Kate the Great, Except When She's Not

Written and illustrated by Suzy Becker

Book #1 in the Kate the Great series

Kate navigates quirky friendships and unexpected help from historical figures in a humorous adventure.

3.6/5 Goodreads · 209 ratings

272 pages· 25,084 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

$12.99Save 4%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Kate Geller, a spirited artist and flutist, faces the chaos of middle school with a perfect sister, a cute sibling, and a frenemy named Nora. Her art teacher lacks creativity, and her pod leader's sweat stain is distracting. As she tackles her role as Christopher Columbus and a Colonial Buddies report, unexpected assistance from Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein adds a twist. Can Kate redefine friendship and survive these challenges? Dive into her illustrated journey filled with humor and surprises.

From the publisher

Fans of Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries will love this illustrated series by the New York Times bestselling author of All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat. Meet Kate Geller, a sassy flute-playing artist, who comes up with an original way to redefine friendship. Kate’s older sister is way too perfect. Her younger sister is way too cute. And her mom wants her to be pals with her frenemy, Nora. Her art teacher, Mrs. Petty, is way too uncreative, and how can Kate pay attention at Junior Guides when her pod leader has a sweat stain the size of the town beach? Now she has to get through her Christopher Columbus role during Discovery Day and her “Colonial Buddies” report, but little does she know how much “help” she’ll be getting from Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. This humorous debut novel features more than 350 illustrations. Praise for Kate the Great She’s funny. Quirky. Original. Kate’s the greatest. -Lincoln Peirce, author of Big NateMay Kate continue to be this great. -The Horn Book “Becker’s first illustrated novel falls neatly in line with many others of its ilk, series such as Big Nate and Diary of a Wimpy Kid…” -Booklist “Becker does an excellent job of channeling the behind-adults’-backs humor and friendship frustrations of the middle-school crowd…” -Publishers Weekly “Debut novelist Becker employs doodles, cartoons, and comic strips reminiscent of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Lincoln Peirce’s Big Nate.” -School Library Journal

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