Little Audrey

Audrey feels "nearabout" grown up as she approaches 12, the oldest of four (well, it used to be five)sisters living in a coal mining town in Virginia. The year is 1938 and times are hard for just about everyone. Ruth White (author of a number of other books for young readers)draws strongly from events in her own life to create this fictional Audrey-- a tall and awkward girl with a reserve of inner strength. With her friend Virgil to tell her jokes, and her teacher Mrs. Stairus to look to as an example, Audrey finds glimmers of hope in a rather grim year. This book has abundant humor and Audrey's language and expressions have the twang of a true country gal. It has a core of serious occurances, but never bogs down and leaves Audrey feeling sorry for herself. Virgil's riddles are priceless. If you want to know what's silent and smells like bananas, you'll have to read the book.

Loved the book so much I ordered one for each grandchild who not only read the book but also wrote and performed a play taken from the book...so touch

This was purchased for a Granddaughter who turns 12 in February so she has not received it or read it yet.

It's 1948 and Audrey lives with the little piggies( her three younger sisters) and parents in Jewell Valley, a coal mining camp in Southwest, Virginia. Her mother is in her own little world moaning the death of her baby sister. Audrey is called skeleton by the other kids on account of how thin she is. Her father goes on drinking binges and sometimes doesn't come home. But Audrey tries to not dwell on that. Her friend Virgil makes her laugh with his monkey jokes. Also she looks forward to the weekly treat of going to the 10 cent movie with her mother and sisters. Audrey wishes for more. And one night on a shooting star, she does just that. I really loved this tale. The author uses her own life experiences to paint a very vivid world of a coal mining camp back in the later 40s. Not everything is grim. There's the time her grandparents show up and everyone has a feast. Afterwards, her daddy and grandfather sing. The voice is very authentic and I could see myself with Audrey in the camp. Audrey is a courageous heroine, who dispite her eyeglasses( she's the only one in camp with them) and two different colored eyes, stands up to the camp's bullies and still dreams of a better life. A must read for all historical fiction fans.

This is an absolutely beautiful book, and the picture of the girl on the cover steals your heart the same way Ruth White's words do.