The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop: A Novel

I picked up this book without expecting much of it. The most I could think of would be that it would be a quick read and a diversion. What a surprise that I was thoroughly charmed by the stories, characters, and writing in this book. It was a happy homecoming to again visit Whistle Stop and learn that people are ultimately good and so end up in exactly the right places. Flagg is a gifted storyteller. She accomplishes a bit of prestidigitation in this book by shifting time, place, and characters without losing the narrative flow. The main character is a one-armed boy named Buddie, Jr. from Whistle Stop who is raised by the proprietors of the Whistle Stop Cafe. The cafe is known for its cook, Lizzie’s fried green tomatoes, and the generous spirit of the cafe’s owners. Bud grows to be a good family man and father, but as he ages, he longs to return to Whistle Stop and see it once again. It is a magical place where small-town people forge a family together. Particularly, at this time in our nation’s history, it is a good time for us to revisit Whistle Stop.