The Search For Belle Prater - Hardcover

White, Ruth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374308535 ISBN 13: 9780374308537

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2005

Synopsis

The sequel to the beloved Newbery Honor Book, Belle Prater's Boy

Since Belle Prater inexplicably disappeared about a year ago, her son, Woodrow, and his cousin Gypsy have been searching for answers. Then, on the stroke of midnight on Woodrow's birthday, the phone rings. No one is at the other end of the line, but Woodrow is certain it was his mama. They find out that the call was placed from nearby Bluefield, and set out to see if they can track her down. Joining them is Cassie Caulborne, the new girl in school, who is endowed with the gift of second sight. Unfortunately, they can find no trace of Belle. Once again, Woodrow realizes that perhaps even worse than not knowing where she is, is not understanding why his mama would leave him.

How Woodrow, Gypsy, and Cassie come to understand the truth, and Woodrow eventually finds Belle, fills this oftrequested sequel to Belle Prater's Boy with magic and suspense. The Search for Belle Prater is a 2006 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

About this title

About the Author:

Ruth White is the author of many notable books for children and young adults, most recently Buttermilk Hill. She lives in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

From The Search for Belle Prater

"Woodrow," I said. "I found the hole in the air you told me about."

"Huh?" he said, lifting his eyes from a cigar box full of papers and photographs.

"You know, the place where the two worlds touch. I felt it! Cassie did, too."

"Oh, that," Woodrow said, unimpressed. "Aunt Millie said it was some kind of natural phenomena having to do with the air currents coming down the holler between the hills."

"But you told me - " I tried to protest.

"Yeah, I know, I told you a lot of stuff," he said irritably. "Something's there all right. You can feel it. But it ain't no place where the two worlds touch. Me and Mama made that up to entertain ourselves. I told you we made it up!"

He turned again to his chore like he was dismissing the whole subject, and me with it.

"You usta think your mama was in that place," I said, hoping he would talk to me and not be so mad all the time.But my words had the opposite effect. He slammed the cigar box on the floor.

"That's stupid, Gypsy," he yelled at me. "You just don't get it, do you? I told you what happened. She dressed up in my clothes and snuck out of here. My daddy said she left him and she left me on purpose, 'cause she didn't love us anymore. And he's right. Case closed!"

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0374308535
• ISBN 13: 9780374308537
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 169