by T. H. White
First published 2001
Twelve-year-old Gypsy Arbutus Leemaster watches her cousin Woodrow move into the house next door in Coal Station, Virginia. Woodrow's mother Belle has disappeared without explanation, leaving him to stay with his grandparents in this small mountain town. Gypsy finds herself drawn to her cross-eyed, sharp-witted cousin who seems to carry secrets behind his calm exterior. As the two children grow closer, Woodrow's arrival stirs up questions that have haunted Gypsy for years. What really happened to Belle Prater on the night she vanished? And why won't anyone tell Gypsy the truth about her own father's death seven years ago? The cousins form an unlikely partnership as they navigate the complexities of their small community, where everyone knows everyone else's business but some truths remain buried. Through their friendship, both children must confront the mysteries that have shaped their young lives and find the courage to face painful realities about their families.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, mystery, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Coal Station, Virginia
Period: 20th Century
192 pages · Paperback · Floris Books