The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop Summary
Fannie Flagg

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop Overview

In the novel The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg, Buddy Threadgoode Jr. is all grown up with a family of his own, but he misses his hometown. As this sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe opens, Bud is a retired Army captain and former veterinary clinic owner. He is living in Briarwood Manor, a nursing home in Georgia, with his wife Peggy. After Peggy dies, Bud decides to visit Whistle Stop one more time. So, he sneaks away from the nursing home and boards an Amtrak train from Atlanta to Birmingham. His adventure leads to a series of events that result in Whistle Stop being brought back to life when Bud's daughter, Ruthie, partners with Evelyn Couch. Themes in the novel include the power of connection, occurrences that are more than coincidence, and the strength of women.