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Glory Be
By Jamie Sumner
Table of Contents
About The Book
A girl searches for her lost dog and truths about her family in this heartwarming, poignant illustrated novel in verse “[s]eeded with love and hope” (School Library Journal) from Jamie Sumner, the acclaimed author of Roll with It.
Disappeared. Vanished. Vamoosed.
Glory has the best dog in the world. Roux wags his tail so hard his whole round little body shakes. He touches his nose to hers like E.T. phoning home. Roux is always there for her—but now he’s gone. And Glory is worried her daddy had something to do with it.
Daddy’s been getting into trouble since the day Glory was born. Now it’s worse than worse. As she searches all over New Orleans for her lost pup, Glory discovers some things about her city and herself. Enough to make her wonder: How do you know when to hang on to the ones you love…and when to let go?
Disappeared. Vanished. Vamoosed.
Glory has the best dog in the world. Roux wags his tail so hard his whole round little body shakes. He touches his nose to hers like E.T. phoning home. Roux is always there for her—but now he’s gone. And Glory is worried her daddy had something to do with it.
Daddy’s been getting into trouble since the day Glory was born. Now it’s worse than worse. As she searches all over New Orleans for her lost pup, Glory discovers some things about her city and herself. Enough to make her wonder: How do you know when to hang on to the ones you love…and when to let go?
Excerpt
1. Glory Be
Legend has it
the second my mama pushed me
out
she took one look
and said, “Glory be!”
The nurse mopping sweat
drip
drip
drip
p
i
n
g
from Mama’s forehead uttered, “Amen,”
and that’s how I became “Glory.”
Not Gloria,
like the old ladies smoking Camels, gossiping in lawn chairs
morning noon night.
I’m Glory.
The gold at the end of the rainbow.
The lucky charm.
The black-haired blessing,
or if I’ve been sassy,
“glory, glory hallelujah,”
with a shake of the head
because it is always a battle with me.
Mama, though, she claims my name
had nothing to do with luck or God.
She was just glad that labor was
D.O.N.E. Done.
Either way, I was Glory from that day forward.
Where was my daddy, you ask?
Good question.
THE question, really,
because that answer explains everything that’s
led
up
to
TODAY:
nine years later
and one day after
my dog, Roux, disappeared
vanished
vamoosed
and now is nothing but a dot of light in my heart.
That’s why I am walking this very crooked line
along the burnt-up summer grass
behind the school
instead of sitting in my seat
like the “good little girl” Ms. Roche always tells me to be.
I am a girl.
But I am not good.
And I am not little.
Sorry, Ms. Roche,
you’re out of luck,
because Glory be GONE and she ain’t coming back
until she finds her dog.
GLORY BE
Legend has it
the second my mama pushed me
out
she took one look
and said, “Glory be!”
The nurse mopping sweat
drip
drip
drip
p
i
n
g
from Mama’s forehead uttered, “Amen,”
and that’s how I became “Glory.”
Not Gloria,
like the old ladies smoking Camels, gossiping in lawn chairs
morning noon night.
I’m Glory.
The gold at the end of the rainbow.
The lucky charm.
The black-haired blessing,
or if I’ve been sassy,
“glory, glory hallelujah,”
with a shake of the head
because it is always a battle with me.
Mama, though, she claims my name
had nothing to do with luck or God.
She was just glad that labor was
D.O.N.E. Done.
Either way, I was Glory from that day forward.
Where was my daddy, you ask?
Good question.
THE question, really,
because that answer explains everything that’s
led
up
to
TODAY:
nine years later
and one day after
my dog, Roux, disappeared
vanished
vamoosed
and now is nothing but a dot of light in my heart.
That’s why I am walking this very crooked line
along the burnt-up summer grass
behind the school
instead of sitting in my seat
like the “good little girl” Ms. Roche always tells me to be.
I am a girl.
But I am not good.
And I am not little.
Sorry, Ms. Roche,
you’re out of luck,
because Glory be GONE and she ain’t coming back
until she finds her dog.
About The Author
Photograph by Bethany Rogers
Jamie Sumner is the author of the Roll with It trilogy, Tune It Out, One Kid’s Trash, The Summer of June, Maid for It, Deep Water, Please Pay Attention, Schooled, Glory Be, and Wish You Well. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She is also the mother of a son with cerebral palsy and has written extensively about parenting a child with special needs. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her at Jamie-Sumner.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (March 10, 2026)
- Length: 208 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665905718
- Grades: 3 - 7
- Ages: 8 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
“[A] love letter to New Orleans, with the narrative marinating in its setting and the city’s unique attributes often serving as metaphors for the challenges Glory faces. A vibrant cast of supporting characters adds complexity, particularly Seven and his compatriots, who are developed with dimension to bring depth to the found family on which Glory can rely.”
– Horn Book
“This verse novel, rife with New Orleans vernacular and sensory descriptions of Glory’s somewhat rough neighborhood, focuses on a little kid dealing with big stuff. . . . With an ending that’s just the right amount of bittersweet, containing both hope and ambiguity, Glory shows readers that even in tough situations, ‘NOLA’s got all kind of magic if you keep your head up.’”
– The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“Sumner’s rhythmic verse suits Glory’s feisty voice and outsize personality. . . . Sumner sensitively considers the harsh realities of loving someone who can turn violent, but tender bonds of friendship and gentle humor alleviate the darkness as Glory comes to accept some difficult truths . . . Seeded with love and hope, a tale that nevertheless addresses turmoil and pain.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“[T]he story offers a realistic portrait of life for a kid who has a mostly absent father and a mother burning a near-wickless candle. . . Sumner folds brightness into the plot through the joy pets can bring as well as in the new friends Glory makes during her search for Roux. Try this with realistic fiction readers or fans of stories that center animals, such as Robin Gow’s Gooseberry (2024).”
– Booklist
"[A] contemplative verse novel by Sumner. . . . Hard-hitting lines viscerally convey the pain Glory carries, stemming from her tumultuous homelife. Realistic grayscale images by Monnin depict the youth’s grim determination and her pup’s buoyant spirit."
– Publishers Weekly
“Glory is a . . . determined and courageous individual who does whatever she can to get her dog back . . . A novel in verse that explores heavy topics, with heart, this is recommended for upper elementary readers.”
– School Library Journal
Awards and Honors
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Glory Be
Hardcover 9781665905718
-
Author Photo (jpg): Jamie Sumner Photograph by Bethany Rogers(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
Glory Be
By Jamie Sumner
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