Eliza Bing Is (Not) a Big, Fat Quitter - by Carmella Van Vleet (Paperback)

About the Book

After learning she can't take a cake decorating class with her best friend--partly because her parents consider her a quitter-- eleven-year-old Eliza tries to prove herself by sticking with a taekwondo class all summer.

Book Synopsis

Eliza has had many hobbies in her eleven years... and most of them haven't lasted very long.

After she and her friend Tony create a baking business for a class project, Eliza becomes certain that cake decorating is her destiny. Her parents insist that the summer "Cakes with Caroline" class is too expensive--especially given Eliza's history of quickly losing interest in things.

Desperate to show them that she can be diligent, Eliza volunteers to take her brother's unwanted spot in a taekwondo class. At first, she has absolutely no interest in martial arts, and the focus and discipline of taekwondo is a huge challenge for her since she has ADHD. To make things worse, mean girl Madison shows up in class.

Eliza is tempted to drop out, but a true martial artist never quits. Can she rise to the challenge?

A 2015 Christopher Award Winner in the Books for Young People Category

Review Quotes

"Eliza's personal growth is full of realistic hopes and challenges that will resonate with many readers."--Kirkus Reviews

"Narrated by Eliza in conversational prose, this engaging read features abundant tae kwon do details and a likable, lively, realistically drawn protagonist whose strengths, successes, and challenges, including coping with ADHD, are sympathetically and supportively depicted."--Booklist

"Lively dialogue, quick moving snippet-style chapters, and believable family interactions give this story additional kick."--Publishers Weekly

"Readers will cheer as, much to her surprise, sympathetic Eliza finds focus and success in martial arts."--The Horn Book

"Fast moving and humorous . . . feisty Eliza will have readers, especially those with ADHD, rooting for her."--School Library Journal

About the Author

Carmella Van Vleet is a former kindergarten teacher and the author of eight hands-on science and history books for children. Eliza Bing Is (NOT) a Big Fat Quitter is her first novel. It was inspired by her daughter, who, like Eliza, has ADHD and discovered a new passion when she took up martial arts. Despite being a fan of cake decorating shows, the only thing Carmella knows about cakes is that they taste delicious! But as a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, she knows all about bowing, learning Korean, wearing scratchy doboks, and taking belt tests. She lives in Ohio with her husband and has three kids, one normal dog, and a dog who thinks he's a cat. You can visit her online at www.carmellavanvleet.com.