Belle Teal - Hardcover

Gr 4-6-Belle Teal begins fifth grade in the early `60s in the rural South with only one cloud on the horizon, her beloved grandmother's increasing forgetfulness. However, school turns out to be much more complicated this year as a result of the desegregation that brings in three African-American children, one of them to Belle's classroom. Students and parents are divided on this issue, and the conflicts are expressed in various hurtful and potentially dangerous ways. Other strands in the plot involve the Christmas pageant, a snooty new girl, and a classmate who is being physically abused by his father. Martin smoothly juggles these elements, moving the story along gracefully with a first-person, present-tense narration. The ending emphasizes the strength Belle finds with the women of her family and shows a simple acceptance of life's difficulties, an approach that shows respect for young readers. Some of the characters, including Belle herself, occasionally seem a bit too good to be true, and many kids may admire the protagonist rather than really relate to her. However, this doesn't significantly get in the way of the book's considerable child appeal and heart. Overall, while not especially profound or literary, this is a solid piece of work with an absorbing plot.

Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

In this honest and moving novel, Martin (the Baby-Sitters Club series; P.S. Longer Letter Later) takes readers back to the era of the civil rights movement in the rural South to share the experiences of a poor white girl when her school becomes integrated. The author evokes the aura of hatred and fear permeating the small community of Coker Creek as skillfully as Belle Teal's empathy for her African-American classmate, Darryl. Martin sensitively captures the narrator's reactions to the events around her, such as when Belle Teal sees racist picketers outside of her school: "I feel my face grow warm, like I'm embarrassed, even though I haven't done anything." Besides feeling anger towards her insensitive classmates and their bigoted parents, the fifth-grade narrator resents a new rich girl named Vanessa (whom she dubs "HRH" for Her Royal Highness), who makes fun of the way she dresses. Yet the heroine learns some important lessons about not judging people by their appearances; she later learns a tragic secret that sheds some light on Vanessa. As well as capturing the climate of the early '60s, the author adroitly tackles timeless issues. Preteens will relate to Belle Teal, whose observations and realizations provide an eye-opening introduction to social and personal injustice. Ages 10-14.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.