGhee,
Drazen Kozjan (Goodreads Author)
In this stunning conclusion to the JULIA GILLIAN trilogy, Julia Gillian discovers the hardest part of being human: to love what is mortal.
Sixth grade is proving to be less than dreamy: Julia Gillian's new homeroom teacher is serious about school work and has the class "controlling for variables." Julia Gillian has been paired for the Reading Extravaganza with Fergus Cannon...more
Sixth grade is proving to be less than dreamy: Julia Gillian's new homeroom teacher is serious about school work and has the class "controlling for variables." Julia Gillian has been paired for the Reading Extravaganza with Fergus Cannon...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
July 1st 2010
by Scholastic Press
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I can't remember the last time I cried over a book. Oh, wait -- yes I can. It was this one, last night.
Julia Gillian's world is a little troubling right now. She has been teamed with a stern-faced third grader for her Reading Buddy and has no idea how to help him love to read when she's not so thrilled with it herself. Worse, her beloved and steadfast companion, Bigfoot, is getting to be an old dog. Julia Gillian is determined to account for all variables, though, so everything should be fine, right? In this third book in the trilogy of Julia Gillian and Bigfoot, JG is still the worrier she alway...more
Julia Gillian has just became a sixth grader when events start turning around her like they never have. Being a sixth grader she no longer can rely on her teachers and parents to guide her through life and that means she has to control for variables. The middle school halls seem frightening as she starts to battle her way through the year with the "Crazy Eights", the eighth graders in the school. When everything seems to have gotten under control, her beloved dog Bigfoot is slowing down and can...more
Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Jordan B. Nielsen
Recommended for: Girls, Ages 8 and Up for themes of death and grief. Parents, put tissues and some good, cheer-me-up ice cream on your shopping list.
One Word Summary: Heartfelt
What a treat and a delight to get to know Julia Gillian. Following in the footsteps of Judy Blume’s ‘Ramona’ books, Alison McGhee has exemplified the best aspects of middle grade serial fiction through Julia, creating a character that young readers can grow with, laugh with,...more
Recommended for: Girls, Ages 8 and Up for themes of death and grief. Parents, put tissues and some good, cheer-me-up ice cream on your shopping list.
One Word Summary: Heartfelt
What a treat and a delight to get to know Julia Gillian. Following in the footsteps of Judy Blume’s ‘Ramona’ books, Alison McGhee has exemplified the best aspects of middle grade serial fiction through Julia, creating a character that young readers can grow with, laugh with,...more
Grades 4-6
Julia Gillian is back, and sixth grade is off to a tough start as she and her friends have to face the Sevvies and Crazy Eights-- the older middle school kids. To make matters worse, she and her third grade reading buddy need to work together to complete a reading project, and neither of them likes to read. And her beloved St. Bernard, Bigfoot, who has already lived beyond the normal life expectancy for his breed, is in poor health. As much as Julia tries to take her teacher's advice...more
Julia Gillian is back, and sixth grade is off to a tough start as she and her friends have to face the Sevvies and Crazy Eights-- the older middle school kids. To make matters worse, she and her third grade reading buddy need to work together to complete a reading project, and neither of them likes to read. And her beloved St. Bernard, Bigfoot, who has already lived beyond the normal life expectancy for his breed, is in poor health. As much as Julia tries to take her teacher's advice...more
Julia Gillian is glad to be a 6th grader, except for one thing--they have to go to the 3rd floor--domain of the "Crazy Eights"--to use the bathroom. 8th graders are loud and big and scary. But this isn't Julia Gillian's only problem. She's trying to establish a world record for successive basketball
free throws, but she can't get past 144. Her dog has an enlarged heart and is slowly dying. And she's paired with a 3rd grade reading buddy who hates to read, just like she does, and she has to find a...more
free throws, but she can't get past 144. Her dog has an enlarged heart and is slowly dying. And she's paired with a 3rd grade reading buddy who hates to read, just like she does, and she has to find a...more
May 04, 2010
Miz Lizzie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
childrensbooks,
death,
dogs,
friendship,
families,
grief,
minneapolis,
minnesota,
reading,
realistic-fiction,
usa
Julia Gillian's fear of a book about a dog and its sad ending, in her first adventure in Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing), comes full circle in her third adventure. Her beloved Saint Bernard, Bigfoot, is the exact same age as Julia Gillian but eleven is a lot older in dog years. Now a "sixlet" and part of the second and third floor middle school at Lake Harriet School, Julia Gillian tries in vain to control all the variables in her life, most especially Bigfoot's inevitable mortality. Alon...more
This is the third in this light and charming series. Life isn't wildly exciting in Julia's Uptown Minneapolis neighborhood, which is just fine with me - I'm happy to read about her family, her neighbors, her dog, her school (she's in 6th grade now), and her friends. However, as in the last installment, there is a plot contrivance to add tension to the story - in this case, it's the fear the 6th graders have of the 8th graders at school, and Julia's fear of one 8th grader in particular. It just i...more
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
Julia is starting sixth grade and middle school.
Instead of enjoying recess, Julia is now stuck "controlling variables," dealing with older school bullies, facing a reluctant reading buddy, and seeing mounds and mounds of homework.
To make matters worse, Julia's old dog, Bigfoot, is slowing down, and this is the final straw. Julia's world is falling apart.
Can she find a way to get her life under control - or will it get the best of her?
A short, fun read for a...more
Julia is starting sixth grade and middle school.
Instead of enjoying recess, Julia is now stuck "controlling variables," dealing with older school bullies, facing a reluctant reading buddy, and seeing mounds and mounds of homework.
To make matters worse, Julia's old dog, Bigfoot, is slowing down, and this is the final straw. Julia's world is falling apart.
Can she find a way to get her life under control - or will it get the best of her?
A short, fun read for a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Do not read this if you are suffering from a head cold and are prone to crying at certain scenes from books about beloved and aging pets.
An easy read in terms of reading level (it might be 327 pages, but the layout is double spaced so it goes very quickly) but not as much in terms of content.
Julia loves her dog Bigfoot. But Bigfoot is getting old. You can guess what happens. But that's good. It wouldn't hurt so badly if there hadn't been so much love to begin with.
Loved the whole "controlling for variables" bit. May have to try that for my own organizational mishaps. :/
Julia loves her dog Bigfoot. But Bigfoot is getting old. You can guess what happens. But that's good. It wouldn't hurt so badly if there hadn't been so much love to begin with.
Loved the whole "controlling for variables" bit. May have to try that for my own organizational mishaps. :/
Very sweet, very sincere book for younger readers (definitely on the younger spectrum of middle grade here, targeting an audience that's recently moved up from easy readers). Wonderful main character with illustrations that perfectly complement the story that's being told. The third in a series that has been consistently high quality.
I really liked this book. I have been reading quite a few youth books lately before choosing which ones to give to my granddaughters. I read the 3rd one in this series first and really enjoyed it. It was kind of sad at the end but that kind of sadness is part of life and we can't hide it from children.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love these books so much and this one is just as good as the first. Bring your tissues though - thoughtful, loving, straightforward and heartbreaking all in the very best of ways.
Daughter was in tears tonight over this sad and hard little story. She'll hopefully have the heart to revisit it.
Tracie I did need my tissues! Beautifully done on such a hard subject for kids of all ages.
So, I actaully finished this book a while ago...
but! the ending was sooooooooo sad, it's crazy.
but! the ending was sooooooooo sad, it's crazy.
I really enjoyed this book. The story was so touching and almost a tear jerker.
I love this book even though it has a sad ending it teaches a good lesson
"The hardest thing about being human is that we love what is mortal."
iTS A sad story if u are a dog lover but its good!
Sweet story about the love and loss if a dog.
So good, even if it did make me cry!
kind of sad! :( but it was awesome
What a tearjerker...
This one made me cry...
9/8/11 to 9/12/11
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Alison McGhee is the award-winning author of picture books, poems, and novels for all ages, including the young adult novel ALL RIVERS FLOW TO THE SEA and the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller SOMEDAY, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Alison McGhee lives in Minnesota.
More about Alison McGhee...
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27 apr. 09:54