Zeely

"We'll spend the whole summer on the farm with Uncle Ross. I ought to make up something special just because we've never ever gone alone like this!" And the first thing Elizabeth does is give herself and her younger brother, John, new names — Geeder and Toeboy.

The farm is special too, with its pump house, pond, and especially the prize razorback hogs that belong to Nat Tayber and his daughter, Zeely. Zeely Tayber is tall and dignified, unlike anyone else in the small town. Geeder is fascinated. And when she finds a picture of a Watutsi queen who looks like she could be Zeely's twin, Geeder knows she is in the presence of royalty.

A new 25th anniversary edition. "For Geeder, competent, self-possessed, six-and-a-half-foot Zeely Taylor becomes a romanticized idol. When Geeder finally meets Zeely, she gains a new perspective on daydreams and reality and a more realistic appreciation of Zeely's true character."--Booklist. Illustrated.

"We'll spend the whole summer on the farm with Uncle Ross. I ought to make up something special just because we've never ever gone alone like this!" And the first thing Elizabeth does is give herself and her younger brother, John, new names — Geeder and Toeboy.

The farm is special too, with its pump house, pond, and especially the prize razorback hogs that belong to Nat Tayber and his daughter, Zeely. Zeely Tayber is tall and dignified, unlike anyone else in the small town. Geeder is fascinated. And when she finds a picture of a Watutsi queen who looks like she could be Zeely's twin, Geeder knows she is in the presence of royalty.

Virginia Hamilton s books, which combined African-American and Native American lore with contemporary stories and characters, are memorable not only for their inventiveness and rich characterizations, but also for their ability to evoke a wide variety of times, places, and historical figures.