Belle Teal [Mass Market Paperback]

Ann M. Martin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Newbery Honor author Ann M. Martin's gripping, widely acclaimed novel of a girl confronting the perils of friendship and the conflicts of community.

Belle Teal's life isn't easy, but she gets by. She lives with her mother and grandmother far out in the country. They don't have much money, but Belle Teal feels rich with their love. As school begins, Belle Teal faces unexpected challenges. Her best friends are up against some big problems. And there are two new students in Belle Teal's class: a shy boy caught in the town's furor over desegregation, and a snob who has problems of her own. As her world falls apart, Belle Teal discovers the importance of sticking together.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439098246
• ISBN-13: 978-0439098243
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, June 22, 2005

By 

Mama Bookworm (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Belle Teal (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a wonderful young adult novel by Ms. Martin. Belle Teal is a thought-provoking and beautifully told story of one child's experience with desegregation. Belle is a strong female character who gracefully stands up for herself and her beliefs; a terrific role model for girls (and boys) learning to navigate a larger world in which people don't always agree.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Belle Teal, September 18, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Belle Teal (Mass Market Paperback)

This story is about a girl named Belle Teal. It's the first day of school. They are having new kids come to the school. The adults don't like it. The new students are colored. Belle teal and her friend Clarice are starting the 5th grade. They are very excited because they get to be in Ms. Casey's class. She gets on the bus. She sees a girl she has never seen before; People call her "Her Royal Highness", HRH for short. She doesn't like Belle teal that much. They get of the bus, She
Sees mad parents holding up signs in front of the school. They rush to the classroom. She notices a boy sitting down in the front row right in front of Ms. Casey's desk. His name is Darryl. Well all the other students think Darryl is just mean, different, and doesn't talk to anybody. That's what they think, but they're wrong. One day Clarice doesn't come to school. Belle Teal is on her way to lunch. She doesn't have anybody to sit with. She notices that Darryl is sitting alone. She decides to go eat lunch with him. They start to talk; they are now very good friends. People on the other hand think she is just gone completely out of her mind. Belle teal, Darryl, and Clarice are all very good friends now. Well one day Little Boss doesn't come to school, but Chas and Vernon told Belle teal and Clarice that Darryl shot Little Boss in the leg. Belle teal asked Darryl if he did it. But he said he didn't, he was at home all day, his dad was there with him, and the preacher stopped by to see if everything was going ok and for a little chat. The Christmas program was coming up in a couple of weeks. Belle teal is playing Mary. There first dress rehearsal is Wednesday. It goes smoothly, but Chas and Vernon still keep pushing Darryl around. It's the night of the pageant. The pageant went very well. It's almost Valentines Day. Little Boss is thinking about asking Belle Teal to be his girlfriend. It's Valentines day, and Little Boss asked Belle Teal. She said "No, because if your not going to be nice to my friends, Darryl, then No". He said "well ill be nice to him". "OK". Well they only went out for a week. Its been a long, hard, and difficult school year for Belle Teal and her friends. Darryl might come back next year. It was one crazy year. They will always stay in touch. What I liked about this book was...
How Belle Teal and Clarice made Darryl feel like he was wanted and not hated.

What I didn't like about this book was...
How Little Boss, Chas, and Vernon treated Darryl. They made him feel like one the kids that needs to sit in the back of the class and doesn't seem like they didn't want him here.

Why I recommend this book to people...
It's a very good book. People Need to be treated like regular people. Not judged on Skin color or the way they talk. They need to be treated like a person you would talk to every single day.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *Belle Teal*A strong person., April 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Belle Teal (Mass Market Paperback)

Ann M.Martin did a great job on this book.Belle Teal is a very strong character.
Belle Teal,is starting school(again)but new wonders await her,there is a new African American student in her class,which no one talks to she is a very brave person and is the only one to talk to him.Later she befriends him,but her friend Little Boss(something like that)doesn't like him.One day Little Boss dad says a horrifing lie which causes more people to hate the African American boy(I don't remember his name)Other than that Belle Teal has much more problems her grandma losing her memory,snobby girls,and now having Little Boss dad lie was more hurtful to her.She convinced Little Boss to say the truth he promised her he would,he never did though,he moved away far.In a summer many things happened to her sad,happy,nice, and much more feelings.I really admire the way the author made a character who is realistic and people can say she is someone with many,many diginity in her.

I would recomend this book.
-Ana 11 year old.