Newbery Medal
When Belle Prater vanishes without a trace, her son Woodrow moves in next door to his cousin Gypsy—and together they unravel family secrets that change everything. This Newbery Honor Book is a tender, honest story about grief, friendship, and finding the courage to face painful truths.
$5.00
Around 5:00 a.m. on a warm Sunday morning in October 1953, Aunt Belle left her bed and vanished from the face of the earth.
Everyone in Coal Station, Virginia, has a theory about what happened to Belle Prater, but twelve-year-old Gypsy wants the facts. When her cousin Woodrow—Aunt Belle’s son—moves next door, she finally has her chance to uncover the truth. What begins as curiosity transforms into something deeper: a friendship built on understanding, loyalty, and the courage to face painful secrets.
Ruth White’s Newbery Medal Honor Book is a tender, honest exploration of loss, identity, and the different ways we carry grief. Woodrow’s calm acceptance of his mother’s disappearance puzzles Gypsy, especially since she’s never gotten over her own father’s death. But as their sixth-grade year unfolds, these two cousins discover they have more in common than either expected. When Woodrow finally reveals the secret he’s been keeping, both children begin to understand that facing the truth—no matter how painful—requires its own kind of strength.
This Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Honor Book captures the heartache and resilience of growing up in Appalachia with prose that feels like sitting on a front porch listening to family stories. White doesn’t shy away from difficult questions about abandonment, beauty, and belonging, yet her narrative remains hopeful and deeply compassionate.
Perfect for middle-grade readers navigating their own questions about family, identity, and what it means to truly see someone—including yourself.
A compelling story, rich in humor and suspense.
White has created two interesting, believable protagonists...The story moves along at a good pace, and the ending is both surprising and satisfying.
The characters are so vividly portrayed that one can almost hear them speak.
Enjoyable for its richly drawn characters, unusual plot, and quick-moving action...Gypsy and Woodrow are memorable characters whose struggles with loss and identity will resonate with many readers.
White's ability to balance the dark with the light and her skillful characterization...make this a fine choice.
| Weight | 0.75 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.75 × 0.82 × 8.62 in |
| Fiction Type | |
| Book Author | |
| Subject | Children's Fiction, Family_fiction, Identity_fiction, Mothers_fiction, Mystery And Detective Stories, Virginia_fiction |
| Accolade |
12 Perkins Cove Rd,
Ogunquit, ME 03907
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