In the book Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White, the real world issue of poverty is shown throughout the work of fiction. The author presents the issue of poverty mainly through Woodrow’s past, as well as Gypsy’s experience with him. White uses several techniques to present this real world issue of poverty, including very detailed descriptions on characters and conflicts.

The real world issue of poverty is evident as soon as the narrator mentions that Aunt Belle, Woodrow's mother, went missing. White uses direct and indirect characterization to portray Woodrow as impoverished. For example, on page 77, Gypsy talks about the times she had met Woodrow. She says, “Woodrow one wore oversized pants with a rope holding them up.” Gypsy is telling the