Book Review: Belle Prater's Boy

Tonight I finished listening to another great audiobook, Belle Prater's Boy by Ruth White. I think my ES even enjoyed the moments he heard during our drives to wrestling practice and back this week. It is the story of a cross-eyed country boy, named Woodrow, who has come to live with his grandparents in Coal Station, VA, after his mother disappears one morning. His cousin, Gypsy, lives next door and the two twelve year olds become friends. Gypsy, like her mother, is a beauty with long, golden hair. Woodrow somehow manages to win the entire town over with his mild manner and witty stories. Each seems to think the other has it made, but as the book clearly shows, "appearances can be deceiving." What I loved about this book is that it told a fun story with great depth and meaning. I searched for more information about Ruth White and discovered an on-line interview with her just hours after she had completed writing this book. It was interesting to learn that she intended the book to be a comedy about Woodrow and Gypsy pulling a prank on the whole town, but as she delved into her characters she discovered the deeper story that needed to come out and in the process created a story with great substance. This book was delightful and inspiring and I would highly recommend it as a read-aloud to children between the ages of 9 and 12. I fully intend to look up the sequel to this book.