Belle Prater's Boy [Paperback]

Ruth White (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

When Belle Prater disappears, Belle’s boy, Woodrow, comes to live with his grandparents in Coal Station, Virginia. Woodrow’s cousin Gypsy is the town beauty, but she has hidden sorrows and secrets of her own. She wonders how Woodrow can accept his mother’s disappearance when she’s never gotten over her father’s death. That’s when Woodrow tells Gypsy the secret about his mother.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There's a mystery at the heart of this lyrical novel for young adults: what really happened to Belle Prater, the aunt of 12-year-old Gypsy Arbutus Leemaster? When Gypsy's cousin, Belle's son Woodrow, comes to live in tiny Coal Station, Virginia, he sets off a chain of events that precipitates a solution to this enigma, as well as the mystery of Gypsy's own father's death seven years earlier. Ruth White's characters, particularly the cross-eyed, brilliant Woodrow, are sharply drawn, and the small-town life of rural Virginia is wonderfully described. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

PW gave a starred review to this Newbery Honor book about the friendship between a sorrowing 12-year-old girl and an unusual boy in 1950s Western Virginia: "so fresh that readers can practically smell the lilacs and the blossoming fruit trees." Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; First Edition edition (January 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440413729
• ISBN-13: 978-0440413721
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Belle Prater's Boy Review, February 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Belle Prater's Boy (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

Gypsy Leemaster was a normal sixth grader in 1953. When her cousin, Woodrow Prater, moved in next door, all michief began one crazy summer. Woodrow was a cross-eyed boy whose mother, Belle, disappeared from their mountain shack one foggy morning. Rumors flooded the small Virgina town, but no one ever saw Belle again. As Woodrow and Gypsy became friends, they developed a special bond. Both children had family situations that were painful and hard to talk about with others. They even had to defend each other against the cruel words of bullies. As Woodrow entertained the children of Coal Station, Virginia, Gypsy was determined to find out what really happened to Aunt Belle. Throughout the summer, Woodrow finally revealed little clues about his mama's disappearance to Gypsy. Gypsy and Woodrow became best friends that one crazy summer, and they both faced their pasts with courage. This was a wonderful book. The plot is wonderful and humorous. The description in this book is phenomenal. I would get angry at times and could be laughing on the next page. White really gets in touch with the characters' feelings. This would be a great book to read aloud. It is very humourous. I loved this book because it was an amusing story that really touched my heart.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for even reluctant readers!, November 14, 2003

By 

teachermd79 (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Belle Prater's Boy (Paperback)

I loved "Belle Prater's Boy" from the moment I began reading it, and my love only deepened when I began teaching the book to my 6th grade students. The children were immediately fascinated with the many mysteries in the book, such as the sudden disappearance of Belle Prater, the mysterious circumstances of Amos' death, and why Gypsy has strange, violent nightmares. The author skillfully reveals clues steadily throughout the book, causing readers to keep reading until their teacher forces them to put the book down. :-) My students loved examining the clues and playing detective to determine how the pieces fit together, as well as discussing the themes of forgiveness and how appearances can be deceiving. "Belle Prater's Boy" proved to be an excellent book for my 6th graders, many of whom are reluctant and/or struggling readers. I give it my highest recommendation for children's literature!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a most read for people ages 10 and up!, November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Belle Prater's Boy (Paperback)

Belle Prater dissapears, in 1954, and is nowhere to be found. Her boy Woodrow is no longer provided with a stable living condition and is sent to live with his Granny and Grandpa Ball. Woodrow's grandparent's live next door to Woodrow's cousin, Gypsy Arbutus Leemaster, who is Belle Prater's neice. Much like everyone else in Coal Station, Virginia, Gyspy is curious about her Aunt's dissaperance. She and Woodrow have never really liked, or even gotten to know one another. They soon form an unbrakable bond between one another. When Gypsy learns that Woodrow dosen't have much more than a clue about his mother's dissaperance, she comes to realize who he really is inside. Once she looks pat his crossed eyes and hand-me-down clothes, she realizes that he is a down-to-earth type of guy and an excellent story teller. They share stories, laughter, and all together good times while relazing a true moral in life: You must look past the apperance of a person to find out what's inside.