Tru and Nelle

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2016

Review

This winning historical novel imagines the friendship between authors Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee as it might have been in 1930's Alabama when they were at the ages of seven and six, respectively. Weaving in details that will be familiar to readers of Lee's classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Neri also impressively includes plenty of adventure that will appeal to younger kids as they are drawn into this story of two misfits with considerable family difficulties playing sleuth, standing up for one another and eventually facing down the KKK.

A funny and suspenseful tale that also includes several short stories as they might have been written by the young characters and an author's note, this short novel will find an audience with younger readers who appreciate a good mystery, as well as with those of all ages familiar with Capote and Lee's history.

Overall Book Score: excellent