Ruth White (1) (1942–)

Insightful, poignant, touching and sensitively written, this 1997 Newbery honor book is one I highly recommend. With shades of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader observes small-town life through the eyes of a young, precocious young girl.

In 1953 Belle Prater left her house, her near-do-well husband and young son and vanished from Coal Station, VA, never to be found.

In 1954 Gypsy Arbutus Leemaster's view of life is about to change when she befriends her cousin Woodrow after he show more moves across the street to live with their grandparents. Years earlier Gypsy's father died, and she, like Woodrow knows the pain of loss.

As the story unfolds, we learn that Gypsy's mother was the pretty one; Woodrow's mother, Belle, was plain and could not compete when Gypsy's mother stole the heart of Belle's suitor and married him.

Cross-eyed and wearing hand me down clothes, Woodrow is Belle Prater's boy. Pretty like her mama, dressed in frills, Gypsy is about to learn that appearances are deceiving.

Lonely and abandoned Belle Prater's boy experiences snitty comments, not only at the hands of the town bully, but in particular by the small-town, nasty society mavens.

This is a story of multi-faceted layers, of looking past appearances, of sibling rivalry, of decisions that have a life-long impact and of small town life with its charm and chills. show less

Life was difficult in 1948 for the White family. Living in Southwestern Virginia in a coal mining town, Audrey is the oldest of four girls. The house is a shack. The food is sparse and the family is dirt poor. This story is the real life tale of the author. She chose to give voice to the story through her eldest sister, and the book is written from her perspective.

Scrawny from lack of food and illness, Audrey looks at the world through eyes that need large glasses and her awkwardness defines show more her as a crumbly, skinny, nail biting girl who longs for security. She asks for little of life. She simply would like things to be better, for the family to have food and decent housing, and for a mother who is not depressed and a father who is not alcoholic.

This book is depressing. It is 146 pages of raw sadness.
It is well written and I recommended it. Read it though on a sunny day, sit in your chair surrounded by warmth and give thanks for the blessings you have in the realization that many do not have even the basic necessities. show less

Engrossing and heartfelt I read this book in two days! It is a sweet coming of age story about two cousins learning to be themselves and overcoming their family’s expectations.

Looks like I should read more Ruth White! I was immediately absorbed in Audrey's world and her life as part of a coal-mining family of extremely modest means. Audrey's voice is earnest and practical as befits a girl growing up in day-to-day survival. The descriptions of life in a coal camp--scrips, outhouses, movie night, nothing but beans for supper--put me right there in Audrey's world. Although I'm still not sure what a "poke" is. A grocery bag? Lib notes: Scenes of Audrey's father being show more drunk, descriptions of alcohol drinking and the problems that go with it, Audrey accepting a cigarette treat from her grandmother. show less