Ruth White (1) (1942–)

At first I was rather concerned that this relatively rich and almost spoiled child was to be exploited by the author as spoiled, but it turns out she's really a sweetheart, almost always trying very hard to be kind, to be good, and also to figure out whether always being good is satisfying. And gosh, even she, we learn at the end, has had her horrible experiences.

Woodrow, too, is an individual, not a trope or icon in any sense at all. And I'll let you know right now I appreciate his true show more theory, revealed in the end, about what happened to his mother.

I like that all characters have their backstories, even Woodrow's father who gets maybe 5-6 pages of attention. We don't necessarily learn a lot about them, for example, the grandparents, but clearly the author knows exactly who they are.

I see that there is a sequel. Even though I only read this because of Newbery Club, I will consider reading further.

If only to get more ideas for food: cornbread crumbled on vegetables, Peach Ice drink, made from vanilla ice cream, fresh peaches, and ginger ale.

Do not name your children Belle, or Love... or Chastity or Summer or Caesar for that matter. Let them be themselves, instead of fighting with the expectations risen by their name. show less

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

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

I gave this book 5 stars because it was simply.....amazing! Did I like it? Can you like something that rips your heart out? That makes you cry so much you have to take your contacts out? This author really speaks to me. Her writing grips me. Her words stay with me. I am a better person for having read this. I don't think I will ever look at mental illness the same way again. Now I will think of the families in the background, struggling to hold on to that person they love, even though it's show more not the same person anymore. There is a part towards the end that is so powerful, where Lyric (the little sister who is the voice of the book) goes through so many emotions - embarrassment, humiliation, anger - before she remembers the love she has for this sister who took care of her and always loved her. Oh gosh, I'm crying again just thinking about it. I highly recommend this book to adults and teenagers, but I'm not sure about children. And now I have to go look at one of those Youtube videos where a baby is laughing at tearing paper or something. show less