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Tru & Nelle #1
Tru & Nelle
Long before they became famous writers, Truman Capote ( In Cold Blood ) and Harper Lee ( To Kill a Mockingbird ) were childhood friends in Monroeville, Alabama. This fictionalized account of their time together opens at the beginning of the Great Depression, when Tru is seven and Nelle is six. They love playing pirates, but they like playing Sherlock and Watson-style detectives even more. It’s their pursuit of a case of drugstore theft that lands the daring duo in real trouble. Humor and heartache intermingle in this lively look at two budding writers in the 1930s South.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
107 people are currently reading
2362 people want to read
About the author
G. Neri
24 books340 followersG. Neri is the Coretta Scott King honor-winning author of Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty and the recipient of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award for his free-verse novella, Chess Rumble. His books have been translated into multiple languages in over 25 countries. They include the novels Tru & Nelle, A Christmas Tale, Ghetto Cowboy, Knockout Games, Surf Mules, and two free-verse picture book bios, When Paul Met Artie and Hello, I'm Johnny Cash. In 2017, he was awarded a National Science Foundation grant that sent him to Antarctica.
Prior to becoming a writer, Neri was a filmmaker, an animator/illustrator, a digital media producer, and a founding member of The Truth anti-smoking campaign. Neri currently writes full-time and lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida with his wife and daughter. You can find him online at www.gneri.com.
Prior to becoming a writer, Neri was a filmmaker, an animator/illustrator, a digital media producer, and a founding member of The Truth anti-smoking campaign. Neri currently writes full-time and lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida with his wife and daughter. You can find him online at www.gneri.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
February 28, 2016
Author Greg Neri has created a pearl in his children’s book Tru and Nelle, which gives readers a glimpse into the lives of the dainty dandy Truman Streckfus Persons and the neglected tomboy Nelle Lee before they, respectively, turned into the legendary writers Truman Capote and Harper Lee.
Crafted as a series of interlocking short stories, this sweet novel delivers a fictionalized glimpse into their lives during the time when they were next-door neighbors in Monroeville, Alabama, in the 1930s. We discover that Truman was already witty and flamboyant as young as 7, and Nelle was uncompromising, brilliant, and resourceful when just 6. They were two eccentrics in a place and time that had no tolerance for such — which is why they became such fast friends. We see the seeds of Atticus Finch in Nelle’s father, the commanding lawyer A.C. We meet Tru’s irresponsible parents, the starry-eyed con artist Archulus Persons and the narcissistic, free-spending beauty Lille Mae Persons. Readers will delight in the scenes with Tru’s childlike cousin Sook, memorialized in Capote’s delightful A Christmas Memory. And readers will get a closer — and fairer — look at the other cousins who get a somewhat bad rap in A Christmas Memory.
My one qualm is that, while Tru and Nelle will enthrall adults familiar with A Christmas Memory and To Kill a Mockingbird, I am not sure that its target audience of children would enjoy these slow-paced, nostalgia-tinged stories. Oh, well! Like Archulus and Tru himself, we’ll just dream big and hope for the best.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, HMH Books for Young Readers, in exchange for an honest review.
Crafted as a series of interlocking short stories, this sweet novel delivers a fictionalized glimpse into their lives during the time when they were next-door neighbors in Monroeville, Alabama, in the 1930s. We discover that Truman was already witty and flamboyant as young as 7, and Nelle was uncompromising, brilliant, and resourceful when just 6. They were two eccentrics in a place and time that had no tolerance for such — which is why they became such fast friends. We see the seeds of Atticus Finch in Nelle’s father, the commanding lawyer A.C. We meet Tru’s irresponsible parents, the starry-eyed con artist Archulus Persons and the narcissistic, free-spending beauty Lille Mae Persons. Readers will delight in the scenes with Tru’s childlike cousin Sook, memorialized in Capote’s delightful A Christmas Memory. And readers will get a closer — and fairer — look at the other cousins who get a somewhat bad rap in A Christmas Memory.
My one qualm is that, while Tru and Nelle will enthrall adults familiar with A Christmas Memory and To Kill a Mockingbird, I am not sure that its target audience of children would enjoy these slow-paced, nostalgia-tinged stories. Oh, well! Like Archulus and Tru himself, we’ll just dream big and hope for the best.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, HMH Books for Young Readers, in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
It's always interesting to get the backstory of favorite authors, and in this case, two of mine! That Harper Lee should have grown up with Truman Capote was a mind blower for me since they only seemed to have a southern accent in common. That they should have had time together, and then wrote together, and then fell out with each other. . .well that's intriguing.
Trying to get that story out of their own writings isn't something I've done, so coming across a "for kids" version of the story was something I couldn't pass up. Still I'm not sure this is really something the kids I know would read, as they don't have the needed context (I think) of having read Mockingbird AND In Cold Blood (not kid material), and Truman C's other works don't appear to point to that youthful demographic - but could be wrong - haven't read them all yet.
Still - I really did enjoy this book - benefiting from the author's research and knowledge of their histories, joint and several. Looking forward to more Capote reads in 2022.
Trying to get that story out of their own writings isn't something I've done, so coming across a "for kids" version of the story was something I couldn't pass up. Still I'm not sure this is really something the kids I know would read, as they don't have the needed context (I think) of having read Mockingbird AND In Cold Blood (not kid material), and Truman C's other works don't appear to point to that youthful demographic - but could be wrong - haven't read them all yet.
Still - I really did enjoy this book - benefiting from the author's research and knowledge of their histories, joint and several. Looking forward to more Capote reads in 2022.
June 4, 2016
Anyone who knows me knows To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book of all time. Oddly, I've had an ARC of this sitting on my to read stack for months and have just now gotten around to reading it. I think in part I was put off by the large print and wide margins (though I read enough children's lit that this shouldn't matter) as well as being hesitant to have the image of my beloved Nelle clouded by someone else's interpretation. Reading through this fictionalized historical account of the pair's friendship I kept mentally checking it against what I have read about Nelle Harper Lee, her novel, and the movie. I am unsure as to where the line between the author's poetic license and fact takes place but, as I know far less about Truman Capote's life, I tried to simply read the story as written. Tru is the real focus here and the book chronicles his imagination and desire for adventure. Undoubtedly, my enjoyment would have been far less had these two not been the subject matter. Nonetheless, it is definitely a fun, spirited read. Also makes a great case for raising children without access to a television set because these two sure were able to entertain themselves in far better ways than the Disney Channel. I'm not sure about the final copy but the ARC has additional author's notes about their background as well as stories he imagines the youngsters might have banged out on the typewriter gifted to them by Nelle's father.
One other note: the copy I have says the targeted readers are grades 4-7. I think the reading level is quite a bit lower. More like 2-5 (and a low fifth grade at that.) Although Truman does, on occasion, use high-level vocabulary there are always enough contextual clues if not the actual definition outright for the reader to be able to deduce the words' meanings.
One other note: the copy I have says the targeted readers are grades 4-7. I think the reading level is quite a bit lower. More like 2-5 (and a low fifth grade at that.) Although Truman does, on occasion, use high-level vocabulary there are always enough contextual clues if not the actual definition outright for the reader to be able to deduce the words' meanings.
December 13, 2016
Como leí en otra opinión de goodreads el libro puede ser protagonizado por cualquier niño que tenga ciertas características, lo que lo hace especial es que sean Tru y Nelle; aunque si no conociéramos a dichos escritores probablemente pasaría a ser algo sin importancia. Lo que quiero decir con esto es que el libro queda un poco cojo porque lo difunden como "la novela basada en la amistad de Truman Capote y Nelle Harper Lee" y de eso no hay mucho.
Por otro lado, el libro es muy tierno y divertido. Lleno de misterios y costumbres.
Reseña en: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwFZ...
Por otro lado, el libro es muy tierno y divertido. Lleno de misterios y costumbres.
Reseña en: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwFZ...
July 29, 2017
Muy entretenido y conmovedor, narra la amistad durante la niñez de estas dos personas tan exitosas de la literatura contemporánea estadounidense.
February 7, 2017
Bacaan ringan tentang persahabatan Truman Capotte dan Harper Lee di masa kecil. Siapa sangka kalau keduanya ternyata bersahabat? ;)
January 9, 2017
To Kill a Mockingbird is still my favourite novel of all time; I still remember how awestruck I was at its beauty when I first read it as a nine-year-old. I'm a big fan of Truman Capote's too; I have read all of his work at this juncture, and have adored almost all of it. When I found out about G. Neri's fictionalised account of the childhoods of Nelle Harper Lee and Truman Streckfus Persons - Nelle and Tru - then, I just had to read it.
The opening paragraph which Neri has crafted sum the pair up perfectly: 'When Truman first spotted Nelle, he thought she was a boy. She was watching him like a cat, perched on a crooked stone wall that separated their rambling wood homes. Barefoot and dressed in overalls with a boyish haircut, Nelle looked to be about his age, but it was hard for Truman to tell - he was trying to avoid her stare by pretending to read his book'.
The entirety of Tru & Nelle is beautifully written, and Monroeville immediately springs into vivid life. Neri has a deft hand in appealing to all of the senses from the outset, and one is soon aware of the sights and smells which made up the worlds of the children. A lot of factual information about the pair has been slipped in, making Tru & Nelle feel incredibly realistic. Although the book is aimed at a younger ('juvenile') audience, in no way does the prose feel simplistic or dumbed down. The mystery element which was woven in worked very well, and gave an extra layer of focus to the whole. The dialect is handled well, and the novel is well stylised; entertaining, evocative, creative, and historically accurate. A must-read for all fans of Tru and Nelle's.
The opening paragraph which Neri has crafted sum the pair up perfectly: 'When Truman first spotted Nelle, he thought she was a boy. She was watching him like a cat, perched on a crooked stone wall that separated their rambling wood homes. Barefoot and dressed in overalls with a boyish haircut, Nelle looked to be about his age, but it was hard for Truman to tell - he was trying to avoid her stare by pretending to read his book'.
The entirety of Tru & Nelle is beautifully written, and Monroeville immediately springs into vivid life. Neri has a deft hand in appealing to all of the senses from the outset, and one is soon aware of the sights and smells which made up the worlds of the children. A lot of factual information about the pair has been slipped in, making Tru & Nelle feel incredibly realistic. Although the book is aimed at a younger ('juvenile') audience, in no way does the prose feel simplistic or dumbed down. The mystery element which was woven in worked very well, and gave an extra layer of focus to the whole. The dialect is handled well, and the novel is well stylised; entertaining, evocative, creative, and historically accurate. A must-read for all fans of Tru and Nelle's.
July 15, 2022
Cerita indah dengan elemen drama, komedi, dan misteri tentang masa kecil Harper Lee dan Truman Capote ketika mereka masih berusia enam tahun. Mereka bertetangga dan langsung bersahabat meski awalnya saling mengejek. Nelle (Harper Lee) meminjam buku-buku Sherlock Holmes dari Truman. Mereka bisa dekat karena kesukaan mereka pada buku-buku detektif. Truman bersimpati pada Nelle karena mendengar kabar bahwa ibu gadis itu sedang menjalani pengobatan untuk skizofrenia. Nelle terkesan dengan koleksi buku bacaan Truman yang tak pernah ia punya.
Saking sukanya dengan cerita detektif, dua anak ini mainnya ke Gedung Pengadilan Monroevillie, Alabama, loh. Tapi ketika pertama kali datang ke pengadilan, yang jadi terdakwa ternyata ayah Truman sendiri, Archulus Persons! Hanya saja ayahnya mangkir dari panggilan pengadilan dan muncul di luar gedung untuk menjemput Truman.
Ayahnya mengadakan pertunjukan dengan lelaki India bernama panggung Hadjah yang Agung. Lelaki itu bisa menahan napas selama satu jam dengan memperlambat detak jantung yang membawanya dalam kondisi hibernasi. Pertunjukannya adalah taruhan untuk membuktikan apakah dia bisa selamat setelah dikubur hidup-hidup. Pertunjukan pertama berhasil dan mereka berdua dapat uang banyak. Tapi di pertunjukan berikutnya, ayah Truman keasyikan mengumpulkan uang dan mencatat taruhan para penonton hingga waktu berlalu dua jam. Hadjah pun tewas. Menyebalkan saat Archulus menceritakan hal itu pada Truman tanpa nada penyesalan dan justru menyalahkan Hadjah dan istrinya.
Entah Truman bisa dibilang beruntung atau tidak, yang jelas ayah dan ibunya, Lillie Mae kemudian pergi meninggalkannya di rumah sepupu sang ibu, Jenny. Archus meninggalkan Truman ketika bocah itu asyik dengan hadiah sepeda yang dihias seperti pesawat terbang. Benar-benar pasangan orangtua yang buruk.
Untuk menghibur Truman yang terus murung setelah ditinggal orangtuanya, Nelle membuat markas detektif di rumah pohon. Setelahnya mereka membuka kantor detektif bersama, bermain peran sebagai Sherlock dan Watson lalu menyelidiki misteri pencuri bros yang memecahkan kaca jendela toko obat.
Bagian paling menegangkan adalah saat mereka berhadapan dengan para Ku Klux Klan. Cerita ini memang terjadi di era Great Depression (1930-an) ketika isu-isu rasial masih sangat kental. Nelle dan Truman tidak mengindahkan isu itu dan malah berteman akrab dengan seorang anak kulit hitam bernama Big boy.
Mereka bertemu dengan sekawanan Ku Klux Klan di ladang sehabis menonton adu ular untuk menyelidiki kasus pencurian itu. Kebetulan sekali mereka sedang bersama seorang juru masak negro, Little Bit. Ia jelas ketakutan dengan kawanan itu.
Pada akhirnya pencuri bros itu ketahuan, sih. Pelakunya dua orang. Tapi menurutku cara penyelesaiannya antiklimaks. Nggak jelas juga kenapa dua orang itu melakukannya. Yang jelas setelah persidangan, A.C. (ayah Nelle yang pengacara) memberikan mesik tik pada dua anak itu agar mereka lebih fokus menulis cerita mereka sendiri daripada mencampuri urusan orang lain. Hahaha.
***
Pada suatu hari ibu Truman, Lilly Mae, memenangkan sebuah kontes kecantikan. Ia pun pergi ke New York untuk mengikuti kursus kecantikan gratis sebagai hadiahnya.
Beberapa lama kemudian, setelah ultah Truman yang kesembilan, ada kabar bahwa ibunya menikah lagi dengan pria bernama Joe Capote. Ia ingin membawa Truman ke New York. Nelle terpaksa harus berpisah dengan Truman. Sebelum perpisahan itu benar-benar terjadi, mereka berencana akan mengadakan pesta besar.
Sayangnya keriuhan pesta itu terusik oleh kedatangan kawanan Ku Klux Klan. Rupanya mereka mendengar bahwa Truman memilih untuk mengundang beberapa orang kulit hitam seperti Little Bit, Big Boy, dan menyamarkan mereka dengan kostum.
Seorang gadis bernama Sally Boular menangis mengatakan bahwa kakaknya, Sonny Boular diringkus oleh Ku Klux Klan dan akan digantung ketika mereka berdua sedang dalam perjalanan ke pesta kostum Truman.
Rupanya Boss Henderson, si anak berandalan, marah karena dirinya tidak diizinkan hadir ke pesta Truman. Tentu saja itu karena Truman pernah dihajar habis-habisan olehnya, dasar anak tahu malu! Karena itu ia mengadu pada ayahnya, Catfish Henderson, yang merupakan pemimpin Ku Klux Klan.
Berkat A.C. dan para orang dewasa yang hadir di pesta itu, Ku Klux Klan pun bubar dan pesta kembali berlanjut.
Nelle dan Truman berjanji mereka akan terus menulis cerita dengan mesin tik sampai mereka bisa bertemu lagi. Mesin tik dari A.C. dibawa oleh Nelle karena Truman mengatakan ayah barunya mau membelikan mesin tik lain baginya.
***
Setelah cerita tentang pesta perpisahan, sisa halamannya yamg cukup banyak diisi dengan berbagai cerita pendek yang sudut pandangnya ditulis bergantian antara Truman dan Nelle.
Ada cerita saat Nelle dan Big Boy meminjam sepeda pesawat Truman secara diam-diam dan merusaknya dengan mencoba menerbangkannya. Ada cerita ketika Nelle dan Truman membuat pertunjukan karnaval tentang ikan lele purba raksasa, bayi babi yang diawetkan dan ayam berkepala dua, dan lain-lain.
Lalu ada sedikit catatan biografi tentang Truman Capote dan Nelle Harper Lee. Setelah membaca indahnya kisah masa kecil mereka, rasanya patah hati saat tahu bahwa persahabatan Truman dan Nelle berakhir karena Truman tidak mengakui besarnya kontribusi Nelle dalam riset In Cold Blood dan hanya mempublikasikannya sebagai bantuan sekretariat.
Truman tampaknya cemburu karena karya Nelle, To Kill A Mockingbird lebih dulu mendapatkan penghargaan Pulitzer. Ah, sayang sekali. Ego orang dewasa merusak jalinan persahabatan selama itu.
Saking sukanya dengan cerita detektif, dua anak ini mainnya ke Gedung Pengadilan Monroevillie, Alabama, loh. Tapi ketika pertama kali datang ke pengadilan, yang jadi terdakwa ternyata ayah Truman sendiri, Archulus Persons! Hanya saja ayahnya mangkir dari panggilan pengadilan dan muncul di luar gedung untuk menjemput Truman.
Ayahnya mengadakan pertunjukan dengan lelaki India bernama panggung Hadjah yang Agung. Lelaki itu bisa menahan napas selama satu jam dengan memperlambat detak jantung yang membawanya dalam kondisi hibernasi. Pertunjukannya adalah taruhan untuk membuktikan apakah dia bisa selamat setelah dikubur hidup-hidup. Pertunjukan pertama berhasil dan mereka berdua dapat uang banyak. Tapi di pertunjukan berikutnya, ayah Truman keasyikan mengumpulkan uang dan mencatat taruhan para penonton hingga waktu berlalu dua jam. Hadjah pun tewas. Menyebalkan saat Archulus menceritakan hal itu pada Truman tanpa nada penyesalan dan justru menyalahkan Hadjah dan istrinya.
Entah Truman bisa dibilang beruntung atau tidak, yang jelas ayah dan ibunya, Lillie Mae kemudian pergi meninggalkannya di rumah sepupu sang ibu, Jenny. Archus meninggalkan Truman ketika bocah itu asyik dengan hadiah sepeda yang dihias seperti pesawat terbang. Benar-benar pasangan orangtua yang buruk.
Untuk menghibur Truman yang terus murung setelah ditinggal orangtuanya, Nelle membuat markas detektif di rumah pohon. Setelahnya mereka membuka kantor detektif bersama, bermain peran sebagai Sherlock dan Watson lalu menyelidiki misteri pencuri bros yang memecahkan kaca jendela toko obat.
Bagian paling menegangkan adalah saat mereka berhadapan dengan para Ku Klux Klan. Cerita ini memang terjadi di era Great Depression (1930-an) ketika isu-isu rasial masih sangat kental. Nelle dan Truman tidak mengindahkan isu itu dan malah berteman akrab dengan seorang anak kulit hitam bernama Big boy.
Mereka bertemu dengan sekawanan Ku Klux Klan di ladang sehabis menonton adu ular untuk menyelidiki kasus pencurian itu. Kebetulan sekali mereka sedang bersama seorang juru masak negro, Little Bit. Ia jelas ketakutan dengan kawanan itu.
Pada akhirnya pencuri bros itu ketahuan, sih. Pelakunya dua orang. Tapi menurutku cara penyelesaiannya antiklimaks. Nggak jelas juga kenapa dua orang itu melakukannya. Yang jelas setelah persidangan, A.C. (ayah Nelle yang pengacara) memberikan mesik tik pada dua anak itu agar mereka lebih fokus menulis cerita mereka sendiri daripada mencampuri urusan orang lain. Hahaha.
***
Pada suatu hari ibu Truman, Lilly Mae, memenangkan sebuah kontes kecantikan. Ia pun pergi ke New York untuk mengikuti kursus kecantikan gratis sebagai hadiahnya.
Beberapa lama kemudian, setelah ultah Truman yang kesembilan, ada kabar bahwa ibunya menikah lagi dengan pria bernama Joe Capote. Ia ingin membawa Truman ke New York. Nelle terpaksa harus berpisah dengan Truman. Sebelum perpisahan itu benar-benar terjadi, mereka berencana akan mengadakan pesta besar.
Sayangnya keriuhan pesta itu terusik oleh kedatangan kawanan Ku Klux Klan. Rupanya mereka mendengar bahwa Truman memilih untuk mengundang beberapa orang kulit hitam seperti Little Bit, Big Boy, dan menyamarkan mereka dengan kostum.
Seorang gadis bernama Sally Boular menangis mengatakan bahwa kakaknya, Sonny Boular diringkus oleh Ku Klux Klan dan akan digantung ketika mereka berdua sedang dalam perjalanan ke pesta kostum Truman.
Rupanya Boss Henderson, si anak berandalan, marah karena dirinya tidak diizinkan hadir ke pesta Truman. Tentu saja itu karena Truman pernah dihajar habis-habisan olehnya, dasar anak tahu malu! Karena itu ia mengadu pada ayahnya, Catfish Henderson, yang merupakan pemimpin Ku Klux Klan.
Berkat A.C. dan para orang dewasa yang hadir di pesta itu, Ku Klux Klan pun bubar dan pesta kembali berlanjut.
Nelle dan Truman berjanji mereka akan terus menulis cerita dengan mesin tik sampai mereka bisa bertemu lagi. Mesin tik dari A.C. dibawa oleh Nelle karena Truman mengatakan ayah barunya mau membelikan mesin tik lain baginya.
***
Setelah cerita tentang pesta perpisahan, sisa halamannya yamg cukup banyak diisi dengan berbagai cerita pendek yang sudut pandangnya ditulis bergantian antara Truman dan Nelle.
Ada cerita saat Nelle dan Big Boy meminjam sepeda pesawat Truman secara diam-diam dan merusaknya dengan mencoba menerbangkannya. Ada cerita ketika Nelle dan Truman membuat pertunjukan karnaval tentang ikan lele purba raksasa, bayi babi yang diawetkan dan ayam berkepala dua, dan lain-lain.
Lalu ada sedikit catatan biografi tentang Truman Capote dan Nelle Harper Lee. Setelah membaca indahnya kisah masa kecil mereka, rasanya patah hati saat tahu bahwa persahabatan Truman dan Nelle berakhir karena Truman tidak mengakui besarnya kontribusi Nelle dalam riset In Cold Blood dan hanya mempublikasikannya sebagai bantuan sekretariat.
Truman tampaknya cemburu karena karya Nelle, To Kill A Mockingbird lebih dulu mendapatkan penghargaan Pulitzer. Ah, sayang sekali. Ego orang dewasa merusak jalinan persahabatan selama itu.
April 29, 2018
It has been years since the last time I met Scout Finch. Then, Tru & Nelle brought her back. I think I need to take some times to give Finch family a visit. Nelle and her father made me miss the Finch family.
I like all chapters where they spent time together talking about books or acting as Sherlock and Watson. However the case that involved Sonny was little bit confusing.
This book also made me read more article about Truman Capote and Harper Lee. It is nice to find out they remained as friend.
I like all chapters where they spent time together talking about books or acting as Sherlock and Watson. However the case that involved Sonny was little bit confusing.
This book also made me read more article about Truman Capote and Harper Lee. It is nice to find out they remained as friend.
March 25, 2022
Another light read with short chapters!🤩
Jadi novel ini berceritakan tentang keseharian dan petualangan dari Truman & Nelle. Sepanjang cerita, pembaca akan disuguhkan dengan switching pov antar dua bocah ini. Pembaca juga bakal tau sedikit tentang background dan keadaan keluarga masing-masing.
Novel ini ada unsur cozy mystery, bawang, bikin rada kesel, dan a bit wholesome.
p.s. ada beberapa cerpen terpisah yg cukup seru di akhir buku
Jadi novel ini berceritakan tentang keseharian dan petualangan dari Truman & Nelle. Sepanjang cerita, pembaca akan disuguhkan dengan switching pov antar dua bocah ini. Pembaca juga bakal tau sedikit tentang background dan keadaan keluarga masing-masing.
Novel ini ada unsur cozy mystery, bawang, bikin rada kesel, dan a bit wholesome.
p.s. ada beberapa cerpen terpisah yg cukup seru di akhir buku
October 10, 2019
This was a delightful read that was recommended to me by my daughter. It was so much fun to get to talk about the book, and now she wants to read To Kill a Mockingbird. Great introduction for her to the KKK in a gentle way and the racism of the time.
April 7, 2016
This is a great book that is fiction but based on some true events between authors Tru Capote and Nelle Harper Lee. I love Breakfast at Tiffany's and read Harper Lee's To Kill A Mocking Bird back in school, it is on my to be reread list. I think this is a great book for younger children and anyone who enjoy these two authors. It gives us a fun glimpse into the lives of two very famous authors when they first meet and start writing.
When I received a package of middle grade books to review, my son and I decided who would read which and this one ended up in my pile. He now has it in his to read as he saw how much I was enjoying it.
The two kids meet and they could not be any more different from each other, Tru is very clean and proper, not fitting in with the other boys. Nelle is a tomboy through and through! She reminds me of Annie, tiny but tough. Doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and loves a good adventure. Tru loves to solve mysteries but isn't a fighter, he's a story teller. They both love to read Sherlock Holmes mysteries and have their very own adventures together.
This is a fun novel about a time during the great depression and the kids having fun with their imagination. I love how these two play together and become friends. Tru is left with family while is mother is doing her own thing and his father is trying to come up with a great scheme to make them lots of money. A fictitious memoir.
I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5. A great read, I am sure my son will enjoy it. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I received a package of middle grade books to review, my son and I decided who would read which and this one ended up in my pile. He now has it in his to read as he saw how much I was enjoying it.
The two kids meet and they could not be any more different from each other, Tru is very clean and proper, not fitting in with the other boys. Nelle is a tomboy through and through! She reminds me of Annie, tiny but tough. Doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and loves a good adventure. Tru loves to solve mysteries but isn't a fighter, he's a story teller. They both love to read Sherlock Holmes mysteries and have their very own adventures together.
This is a fun novel about a time during the great depression and the kids having fun with their imagination. I love how these two play together and become friends. Tru is left with family while is mother is doing her own thing and his father is trying to come up with a great scheme to make them lots of money. A fictitious memoir.
I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5. A great read, I am sure my son will enjoy it. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2016
Sampul buku, Harper Lee, dan persahabatan. Tiga hal tersebut yang menarik bagi saya tentang buku ini. Bagaimana dengan Truman Capote? Ya sejujurnya, saya belum pernah baca karyanya. Punya sih yang In Cold Blood & Breakfast at Tiffany's, tapi belum tertarik dibaca :P.
OK, jadi buku ini adalah novelisasi kisah persahabatan Tru (Truman Capote) dan Nelle (Harper Lee). Saya selalu suka dengan kisah persahabatan, apalagi ini adalah persahabatan dua penulis besar Amerika. Seperti saya sebut di atas, saya belum pernah baca karya-karya Capote, tapi karya Lee... wooo, saya ngefans dengan Atticus! Haha. Eh, maksudnya saya suka pakai banget dengan Too Kill a Mockingbird (TKaM) :D. Membaca Tru & Nelle seperti mengenang kembali beberapa karakterisasi tokoh dan sedikit cerita di TKaM. Nelle adalah Scout. Tru adalah Dil. Jem adalah Big Boy. Ruang pengadilan, AC Lee (Atticus? Teteepp... :D), masalah ras, dan KKK. Nggak heran juga, karena kisah persahabatan masa kecil Capote & Lee kabarnya yang menginspirasi lahirnya TKaM, novel peraih Pulitzer tahun 1961.
Tidak terlalu banyak drama dan konflik dalam buku ini, tapi saya menikmati. Menarik bisa menelusuri masa kecil dua penulis besar. Kesukaan mereka pada aktivitas membaca, menulis, petualangan, dan... rumah pohon (aaa!). Lantas, apakah persahabatan mereka lurus-lurus saja? Di akhir buku dilampirkan catatan dari penulis tentang sekelumit masa dewasa mereka.
OK, jadi buku ini adalah novelisasi kisah persahabatan Tru (Truman Capote) dan Nelle (Harper Lee). Saya selalu suka dengan kisah persahabatan, apalagi ini adalah persahabatan dua penulis besar Amerika. Seperti saya sebut di atas, saya belum pernah baca karya-karya Capote, tapi karya Lee... wooo, saya ngefans dengan Atticus! Haha. Eh, maksudnya saya suka pakai banget dengan Too Kill a Mockingbird (TKaM) :D. Membaca Tru & Nelle seperti mengenang kembali beberapa karakterisasi tokoh dan sedikit cerita di TKaM. Nelle adalah Scout. Tru adalah Dil. Jem adalah Big Boy. Ruang pengadilan, AC Lee (Atticus? Teteepp... :D), masalah ras, dan KKK. Nggak heran juga, karena kisah persahabatan masa kecil Capote & Lee kabarnya yang menginspirasi lahirnya TKaM, novel peraih Pulitzer tahun 1961.
Tidak terlalu banyak drama dan konflik dalam buku ini, tapi saya menikmati. Menarik bisa menelusuri masa kecil dua penulis besar. Kesukaan mereka pada aktivitas membaca, menulis, petualangan, dan... rumah pohon (aaa!). Lantas, apakah persahabatan mereka lurus-lurus saja? Di akhir buku dilampirkan catatan dari penulis tentang sekelumit masa dewasa mereka.
December 17, 2016
This book.
THIS BOOK ASDFGHJKL
So so so cute :3
Tru was this well-dressed, well-spoken boy with a quirky, slightly a manipulative mind and super soft blonde hair. And Nelle is this tomboy, brash but honest and innocent girl with unkempt short hair and much beloved overalls.
This book is simply the most delicious strawberry cake I've ever read.
But I'm not saying that this book is super sweet or as sweet as a lump of sugar.
This book is like a well-balanced cake, a mixture of just the right amount of sugar with the smooth-textured butter, balanced with a pinch of salt and the tangy sweet-sour taste of strawberry. And you can taste a hint of bitterness from baking powder, since it's a cake.
One thing I don't really love about this book is the character's persona kind of change along with the flow of the story? Now, I know that people do change, it's just, I feel like from around the middle of the book up to third last chapter, they were out of characters.
But I still think this is a great book. If you like Harper Lee and or Capote, I think you will adore this book..
THIS BOOK ASDFGHJKL
So so so cute :3
Tru was this well-dressed, well-spoken boy with a quirky, slightly a manipulative mind and super soft blonde hair. And Nelle is this tomboy, brash but honest and innocent girl with unkempt short hair and much beloved overalls.
This book is simply the most delicious strawberry cake I've ever read.
But I'm not saying that this book is super sweet or as sweet as a lump of sugar.
This book is like a well-balanced cake, a mixture of just the right amount of sugar with the smooth-textured butter, balanced with a pinch of salt and the tangy sweet-sour taste of strawberry. And you can taste a hint of bitterness from baking powder, since it's a cake.
One thing I don't really love about this book is the character's persona kind of change along with the flow of the story? Now, I know that people do change, it's just, I feel like from around the middle of the book up to third last chapter, they were out of characters.
But I still think this is a great book. If you like Harper Lee and or Capote, I think you will adore this book..
December 3, 2019
I as a southern person feel disgusted by what my ancestors did... and therefore I don’t really like to read books set in the old south just because.. they make me feel disgusting for just being born, Ok that’s out of the way. This book is soooo refreshing to read and if you’re like me and adore Oh brother where art thou then you’ll enjoy this too, it’s a very sweet book and it really makes me remember the fond days of when I was a child and would make stories with my friends, this is a children’s book so I was surprised that they even dare mention the kkk but then I remembered that they literally made a PSA for children where Superman fights the kkk ( the story behind the production is super good highly recommend ) so I’d recommend this to a bit older children, and don’t worry the kkk are obviously the bad guys in this story. Man moments where Truman delt with his family issues seriously made me want to cry, because I personally knew people who treated their kids like that so it really touched my heart
February 7, 2017
Tru y Nelle es una excelente historia acerca de la infancia de dos excelentes y reconocidos escritores: Truman Capote y Nelle Harper Lee.
Con una prosa bastante ágil, trama simple y divertida, nos adentramos en el mundo de estos dos pequeños que aman leer y que se tiene el uno al otro para complementarse como amigos.
Los personajes esta bien construidos y la ambientación es muy buena para la época.
Con referencias al racismo, a la gran Depresión e incluso a la xenofobia, esta novela es muy bonita y amena.
Único punto que podría estar mejor: dentro de la historia me hubiera gustado que fuera un poquito mas hondo y personal acerca dela vida de estos escritores.
Por lo de mas, recomendable.
Reseña completa: http://thesnowbook.blogspot.com.ar/20...
Con una prosa bastante ágil, trama simple y divertida, nos adentramos en el mundo de estos dos pequeños que aman leer y que se tiene el uno al otro para complementarse como amigos.
Los personajes esta bien construidos y la ambientación es muy buena para la época.
Con referencias al racismo, a la gran Depresión e incluso a la xenofobia, esta novela es muy bonita y amena.
Único punto que podría estar mejor: dentro de la historia me hubiera gustado que fuera un poquito mas hondo y personal acerca dela vida de estos escritores.
Por lo de mas, recomendable.
Reseña completa: http://thesnowbook.blogspot.com.ar/20...
June 11, 2017
Sukaaaaakk!!
Pertama tertarik sama buku ini pas lihat reviewnya Hana. Tapi entah kenapa enggak pernah ketemu buku ini tiap ke toko buku. Eh, akhirnya malah dikirimin sama Hana. Thank you so much yaa Hana, jadi tahu buku bagus ini :D
Kisah persahabatan Nelle dan Truman yang penuh petualangan ini lumayan ngingetin sama Lima Sekawannya Enid Blyton yah, menurutku. Walaupun mungkin kisahnya mereka sudah ditambahin bumbu-bumbu biar seru, aku tetap kagum sih, sama keberanian mereka. Yang paling aku suka sih, waktu Nelle, Tru dan Big Boy (sahabat mereka yang imajinasinya kurang) menyelidiki kasus pencurian di toko permen. Enggak paham deh, memang anak-anak Amerika pada berani-berani, atau aku aja yang cemen, soalnya sampai sekarang pun tiap denger berita pencurian, yang ada aku bergidik ngeri. Boro-boro sampai nyelidikin :/
Ah, dan sebenernya baca buku ini bikin aku jadi agak malu sih. Malu karena belum pernah baca To Kill a Mockingbird (apalagi Go Set a Watchman kan), dan karya Truman Capote yang pernah aku baca cuma Breakfast at Tiffany's aja, itupun karena habis nonton filmnya buat bahan tugas kuliah. Janji deh, dalam waktu dekat mesti baca To Kill a Mockingbird dan cari karya Truman Capote yang lainnya :D
Pertama tertarik sama buku ini pas lihat reviewnya Hana. Tapi entah kenapa enggak pernah ketemu buku ini tiap ke toko buku. Eh, akhirnya malah dikirimin sama Hana. Thank you so much yaa Hana, jadi tahu buku bagus ini :D
Kisah persahabatan Nelle dan Truman yang penuh petualangan ini lumayan ngingetin sama Lima Sekawannya Enid Blyton yah, menurutku. Walaupun mungkin kisahnya mereka sudah ditambahin bumbu-bumbu biar seru, aku tetap kagum sih, sama keberanian mereka. Yang paling aku suka sih, waktu Nelle, Tru dan Big Boy (sahabat mereka yang imajinasinya kurang) menyelidiki kasus pencurian di toko permen. Enggak paham deh, memang anak-anak Amerika pada berani-berani, atau aku aja yang cemen, soalnya sampai sekarang pun tiap denger berita pencurian, yang ada aku bergidik ngeri. Boro-boro sampai nyelidikin :/
Ah, dan sebenernya baca buku ini bikin aku jadi agak malu sih. Malu karena belum pernah baca To Kill a Mockingbird (apalagi Go Set a Watchman kan), dan karya Truman Capote yang pernah aku baca cuma Breakfast at Tiffany's aja, itupun karena habis nonton filmnya buat bahan tugas kuliah. Janji deh, dalam waktu dekat mesti baca To Kill a Mockingbird dan cari karya Truman Capote yang lainnya :D
November 3, 2024
This one grew on me the more I read it. The premise is that it’s a fictionalized account of the childhood friendship of Harper Lee and Truman Capote, but in reality, I don’t even think you need to know who those people are to appreciate this book in and of itself. It’s mostly just the adventure of the two main characters along with some really memorable and likable side characters as they looked to solve mysteries after being inspired by reading Sherlock Holmes. They also grew up in the deep south during Jim Crow law, so there are elements of racial tension and the KKK, etc., but nothing too mature or heavy that kids can’t handle. By the end of the book I found myself really liking these characters, intrigued to know more about the real relationship between these two. There are also a few short stories at the end of the book that are well worth the read as well.
February 12, 2025
A (fictionalized) account of the (actual) friendship between Truman Capote and Harper Lee. I had no idea they lived in the same Alabama town growing up and were friends (though their friendship soured a bit in later years). I could definitely see a lot of elements that eventually made it into To Kill a Mockingbird which was cool. The sequel is Christmas themed so I’m excited to read that one too!
November 4, 2023
This is a fun story about the childhood of two well-known authors. Knowing that the events of the book are based on fact makes it even more intriguing.
May 14, 2025
Eine sehr schöne, fiktive Geschichte über Truman Capotes und Harper Lees Freundschaft. 💛
Und trotzdem spürt man über all ein Fünkchen Wahrheit durchschimmern.
Und trotzdem spürt man über all ein Fünkchen Wahrheit durchschimmern.
September 24, 2017
Una muy tierna historia acerca de la infancia de los reconocidos escritores Truman Capote y Harper Lee. Disfruté muchísimo estas aventuras y cómo fue creciendo esta amistad.
June 2, 2016
This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!
Tru & Nelle will be THE book of 2016.
We get to explore the eccentric friendship of Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee in this wonderful book for children. In Monroeville, AL, a tomboy girl and an ever so proper boy become close friends when discovering their shared love for Sherlock Holmes and unsolved mysteries. These two outcasts, and cousin Big Boy, start their own detective agency in their treehouse headquarters. They grab a few crimes that are far too big for their little agency and find themselves in over their heads. They come face to face with some of the horrors in their little Alabama town. They even create a few horrors of their own.
Throughout the whole novel you begin to see how Tru and Nelle worked together to become the writers they are known to be today. They challenge each other. They want the other to succeed as much as they want to themselves. G. Neri, the author, even hinted toward Truman's nonfictional novel, In Cold Blood.
Whether you are young or old, you will love this book.
If you are a fan of Truman Capote, Harper Lee, or both, you will love this book.
If you live in Alabama or know any of the history, you will love this book.
Get your hands on a copy of Tru & Nelle, YOU WILL LOVE IT.
Tru & Nelle will be THE book of 2016.
We get to explore the eccentric friendship of Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee in this wonderful book for children. In Monroeville, AL, a tomboy girl and an ever so proper boy become close friends when discovering their shared love for Sherlock Holmes and unsolved mysteries. These two outcasts, and cousin Big Boy, start their own detective agency in their treehouse headquarters. They grab a few crimes that are far too big for their little agency and find themselves in over their heads. They come face to face with some of the horrors in their little Alabama town. They even create a few horrors of their own.
Throughout the whole novel you begin to see how Tru and Nelle worked together to become the writers they are known to be today. They challenge each other. They want the other to succeed as much as they want to themselves. G. Neri, the author, even hinted toward Truman's nonfictional novel, In Cold Blood.
Whether you are young or old, you will love this book.
If you are a fan of Truman Capote, Harper Lee, or both, you will love this book.
If you live in Alabama or know any of the history, you will love this book.
Get your hands on a copy of Tru & Nelle, YOU WILL LOVE IT.
March 7, 2016
Harper Lee recently died, but we will always remember her as the wonderful author who brought to us "To Kill a Mockingbird."
I finished this book in two days which is a world record for me, although it was fairly short. Still though two days!!! And I enjoyed every second of it, it was like reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" again because I just kept imagining Scout as Nelle, Dell as Tru and Jem as Big Boy and in a sense they were because "Tru and Nelle" is about the real life friendship of Truman Capote and Harper Lee. So there were a lot of similarities with both books and I think that if you love "To Kill a Mockingbird" you should check this one out.
Apparently this book is for middle graders but it's so enjoyable you shouldn't even pay attention to that. It was really amazing to read about the characters and you could see their environment pushing them to be the writers they became.
And the Sherlock spin was so cute I could imagine cute little kids dressing up as Sherlock and Dr Watson and ugh so cute.
Oh and I think I better confess right now, are you ready for this? Okay you sure? Well here goes. *inhales* I never read Truman Capote. *runs*
I finished this book in two days which is a world record for me, although it was fairly short. Still though two days!!! And I enjoyed every second of it, it was like reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" again because I just kept imagining Scout as Nelle, Dell as Tru and Jem as Big Boy and in a sense they were because "Tru and Nelle" is about the real life friendship of Truman Capote and Harper Lee. So there were a lot of similarities with both books and I think that if you love "To Kill a Mockingbird" you should check this one out.
Apparently this book is for middle graders but it's so enjoyable you shouldn't even pay attention to that. It was really amazing to read about the characters and you could see their environment pushing them to be the writers they became.
And the Sherlock spin was so cute I could imagine cute little kids dressing up as Sherlock and Dr Watson and ugh so cute.
Oh and I think I better confess right now, are you ready for this? Okay you sure? Well here goes. *inhales* I never read Truman Capote. *runs*
September 8, 2016
Si bien la historia me gusto muchísimo, la trama y el desarrollo de los personajes están muy bien logrados, no llegue a conectar del todo con la historia, arranque muy enganchada, por el medio perdí un poco de emoción, pero al final remontó muchísimo.
La historia es muy linda y nos cuenta cómo se conocieron Truman Capote y Nelle Harper Lee, la amistad que compartieron, sus aventuras en el pueblo de Monroeville y como ambos llegaron a apasionarse por la escritura.
Debo decir que el pequeño Tru me encantó, es todo un personaje, muy refinado y gracioso.
Otra de las cosas que me gusto mucho son las historias que aparecen al final de libro, estas historias fueron escritas por Truman y Nelle y narran algunas de sus aventuras.
www.locaxlibros.blogspot.com.ar
La historia es muy linda y nos cuenta cómo se conocieron Truman Capote y Nelle Harper Lee, la amistad que compartieron, sus aventuras en el pueblo de Monroeville y como ambos llegaron a apasionarse por la escritura.
Debo decir que el pequeño Tru me encantó, es todo un personaje, muy refinado y gracioso.
Otra de las cosas que me gusto mucho son las historias que aparecen al final de libro, estas historias fueron escritas por Truman y Nelle y narran algunas de sus aventuras.
www.locaxlibros.blogspot.com.ar
September 27, 2016
Esperaba algo del estilo de Boy de Roald Dahl, así que encontrarme con una historia inventada con pequeños retazos de verdad, me decepcionó bastante.
Como middle grade, es entretenido, tierno, bastante ingenuo e interesante. Pero creo que funcionaría igual, en ese caso, aunque los protas no fueran Harper Lee y Truman Capote. Esa es la parte que me desgarra el alma, porque era lo que más me atraía de este libro.
Por último, no me gustó del todo la narración, la encontré forzada y falsa. Sentí que el autor se esforzaba demasiado en incorporar detalles de la época, del sur estadounidense y de la vida de los protagonistas reales, y no quedaba natural. No logró integrarlos
Reitero, es un libro tierno y entretenido en general. Pero como obra biográfica falla.
Como middle grade, es entretenido, tierno, bastante ingenuo e interesante. Pero creo que funcionaría igual, en ese caso, aunque los protas no fueran Harper Lee y Truman Capote. Esa es la parte que me desgarra el alma, porque era lo que más me atraía de este libro.
Por último, no me gustó del todo la narración, la encontré forzada y falsa. Sentí que el autor se esforzaba demasiado en incorporar detalles de la época, del sur estadounidense y de la vida de los protagonistas reales, y no quedaba natural. No logró integrarlos
Reitero, es un libro tierno y entretenido en general. Pero como obra biográfica falla.
June 28, 2016
Seruuuu.. dibawa mengenal sosok Truman & Nelle kecil, saat mereka berumur tujuh dan enam tahun. Gw diajak melihat bagaimana kuatnya persahabatan mereka, bagaimana kecintaan mereka akan buku & dunia menulis. Sanking sukanya membaca buku Sherlock Holmes, mereka bahkan berpetualang memecahkan kasus di daerah tempat tinggal mereka yang membosankan. Oh ya, mereka membuat rumah pohon sebagai markas rahasia mereka. Gw jadi mikir, jangan-jangan rumah pohon yang sekarang sering digunakan di film-fil, ide'nya dari mereka. xixixi
"Aku akan merindukanmu, streckfus." katanya.
Truman menggeleng. "Aku akan lebih merindukanmu, Ne-il Har-peh!"
"Aku akan merindukanmu, streckfus." katanya.
Truman menggeleng. "Aku akan lebih merindukanmu, Ne-il Har-peh!"
May 29, 2017
Inspirasi buku ini dari kisah nyata Tru dan Nelle dimasa kecil mereka. Dua penulis terkemuka Amerika Serikat, dengan kepribadian yang berbeda dan saling bertolak belakang. Yang perempuan urakan sedangkan yang laki-laki selalu rapi dan menjaga sikap. Namun perbedaan itu tidak dapat memisahkan mereka. Dua sahabat ini melalui masa kecil mereka dengan penuh cerita walau dengan perjalanan hidup yang tidak selalu indah. Masa-masa sulit dilalui, hingga akhirnya mereka berdua menggapai kesuksesan sebagai penlis.
May 31, 2016
I listened to the audio book on Overdrive and enjoyed it! The fictional story of two real writers during their childhood was interesting to read. The element of Sherlock Holmes investigating among the children was daring, suspicious, and funny.
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