She, Gertie Reece Foy, was going to be the greatest fifth grader in the whole school, world, and universe!
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: The quote declares Gertie’s character arc for the novel and shows her ambition.

And then Rachel Collins would know that Gertie Foy was one-hundred-percent, not-from-concentrate awesome and that she didn’t need a mother anyway. So there.
-- Narrator (chapter 2)

Importance: The quote illustrates Gertie’s motivation for trying to be the best fifth grader; she wants to impress her mother and show how she did not need her mother in order to be great.

So I’m studying because I’m going to be a real genius.
-- Gertie (chapter 6)

Importance: The shows how Gertie is planning to be exceptional. She is going to apply herself to her studies and prove to everyone that she is smarter than the others think she is.

Gertie couldn’t believe it. Jean didn’t think she could beat Mary Sue...
-- Narrator (chapter 7)