The Moody family holds a garage sale, and Judy spots one more chance at fame. She takes an ordinary cherry pit and tries to convince people that it is a genuine two-hundred-year-old pit from the very cherry tree that George Washington supposedly chopped down as a boy! It is, of course, a complete hoax — a made-up story to fool people and get herself noticed. There is a rich joke buried here: the famous tale of George Washington and the cherry tree is all about honesty (young George admitting, ‘I cannot tell a lie’), and here is Judy telling a whopping fib to try to get famous! Naturally, the cherry-pit scheme does not turn Judy into a star. Bit by bit, she is running out of tricks — and running closer to a much better idea.
| Focus | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Irony | Judy tells a lie using a story about honesty |
| Myth vs. Fact | A famous legend that is not actually true |
| Another Failed Scheme | The hoax that doesn’t make her famous |
| Pages | Key Events |
|---|---|
| pp. 61–75 | At the family garage sale, Judy tries to get famous by passing off an ordinary cherry pit as a genuine 200-year-old relic of George Washington’s cherry tree; the hoax fails, and Judy is running out of tricks |
There are no wrong answers here — just think, guess, and talk:
- Judy uses the George Washington honesty story to tell a lie. Why is that funny — and a little sad?
- The famous cherry-tree tale probably never really happened. Why do you think untrue stories sometimes become so famous?
- Predict: Judy’s fame schemes keep failing. What kind of thing might finally work — and would it even be a ‘scheme’ at all?
This is an independent study guide created by Garden Heights Academy to support reading comprehension and literary analysis. It contains original analysis questions and does not reproduce any text from the novel. Judy Moody Gets Famous! is a work by Megan McDonald. This guide is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the author or any associated rights holder.
- Judy claims it came from George Washington’s cherry tree.
- Judy tries to sell a cherry pit as a priceless relic.
- Judy’s fame scheme flops once again.
- The Moody family holds a garage sale.
- Doubtful buyers refuse to believe her.
Almost every American child knows the story: young George Washington chops down his father’s cherry tree, and when his father asks who did it, the boy bravely confesses that he cannot tell a lie. It is a charming lesson in honesty, but here is a surprise: it almost certainly never happened. The tale does not appear anywhere during Washington’s life. It was invented by a writer named Parson Weems, who added it to a biography a few years after Washington died, hoping a memorable story would teach children to be truthful. That makes it a gentle hoax, though not a cruel one. Over time, the little tale was retold so often that people began to accept it as fact. This is how many myths are born: a good story, repeated again and again, slowly hardens into something people simply assume is true. Historians look for real evidence — letters, records, eyewitness accounts — before believing any claim. A tale can be famous and beloved without being genuine.
This writing task is optional and is not part of your auto-graded score. The feedback below checks only the basics — length, spelling, and grammar — not whether your ideas are right or wrong. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice, so feel free to use your imagination!
Writing Task — Part 5 “True or Just Famous?”
Judy learns a famous story can be untrue. Write about a time you found out that something ‘everybody knows’ was actually wrong — or write about why it matters to check whether a story is really true before believing it. Write at least 40 words.
No right or wrong — close the screen and tell someone nearby about Judy’s cherry-pit hoax and why it is so ironic. Can’t find anyone? Tell yourself out loud. The moment you teach it, you truly understand it.
Part 5 Complete!
You finished pages 61–75 of Judy Moody Gets Famous!.
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The best last step is to teach it. In your own words, explain what happened — retell a favorite scene, teach a character’s big choice, or sum up the main idea for a parent, friend, or classmate. When you can teach it clearly, you truly own it.
Independent study guide by Garden Heights Academy. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the author or any rights holders. Contains original analysis only; no text from the novel is reproduced.