A decade or more ago I made this note regarding this book, " I read this to the kids in late 2006, a very funny book, they enjoyed it a lot...however, I did not read it exactly - left out the n word where ever it occurred, and some other of its racist-by-today's-standards vocabulary. It was a product of its time, author, and place -- but not vicious at all."
It is a comedy of the average folks in a small town in Tennessee at the turn of the last century. Miss Minerva is the rather elderly-acting maiden aunt now settled with a small, active, articulate boy, "six, a-going on seven,": William, her orphaned nephew. Frances Boyd Calhoun captures thoughts, and phrases so naturally it is a sheer delight to read, or read aloud.
Summarized from the publishers' note, the author died only a few months after the publication of her book, her first and her only book. It is a pity to think that her untimely death came just when she gave promise of adding so much to the store of human happiness.
I agree. ( )

Oh, there is no going back and thank you for that. At least they were equal opportunity bigots in the treatment of blacks, Jews, Indians, etc. William Green Hill was a hoodlum and Miss Minerva was a freaking idiot. At least it was short. ( )

Funny, but best read with an adult to discuss very different acceptable treatment of race. Good for a history discussion.

printed 1977