Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom, & the Challenges of Bad Hair

by C.C. Payne

Overview

While Lula Bell Bonner tries desperately to fit in by not standing out, her wise and irrepressible Grandma Bernice says: Let your light shine! It’s Grandma Bernice who provides the joy that balances Lula Bell’s difficult school life, but when this balance is upended, when Kali Keele turns up the heat on her cruel teasing, and when the talent show—that she should NEVER have signed up for—is about to happen, how in the world can Lula Bell cope?

This funny, heartfelt novel exploring friendship, family, and forgiveness, introduces an unforgettable hero, lost in the wilderness of fifth grade, searching for her own shining light.

The author of Lula Bell has donated this book to the Worldreader program.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761462255
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	10/02/2012
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

C. C. Payne was born and raised in Kentucky, by a family chock-full of superb storytellers: readers, writers, teachers, librarians, and lawyers—yes, Payne insists that any lawyer worth his salt knows how to tell a good, persuasive story. Growing up, she says, all kinds of stories were used, to quiet, to entertain, and to teach life lessons, but all stories worked to instill in Payne a love of the story—any story.

Naturally, at the age of seven, she became a voracious reader. “After that,” Payne says, “the house could’ve fallen down around my ears, and I would’ve just thought, Does this mean I have to put my book down?”

Payne’s first novel, Something to Sing About, received a boxed, starred review from Booklist, and was nominated for a 2010-2011 Children’s Crown Award and a 2011 Kentucky Bluegrass Award. Meanwhile, as Payne continues to write, she says she’s beginning to notice that all her books are like her: hopeful, humorous, and distinctly Southern. She lives in Kentucky. To learn more about C. C. Payne, visit www.ccpayne.net.

Editorial Reviews

…Lula is an amazingly real character that young readers will instantly identify with. Who, after all, hasn’t had a bad hair day, feared performing, or been teased mercilessly by classmates? Readers will laugh, cringe and cry in turn as Lula navigates life with and without her beloved grandmother. An excellent book with a southern flair…Tweens will find much to enjoy in Lula’s trials, tribulations and eventual successes.” —Children’s Literature

“Lula Bell’s voice is fresh and funny, full of quips and asides that add sparks of energy to her observations about the frustrations of busy parents, embarrassing elders, and social hierarchies. Her winning, upbeat narration secures empathy from the start, and when her grandmother dies readers will be invested in Lula Bell’s grief and recovery, which moves at a realistically patient pace. Lula Bell is flawed enough for most readers to really relate to, so they will forgive her outbursts of anger and aggression as she comes to realize what it means to have and to be a real friend.” —Karen Coats, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

Fifth-grader Lula Bell longs to escape the attention of strident bully—and former BFF—Kali. In her endeavor to blend in, Lula Bell forgoes her favorite lunches, spurns Alan, her staunchest ally, and dismisses her talents. However, her vivacious Grandma Bernice has different ideas, encouraging Lula Bell to "let [her] light shine no matter who's watchin' " and be true to herself. Lula Bell's desire to embrace anonymity is at odds with her mother and Grandma Bernice's wishes for her to participate in the school's talent show. Grandma Bernice's unexpected death provides the impetus for Lula Bell to reconsider the status quo, leading her to take decisive action and bravely confront her anxieties. A surprising plot development finds Lula Bell demonstrating extraordinary generosity in the true spirit of her beloved grandmother. Ultimately, she realizes that in her quest to be accepted, she has overlooked a true and steadfast friend. Payne thoughtfully examines the grieving process as Lula Bell struggles to accept and adjust to her loss. With an authentic voice, the wryly humorous Lula Bell contemplates life and the nature of true friendship with distinctive candor. Payne's hopeful tale encourages readers to rejoice in what makes them unique. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews