The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. (23 page)

4. In English class, Gianna is introduced to the poem “Birches,” by Robert Frost. Why do you think this poem speaks to Gianna? Do you like “Birches”? What does the poem say to you?

5. Dealing with changes in life can be difficult—especially when it is a loved one who changes. Gianna and her mother have different responses to the changes in Nonna. Why do you think they react differently to the same events? If you were in Gianna’s place, how do you think you would react? Have you ever faced a similar situation in your own life? How did you deal with the changes you faced?

6. How would you describe Gianna’s relationship with Zig in the beginning of the book? Does it seem to be changing? If so, how? Gianna seems to appreciate Zig more as her family situation gets more difficult. Do you think he’s a good friend? Why or why not?

7. When Gianna is up in the tree, she watches and listens to her mother and grandmother and says, “. . . it’s a little easier to imagine a Mom other than the list-making, tofu-eating, three-ring-binder-organizing Mom of right now” (p. 103). Why do you think she’s suddenly able to see her mom in a different way? How do you see your own mother? Has the way you think of your mom changed?

8. How would you have reacted if you found what Gianna found when she returned to the locker room? Why do you think she chose not to tell her coach what happened? Would you have made the same choice?

9. Everything possible seems to be going wrong with Gianna’s leaf project. Do you think any of the problems are her fault? What do you think of the way Gianna’s mother solved the leaf-collection problem? Should Gianna turn in the project? Why do you think Gianna feels worse when she sees the other students’ leaf projects? Do you think the new leaf collection is a better reflection of Gianna’s personality? Why or why not?

10. What role do you think Ian plays in the Zales family? Does anyone in your family remind you of Ian?

11. What do you think of Gianna’s mother’s plans to keep Nonna safe? What other suggestions might you make to the family?

12. Would you consider the ending of this book a happy one? Why or why not?

Kate Messner
is a middle-school teacher who has helped with hundreds of leaf collection projects over the years. She’s especially fond of catalpa trees and sugar maples. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her husband and two kids and loves spending time in the woods.

www.katemessner.com

The ice isn’t the coldest thing
at the Silver Blades figure
skating program . . .

Will Claire be able to make the final cut, or will she be frozen in place by some of the meanest girls on ice?

Read on for a sneak peek of Kate Messner’s next novel.

    “And I believe you are the last skater. Let us see what you can do on a real rink.” He opened the door of the penalty box, and Claire took a step toward the ice on wobbly knees.

“I . . . didn’t bring music,” she said.

He stared at her. Did this man not understand what that kind of look did to a girl’s insides? Or did he understand perfectly?

“I know I was supposed to bring a CD, but I was wondering . . . Well, I’ve skated to ‘Autumn,’ the song that Meghan had? I was thinking . . . I wondered if . . .”

Andrei Groshev snapped his fingers at the penalty box. “Meghan. Your music is with Bella yet, yes?”

Meghan nodded. “Why?”

“Go tell her that Claire will skate to the same song today.”

Meghan’s eyes widened. “Is that your music for competitions? I still use it sometimes even though I’m working on a new routine.”

“Oh, no, I don’t do competitions. I mean, I haven’t much,” Claire said. “It was just my music for the Maple Show.”

Alexis stepped forward and snorted out a laugh. “The
Maple Show
?” She turned to Meghan. “I don’t think you need to worry. Let’s go tell Bella to cue up the music for Mrs. Butterworth here.” She clattered up the stairs with Meghan behind her.

Claire’s throat went dry. She looked at Groshev, waiting for him to say something. But he either didn’t hear or didn’t care. He just looked down at Claire. “Should you not be on the ice?”

She skated out and struck her opening pose, her heart pounding, until Vivaldi’s first notes filled the rink for the second time.

Claire started slowly. What if she fell in front of Groshev her first day here? Maybe they’d take back her scholarship. Could they do that already? There was no way she could skate like Alexis.

Stop,
she thought.
Stop. Just skate
. And she did, into the second turn—the one with the tough footwork pattern. And she did it.

Just skate
. As the song picked up its pace, Claire’s heart finally slowed down so she could hear the music over its pounding. She loved this song, the way the notes seemed to hold the memory of every step of the routine and give them all back to her just in time. She felt her movements grow quicker, lighter, like Tasanee’s. Like a butterfly. She turned away from the penalty box and smiled.

She pushed harder than usual, gearing up for the big jump. Groshev would expect her to land it; he’d already seen it. But she forced that thought from her mind, forced it from her muscles, and instead let the music fill her like helium in a balloon.

She jumped, higher than she had at the Maple Show, even, she could tell. She turned above the ice and landed firmly, arms out, leg stretched behind her, and a smile that met Andrei Groshev straight on. She twirled away for the final sequence. But not before she saw him smiling back. And this time, she was sure.

It was 4:50, but before they went back to the locker room, Andrei Groshev called them to stand around the circle at center ice. He stood in the middle and rotated slowly, meeting all of their eyes as he spoke.

“You have put in a full day. That is good, for a start. But make no mistake: you have a long, long way to go if you are even to think about competing nationally. You will not make it if you are not giving everything that you have.” Claire saw his eyes rest on Stevie for a second.

“Skating here is not a right. It is not something that you are entitled to.” He paused. “It is a privilege that some of you may not have much longer if I am not seeing you grow. If I am not seeing the commitment. The passion.” Across the circle from Claire, Meghan twisted her braid and looked at the floor.

“But some of you,” Groshev pivoted until he was facing Claire, and she felt everyone’s eyes on her. “Some of you have impressed me today.” She should have felt proud; she should have been absolutely bursting. He liked her! He liked her skating! But her knees shook.

Groshev held up a stack of papers. “Take a schedule, and then you are dismissed.” Claire’s hand shook as she reached for the paper.

Groshev held on to it for a moment and looked down at her. “Very nice work today.” Claire squeaked out a “thank you” and skated toward the boards but sensed someone too close behind her. When she turned, she saw what she had already felt—Alexis’s eyes burning into her, cold as ice.

Did you like watching leaves fall with Gianna Z.?

Then you’ll love Allie Jo’s magical adventures in

Walker & Company

Copyright © 2009 by Kate Messner
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First published in the United States of America in September 2009 by Walker Publishing Company, Inc.,
a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
E-book edition published in September 2010
www.bloomsburykids.com

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to
Permissions, Walker BFYR, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010

Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
Messner, Kate.
The brilliant fall of Gianna Z. / by Kate Messner.
p. cm.
Summary: Gianna has less than one week to complete her leaf project if she wants to compete in the upcoming cross-country sectionals, but issues like procrastination, disorganization—and her grandmother’s declining health—seem destined to keep her from finishing.
[1. Grandmothers—Fiction. 2. Old age—Fiction. 3. Friendship—Fiction. 4. Trees—Fiction. 5. Running—Fiction. 6. Schools—Fiction. 7. Family life—Vermont—Fiction. 8. Vermont—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.M5615Br 2009           [Fic]—dc22           2008046979

eISBN: 978-0-802-72253-9