Gertrude has never looked quite like her brothers and sisters. She's full of questions—and always wonders why she feels a little different. Life in her small mining village in the north of England is simple, full of warmth and rich with joy. Then, one day, a stranger arrives with tales of distant lands and long-buried secrets, and Gertie's world begins to shift. His stories awaken something deep within her—a longing to understand who she truly is, and where she really belongs. As discoveries about her past unfold, so does the idea of a journey—one that will test her courage, strengthen her faith, and deepen the bonds of family in ways she never expected. Set in Edwardian England, this is a heartfelt story about identity, belonging, love and loyalty. It is the first of a ten-book series, aimed at 8-12 year olds, inspired by the life of the author's grandmother, and imparts timeless lessons of resilience, drive and determination to the next generation. The series follows Gertrude's voyage from humble beginnings in England to adventures across Americas, mirroring the real life immigrant journey of Hersch's grandmother a century ago. The books emphasize practical values and strong morals while tackling tough topics in an age-appropriate way. The books draw on the Christian values that Hersch learned from her grandmother and now seeks to pass on to today's young people. After a successful career selling computer networks into schools, while raising three boys through to University, Jill Hersch thought her work was done and retired to the Sunshine State. That lasted five months-and then she learned that God wasn't done with her yet.Together with a church friend, she hatched the dream of teaching young girls the skills of surviving and thriving in this changing and dangerous world. Throughout the generations, girls have needed to know their Superpower and how to guard it, protecting their precious inner beauty and childhood joyfulness. Never have such lessons been more necessary. These are the Christian values Grannie Gertrude taught Jill and now she is passing on the secret to her granddaughters, and to you, as she steps into her vital new role of helping to raise the next generation. Jill Muller, educated at Syracuse University with a degree in Illustration, has thoroughly enjoyed bringing the character of Gertrude to life. Jill has worked extensively as a book designer and illustrator for Disney Publishing, Parragon Publishing, Reader's Digest, Scholastic, and American Greetings Cards. When not immersed in Gertrude's world, Jill accepts commissioned work and paints in a seaside studio, inspired by the beauty of God's world all around her. With a heart to serve others, Jill partners with faith-based, disaster response teams as a trained volunteer. Deploying to locations throughout the country, Jill is involved in the rebuild process and in creating works of art that bring hope and joy to the communities and individuals impacted.