Ten-year-old Belle Teal Harper lives with her mother and grandmother in a small rural town in the early 1960s. Though they don't have much, Belle Teal feels rich with love and loyalty to her family and friends. As the new school year begins, Belle Teal faces unexpected challenges.
Her gran's memory is slipping away, while her mother is working really long hours. And there are two new students in Belle Teal's class: a shy African-American boy caught in the centre of rampant prejudice, and a mysterious new girl who seems hell-bent on tormenting Belle Teal.
Ann M Martin reaches a new peak in her extraordinary career with this exquisite and affecting story.
