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Congrats to the Write Your Roots! contest winner! Check out her story inspired by Family Tree


Family Tree is a new series from Ann M. Martin (the author of The Baby-sitters Club books—one of our all-time faves!) that explores one family through four generations of girls. Last month, we invited GL girls to check out the series, get inspired to create a family tree and then share an incredible family story. Read on to check out the winning tale, then get more details on this amazing new series you’ll love.


Read the winning story!
Congratulations to Kaitlin H., 14 from Conway, AR. Kaitlin’s captivating story earned her a family trip to the TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach.

“I have a colorful family history on both sides. I know more about my mother's side of the family. Her ancestors were mostly Scot-Irish who immigrated to America in the 1600’s and 1700's. One ancestor in particular stands out to me. His name was Captain John Tedford. He was an immigrant from Belfast, Ireland who served in the Revolutionary Army in the Virginia militia. It is family lore that Captain John served as aide de camp to a rather famous general who would later become president, General George Washington.

“After the war ended, John Tedford married a woman from a prominent Virginia family. Her name was Mary Paxton. Mary is linked to another famous person in American history. Mary's first cousin was mother to General Sam Houston who later became president of the Republic Of Texas. I am proud of all my ancestors, but especially proud of these people that participated in the early days of our country.”

It’s all in the family…
In the debut novel of the Family Tree series, Better to Wish, it’s 1930 and we meet 8-year-old Abby Nichols. Abby can’t imagine what her future holds. She lives with her quiet mother, her angry father, and her sometimes annoying, sometimes sweet sister, Rose, in a small town in Maine. One of her best friends is a boy named Orrin, whom her father doesn’t want her talking to. She’s known her other best friend, Sarah, forever, and doesn’t think they’ll ever be apart.

But Abby’s world is changing fast. Soon there will be new siblings to take care of, a new house to move into, and new friends to meet. There will also be good-byes to say and hard choices to make.

In this incredible new series, bestselling author Ann M. Martin brings the past and the present together one girlhood at a time, and the result is a remarkable look at four generations in one memorable family.

CLICK HERE to download your free excerpt of Better to Wish by Ann M. Martin.

by GL | 2/1/2016
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