Sometimes a story will come along, and you will be so wrapped up in the plot, you won't notice it's over until the last chapter. This is not one of those books. However, this is a book that is so humorous and enchanting in its lack of plot, you won't realize it's over until the very end.
Belle Prater has disappeared without a trace. There is no evidence of foul play, and no indication that she might have run off with someone else. She simply vanished off the face of the earth! Belle did leave behind a son, though--Woodrow.
Woodrow is cross-eyed and funny looking, but when he comes to live with his grandparents in Coal Station, his cousin, Gypsy discovers she longs to have his quick wit, the ability to make anyone laugh, and his way to charm out of any situation.
Told from Gypsy's point of view, in her Appalachain dialect, this is a coming of age story for boys and girls alike. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the anecdotes of all the kids in Coal Station. There never really is a solid plot here, it is just short incidents throughout the school year following Woodrow's arrival.
I would find this to be a great read aloud book-if you're brave enough to try the dialect-and certainly would grab a reluctant reader from the beginning. I enjoyed this as an adult, and have used a few of the jokes from it on grown-ups, and they laughed just as hard as the characters in the book.
A great well-rounded read for everyone. I enjoyed it so much, I have added its sequel "The Search for Belle Prater", and White's other title "Tadpole" to my short list of books to be read.
1 comment:
I thought of you today -- went to a Jane Austen festival and it was lovely. The president of the Jane Austen Society of North America gave a lecture called "Jane Austen for Smarties" and it was so engaging and humorous. She was one of those speakers who is also a writer. I got her book signed, of course.
Miss you, Georgiana!
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