Belle Teale

by Ann M. Martin

Overview

Newbery Honor author Ann M. Martin's gripping, widely acclaimed novel of a girl confronting the perils of friendship and the conflicts of community.

Belle Teal's life isn't easy, but she gets by. She lives with her mother and grandmother far out in the country. They don't have much money, but Belle Teal feels rich with their love. As school begins, Belle Teal faces unexpected challenges. Her best friends are up against some big problems. And there are two new students in Belle Teal's class: a shy boy caught in the town's furor over desegregation, and a snob who has problems of her own. As her world falls apart, Belle Teal discovers the importance of sticking together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439098243
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/03/2003
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.63(h) x 0.55(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ann M. Martin's The Baby-Sitters Club series sold over 176 million copies and inspired a generation of young readers. Her novels include the Main Street series, BELLE TEAL, the Newbery Honor book A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE, HERE TODAY, A DOG'S LIFE, and ON CHRISTMAS EVE, as well as the much-loved collaborations P.S, LONGER LETTER LATER and SNAIL MAIL NO MORE with Paula Danziger, and THE DOLL PEOPLE and THE MEANEST DOLL IN THE WORLD, written with Laura Godwin and illustrated by Brian Selznick. She lives in upstate New York.

Editorial Reviews

“A genuinely moving tale about the necessity to reach out to others, even when it's difficult” – Kirkus Reviews

* “Honest and moving . . . Preteens will relate to Belle Teal, whose observations provide an eye-popping introduction to social and personal injustice.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

“You will love Belle, her mom, and Gran. This family of women knows how to raise a young one to stand up for what's right.” – Book Sense Children's 76 Picks

“Considerable child appeal and heart . . . a solid piece of work with an absorbing plot.” – SLJ

“With the same sincere and empathetic handling of grade-school life that made her Baby-sitters Club books so popular, Martin here deftly draws a more complicated portrait of a racially integrating fifth-grade class . . . The writing is graceful and easy, with Belle Teal's narration distinctly and convincingly evoked.” – The Horn Book

From the Publisher

"This honest and moving novel 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," said PW in a starred review. Ages 10-14. (Jan.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly