Belle Teal

by Ann M. Martin and Katherine Martin

Book Overview

Belle Teal Harper lives with her mother and grandmother, a "family of women," in the country outside her small town. Belle Teal and her friend Clarice are looking forward to the start of fifth grade... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439771269
• ISBN13: 9780439771269
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Apple Signature (Scholastic)
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Bell Teal

Belle's fine life This book is about this girl named Belle Teal. Her life is kind of like mine, she does not have much money just like me. But we both keep our love the same. My things I like best about Belle Teal are she is a very caring person, and she has lots of love for her family. Another thing that I like best about Belle is she does not let money get in the way of her life. Belle Teal is a small girl who does not have much money but does not let her family's money problems get in the way of her life.

*Belle Teal*A strong person.

Ann M.Martin did a great job on this book.Belle Teal is a very strong character. Belle Teal,is starting school(again)but new wonders await her,there is a new African American student in her class,which no one talks to she is a very brave person and is the only one to talk to him.Later she befriends him,but her friend Little Boss(something like that)doesn't like him.One day Little Boss dad says a horrifing lie which causes more people to hate the African American boy(I don't remember his name)Other than that Belle Teal has much more problems her grandma losing her memory,snobby girls,and now having Little Boss dad lie was more hurtful to her.She convinced Little Boss to say the truth he promised her he would,he never did though,he moved away far.In a summer many things happened to her sad,happy,nice, and much more feelings.I really admire the way the author made a character who is realistic and people can say she is someone with many,many diginity in her. I would recomend this book. -Ana 11 year old.

Race relations for pre-teens

I was always a fan of Ann M Martin. I really loved Bummer Summer and her other novels long before the Baby-Sitters Club (but I read about 50 of those=). So I picked this up for sentimental reasons at the book fair at the school where I teach.I was so impressed by the caliber of writing here. Martin realy captured the voice of a rural southern girl in the 1950s! The cadence rang true and was clear and honest.I thought the story of rcaial tension in a newly segrated school was handled beautifully and might make children that age (5th grade) really think about prejudice and beliefs.It was poignant, funny, sad. Just a great story. I wish that it hadn't ended with the school Christmas pageant- I want to know how the rest of the year finished up!This is well worth reading- for all ages!

Kept Me Glued

I loved Belle Teal! Although it deals with mildly heavy subjects, it really shows them through the eyes of an innocent girl.Belle Teal Harper is in the fifth grade. She meets a disliked African-American boy who becomes friends with her. However, one of her best friends has troubles with the boy, ending up in a serious fight.This book kept my eyes glued to the page. This is a refreshing, fast-paced book that recaps how horrible racism is.

Fresh New Look at Ann M. Martin

This is one of the best books I have read all year! It is soooo good! Important note: This NOT the Babysitters Club. It's much better. About the book: It takes place in the 1950s or 60s the schools in the south were being desegradated (excuse the spelling) and there this girl Belle Teal, who's white by the way, she can't understand why people don't like the colored student in her 5th Grade class.I would say more but I don's want to spoil the book. So READ IT NOW!!!!!