I freely admit to knowing next to nothing about Pre-Civil War America. I learned enough in school to skate by on history tests, but it wasn't a topic covered in great depth until High School when you could take the specific history class for it. So a lot of the 'topical' discussions that went on throughout the story, specifically people and laws, I later went on to look up (when I first read the book I mean, not this re-read). Within the context of the story since Belle is from the South and obviously wouldn't be hearing about famous African-Americans (let alone famous female African-Americans), she had to learn all about them too so the reader is given a good overview of the people's importance.

I liked this book for its simplicity. There wasn't anything very complex about the relationships or people. The shrew acted like a shrew, the oily newcomer acted like the oily newcomer and the good folk acted like good folk. There's no gray area in other words.

The romance between Belle and Daniel starts slowly and you can see how their friendship slowly progressed. Even though Belle begins in something akin to hero worship of Daniel (well of his entire family for that matter), she quickly overcomes that and realizes that it was more important to be his friend then to have aspirations to being his ladylove. She sought his approval, but she basked equally in his praise as his parents' praise.

There is a certain just consequences to the actions of nearly everyone. Without spoiling it, Daniel's fiancee learns a hard lesson about toying with people.

Comparatively speaking this book was a little more daring then Samantha and the Cowboy, but still within tame boundaries of a young adult novel (considering Belle begins the story at 16 and ends it around 17 or so). ( )

I enjoyed this quite a bit.
This is a YA novel and perfect for middle school age. Even grade school if they are advanced enough readers. I read The Color Purple in 5th grade so I'm always bad at judging age appropriateness. ( )

Republished under the name Belle, Belle and the Beau tells the story of Belle Palmer, an escaped slave who is taken in by a family of free blacks -- the Bests -- in Michigan. Belle must learn to adjust to free life and the idea that she can make her own choices and pursue her own goals. Belle and the Beau is part of a series of books (Avon True Romance) written by multiple authors, and reads as the hack job it most likely is.

Basically, there is only one circumstance that would make this book worth while to read, and that is as an American history companion in a 5th or 6th grade class. It is (heavily) peppered with facts from the era (Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Frederick Douglass' Paper, various Af. Am. firsts, etc), but the way they are worked into the story is fairly lazy. It really seems as if Jenkins took a history lesson from a text book and put names to it. Everything is done fairly shallowly, and though it may help some students connect to the time a bit, there are much more worthwhile reads out there that work in the facts unobtrusively and realistically instead of resting them on the surface.

The writing too seems very lazy. It felt at times like I was reading a literature Mad Lib. So many of the sentences were set up the same way, with minor details changed: a fill-in-the-blank book. EVERYTIME a character made a joke or said anything remotely funny/sarcastic/etc., Jenkins would write "s/he cracked." Apparently the only way to tell a joke is to crack. Also, the only way to show mock anger is to plant one balled fist on one out-thrust hip. Everything seemed so half-hearted and churned out and formulaic. Even though Belle is an escaped slave living very near fugitive slave catchers, there is never any real sense of danger or tension. Every character is one-dimensional and cheesy. I feel like a traitor; this was written by someone from my region (which is why I read it), but Jenkins could have done a much better job and put a bit more heart and thought into this book. I don't know what age she was aiming for, but there is no excuse: there is a difference between simple and bad. ( )

I might not have the correct starting date for this book, I forgot to enter that. Belle was a very good read. I'm glad my book club decided on it because it's a step out of my usual reading area. I confess that I don't usually read books with African American characters. I was also reminded of my love for "proper lady like" stuff. The dresses and the mannors and all that. I'm not much of a girly-girl myself but I have always admired that sort of thing.
As far as keeping in time with history, this novel was right on the dot. And I like the fact that this focused more on Belle getting used to life in the North and being free than running from slave catchers on her way to freedom. I don't believe I'd seen that side of the story before I read this book. ( )

This is the best book I've ever read, since "Tuck Everlasting". It is a very interesting story that would keep you awake for hours, not letting you putting it down for a second or so. All what you would have in mind is what else did the author wrote on the next page, this book makes you to continue flipping and flipping on every page. You just would'nt want to taake a rest on reading it. Have-to-read novel!!! ( )