Ruby Holler: Library Edition

Creech, Sharon

ISBN 10: 1605146579 ISBN 13: 9781605146577

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens, 2008

Synopsis

Filled with humor, poignancy, cookies, and treasure maps, Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech's Ruby Holler is a delightful book about a special place where it's never too late to be loved. Dallas and Florida have been shuffled between foster families and orphanages all their lives, longing only for a loving place to call home. Tiller and Sairy, an eccentric older couple whose children are grown and gone, are restless for one more big adventure in life. Ruby Holler is the beautiful, mysterious place that changes all their lives forever. When Tiller and Sairy invite the twins to stay with them and accompany them on their adventures, the magic of the Holler takes over, and the two kids begin to think that maybe, just maybe the old folks aren't so bad.... Sharon Creech is the author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and the Newbery Honor winner The Wanderer. Her other novels include The Castle Corona, Replay, Heartbeat, Ruby Holler, Love That Dog, Bloomability, Absolutely Normal Chaos, Chasing Redbird, and Pleasing the Ghost, as well as three picture books: A Fine, Fine School; Fishing in the Air; and Who's That Baby? After spending eighteen years teaching and writing in Europe, Sharon Creech and her husband have returned to the United States to live. Donna Murphy, the winner of two TonyAwards and an Emmy, starred on Broadway in The King and I and Passion, and in the films Center Stage and Star Trek: Insurrection. Her television work includes appearances on Murder One, Law & Order, Ally McBeal, Hack, The Practice, and The Education of Max Bickford.

About this title

Review:

Having suffered through a string of appalling foster homes (the spitting Cranbepps; scary, toothless Mr. Dreep who locked them in his cellar; and the mean Burgerton boys), 13-year-old orphan Dallas and his twin sister, Florida, have pretty much given up on ever finding a happy home. So when an eccentric older couple enters their lives, providing such adventures as a river expedition, a treasure hunt (of sorts), and a whole lot of remarkable meals: "beat-the-blues broccoli," "anti-cranky crumpets," and "getting-used-to-kids- again stew," the twins take a while to warm up. Florida's language teems with outrageous, telling negativity--everything is "putrid"--and even dreamy Dallas is inclined to bouts of doubt. But warm up they do, to the continual delight of readers of all ages.

Sharon Creech, author of Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and Newbery Honor book The Wanderer, is in fine form with her hilarious yet poignant novel about downtrodden siblings who refuse to be squished altogether. The perfectly happy ending is somewhat predictable, but readers who have fallen in love with each quirky character won't mind a bit. (Ages 8 to 13) --Emilie Coulter

From the Back Cover:

As they pulled onto a narrow dirt road, Sairy said, "You are now entering Ruby Holler, the one and only Ruby Holler! Your lives are never going to be the same -- "

Dallas and Florida have been dubbed the "trouble twins." They have been shuffled between foster families and orphanages all their lives, longing only for a loving place to call home, though mistrustful that one exists for the likes of them.

Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric, older couple whose children are grown and long gone, and they're each restless for one more big adventure while their bodies are still spry enough to paddle a river or climb a mountain.

Ruby Holler is the beautiful, mysterious place that changes all of their lives forever. When Tiller and Sairy invite Dallas and Florida to stay with them and keep them company on their adventures, the magic of the Holler takes over, and the two kids begin to think that maybe, just maybe the old folks aren't so bad....

Filled with humor, poignancy, cookies, and treasure maps, Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech's Ruby Holler is a delightful book about a special place where it's never too late to be loved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1605146579
• ISBN 13: 9781605146577
• Binding: Preloaded Digital Audio Player