The nerviest girl in the world
(Book)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Contributors
Deas, Mike, 1982- illustrator.
Published
New York : Alfred A Knopf, ©2020.
Status
Central - Kids Fiction
JF WILEY
1 available
Westover - Kids Fiction
JF WILEY
1 available

Copies

LocationCall NumberStatus
Central - Kids FictionJF WILEYAvailable
Westover - Kids FictionJF WILEYAvailable

Description

A feisty girl from a family of ranchers lands a job as a daredevil stunt girl in the early days of silent film in this adventurous and funny cross between Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken and Ramona.Pearl lives on a ranch where her chores include collecting eggs and feeding ornery ostriches. She has three older brothers, who don't coddle her at all. And she knows a thing or two about horses, too.One day, Pearl's brothers get cushy jobs doing stunts for this new form of entertainment called "moving pictures." They're the Daredevil Donnelly Brothers, a Death-Defying Cowboy Trio. Before she knows it, Pearl has stumbled into being a stunt girl herself--and dreams of becoming a star. The only problem is, her mother has no idea what she's up to. And let's just say she wouldn't be too happy to find out that Pearl's been jumping out of burning buildings in her spare time.Filled with action, humor, and heart--not to mention those pesky ostriches--The Nerviest Girl in the World introduces a spunky heroine whose adventures will have kids on the edge of their seats and whose sense of humor will have them laughing until the very last line.

More Details

Format
Book
Edition
First edition.
Physical Desc
198 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Language
English
ISBN
9780375870385, 0375870385, 9780375970375, 0375970371

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-198).
Description
"Pearl lives on a ranch where her chores include collecting eggs and feeding ornery ostriches. She has three older brothers, who don't coddle her at all. And she knows a thing or two about horses, too. One day, Pearl's brothers get cushy jobs doing stunts for this new form of entertainment called "moving pictures." They're the Daredevil Donnelly Brothers, a Death-Defying Cowboy Trio. Before she knows it, Pearl has stumbled into being a stunt girl herself-and dreams of becoming a star. The only problem is, her mother has no idea what she's up to. And let's just say she wouldn't be too happy to find out that Pearl's been jumping out of burning buildings in her spare time" -- Publisher description.

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We recommend Daring Darleen, Queen of the Scream to readers who like The Nerviest Girl in the World. Both are historical fiction featuring young and spunky silent movie actresses. -- Lindsey Dunn

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Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Wiley channels the spirit of silent-film star Pearl White in this lively yarn about a rancher's daughter roped into the movie business. This Pearl--Pearl Donnelly--could ride a horse before she could run, and she wouldn't have it any other way. She loves living on her family's ranch in Lemon Springs, California, though she wouldn't mind if someone else had to tend their ornery ostriches. But that was before Mr. Corrigan came to town to film moving pictures called westerns. Pearl's older brothers quickly get work performing stunts in his movies, and Pearl accidentally gets a break when the director sees her hold her own on a spooked horse. Soon, Pearl's jumping out of windows and riding like lightning for the camera. Wiley's novel is a thrill ride excitingly grounded in film history, which is discussed in a fascinating afterword. Best of all is Pearl, a treasure of a protagonist whom readers will love for her candor and bravery as much as for her willingness to admit to her own failings.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

Pearl, 11, lives on a cattle and ostrich ranch outside San Diego, where she helps to tend temperamental ostriches, learned to ride horses early on, and rivaled her older brothers on horseback by the time she was nine. The brothers' advanced riding skills get them recruited to play "Death-Defying Cowboys" in the new moving pictures. When Pearl visits the set and her horse spooks, her ability to remount the galloping animal earns her a part in the director's next film. Pearl learns to act on the job ("Can you show me scared instead of stomachache-y?") and begins her career doing parts that require stunts, such as jumping out of a window and even shinnying down a rope out of a hot air balloon. Along the way, she discovers a passion for acting and navigates relationships with her difficult brother, as well as Mary, a town girl jealous of Pearl's film roles. Lively illustrations by Deas mirror the heart, humor, and bravery of Pearl herself. Set in the early 20th century and inspired by real-life silent-film star Pearl White, Wiley's (The Prairie Thief) vivid snapshot of cinema's early days, as well as Pearl's life on the ranch, offers warmth and wit. Ages 8--12. Agent: Liza Voges, Eden Street Literary. (Aug.)

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School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--7--Set in early 20th-century San Diego, Pearl lives on a cattle and ostrich ranch. One day her brothers' advanced horseback riding skills get them recruited to be "Death-Defying Cowboys" in a director's moving pictures. While visiting the set, Pearl's horse gets frightened, and her unique way of remounting her horse gets her noticed. Soon, she too becomes an actress. From jumping out of windows to sliding down ropes, she discovers a love for stunts. Life as an actress, however, isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her relationship with Mary Mason, a girl in town, is strained at best, and Pearl's mama doesn't like her doing stunts. Can Pearl learn to balance her acting with real life? Inspirational, funny, full of bravery, and based off a true story, Wiley does a great job of bringing the time period to life. The characters are engaging, realistic, and witty. VERDICT Readers who like historical fiction, nuanced heroines, and humor will enjoy this book. Recommended for libraries where funny historical fiction is popular.--Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Lib. Svcs.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

A spunky preteen girl goes from ostrich rancher to stunt performer in turn-of-the-20th-century moving pictures. Pearl doesn't think about much beyond her family's ranch until Mr. Corrigan, a movie director, brings his Flying Q Film Company to Lemon Springs, California. First he hires Pearl's older brothers--cowboys all--to act in his silent moving pictures, but when he sees the stunts the 11-year-old can perform, he's quick to sign on this "nervy" girl. Pearl narrates in short, action-filled chapters, packing in descriptions of caring for ill-tempered ostriches, her risky performances, and plenty of details about the craft of silent filmmaking (including why the film industry moved out west). While stunts are second nature to Pearl, she wonders what it means to act. It comes easily to her nemesis and on-set sister, town gal Mary Mason; their jealous-turned-respectful interactions also drive the plot. Expressive, black line drawings depict some of Pearl's feats as well as an apparently all-white cast. (The Irish-immigrant cameraman does acknowledge the theft of Native lands by white settlers during filming). An author's note provides more information about the industry, early stuntwoman Pearl White (the inspiration for Wiley's protagonist), and La Mesa (the inspiration for Lemon Springs) and its history of filmmaking--and ostrich farming! For another look at a girl in silent movies, this time on the East Coast, pair with Anne Nesbet's Daring Darleen: Queen of the Screen (2020). Plucky fun. (Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Wiley, M., & Deas, M. (2020). The nerviest girl in the world (First edition.). Alfred A Knopf.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Wiley, Melissa and Mike Deas. 2020. The Nerviest Girl in the World. New York: Alfred A Knopf.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Wiley, Melissa and Mike Deas. The Nerviest Girl in the World New York: Alfred A Knopf, 2020.

Harvard Citation (style guide)

Wiley, M. and Deas, M. (2020). The nerviest girl in the world. First edn. New York: Alfred A Knopf.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Wiley, Melissa,, and Mike Deas. The Nerviest Girl in the World First edition., Alfred A Knopf, 2020.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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