Gloria Rising by Marcus

Gloria Rising is about a young girl named Gloria who has a lot of heart. One day, Gloria’s mom was making dinner and she needed an onion, so she sent Gloria to the store. While Gloria was waiting in line to pay for the onion, she began tossing it. Then she bumped into a famous astronaut named Dr. Grace Street. Gloria threw the onion in the air and did not catch it but Dr. Grace Street did, and gave it back to Gloria. Gloria thanked the astronaut and they became friends.

Gloria started fourth grade with one of the strictest teachers that everyone called the “dragon of doom”. One day, they had to write an essay about “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Gloria said she wanted to be an astronaut and she told the story of how she met Dr. Grace Street and every one laughed at her. The teacher said if you really met her maybe, you could get her to come to the school. Gloria sent a letter to her friend the astronaut asking her to come to the school but she never received a reply. As a surprise, Dr. Grace street showed up at the school!

Dr. Grace Street talked to the students about facing their fears and that you can be whatever you want to be if you are good in school. She said that Gloria is an example of a good student and is very thoughtful. The story ends with Gloria climbing up the tree that she and her best friend always talked about climbing but never did; it was the tallest tree in the park.

I learned that school is a big responsibility and that it is good to face your fears. I liked this story because it was about something that could really happen in life if you put your mind to it. I also learned that in the end, the truth always comes out.