A beautiful true story about the author and her family growing up in very grim conditions in a coalmining community in Virginia. This has been the setting of Ruth White's other novels particularly the excellent Belle Prater's Boy.
The story is narrated by Audrey, Ruth White's older sister, and tells the story of the family's early life after the death of their youngest sister and before the death of another family member whom I shan't reveal as it will ruin the story for you. The father is a miner and the mother does the best she can no matter how miserable she feels. Each of the four girls in the story has a unique personality and the sense of community is one that does not exist today. It is heart warming, it is sad, it will make you laugh and cry at the same time and it is brilliantly written.
Will appeal to Intermediate and Junior Secondary students but adults will get a lot out of this short book.
Reviewed by Bob
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux 2008
Stories from coal mining towns in Appalachia - An interview with Ruth White
1 comments:
very good
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