Ruby Red is a fictionalized tale of a true event. Homeless children roamed the streets of New York City from the late 1800s through the 1930s. Death and disease were heaped upon poverty and overcrowding, causing thousands of children to be abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Eleven-year-old Ruby is taken in as a maid. Believing life holds more for her than washing someone s clothes, she makes a risky move by faking insanity. After being expelled from the household, Ruby sneaks onto the Orphan Train. With her best friend, a cockroach named Red, housed in a canning jar, Ruby searches for a place to call home and runs into adventure and heartbreak. Both an enigma and a young teen, she is the perfect reflection of how life once was in America. Ruby embodies goodness, and simplicity of truth; a rare gem which bespeaks her name. Softened a bit through suffering she refuses to be hardened and keeps believing that the world holds a special place for her. Written beautifully by author Robin Jansen Shope for young teens and adults, the indomitable spirit of Ruby Red triumphs and will live in your heart far beyond the pages of the book.
Robin Shope continues to write captivating books. She is at her best with her multi-layered characterization of Ruby RedIn the 1920s saga, Shope reels us into heartbreak and healing. - Kyle Saylors, TV PRODUCER AND PRODUCER OF FILM KIMJONGILIA,THEATRICALLY RELEASED INTERNATIONALLY AND NOMINATED FOR GRAND JURY PRIZE AT SUNDANCE, SCREENED AT US CAPITOL.
Ruby Red is a poignant story of an abandoned child with an indomitable spirit. The delightful imagery and poetry of written words will propel the reader to the era gone by bringing a story of hope and survival that will warm even the most jaded hearts. Bonnie Calhoun, PUBLISHER OF CHRISTIAN FICTION ONLINE MAGAZINE
Robin Jansen Shope has done it again! Ruby Red is a spell-binding tale that will grab you on page one and won t turn you lose until you have read The End. Sadness and grief are superbly balanced with uplifting joy, and when you add this one to your Keepers Shelf, you ll feel as though you have met Ruby in person. If I were doling out stars, I d give Robin four for this one! - Loree Lough... AUTHOR OF 75 AWARD-WINNING BOOKS, INCLUDING REVIEWER FAVORITE LOVE FINDS YOU IN NORTH POLE, ALASKA & THE SOON-TO-BE-RELEASED BEAUTIFUL BANDIT, BOOK ONE IN HER LONE STAR LEGENDS SERIES.
Ruby Red by Robin Jansen Shope is one of the most exquisitely written, poignant stories I ve come across in years. The words sing, even as the tale of Ruby Red breaks your heart and summons you to a deeper, nobler existence. I am surprised it's called a historical young adult novel because I think ANY adult would enjoy it! This is the first work I have read by this author, but it will certainly not be the last! Kathi Macias ... AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THIRTY BOOKS, INCLUDING NO GREATER LOVE (APRIL 2010) AND VALERIA S CROSS (OCTOBER 2010)
Young readers will love rooting for Ruby from the very first page as she encounters trials unique to her time period, yet universal to humanity. The will to thrive despite resistance sets Ruby off on a harrowing, yet tender adventure that will inspire readers to persevere no matter what the obstacles. Aside from that, Ruby's voice is just plain fun! Michelle Stimpson.... M.ED. INSTRUCTION AND CURRICULUM, SPEAKER, EDUCATOR. NATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF TROUBLE IN MY WAY AND FIVE OTHER BOOKS.
Ruby Redis saturated with such colorful characters, I felt like stepping into the past with them. Shope takes you through an emotional reflection of hardship, beauty, and life's simplicity, all packaged into one triumphant story. Erica Lane, RECORDING ARTIST AND STAR OF TV S
Robin Jansen Shope is an educator with five teaching certificates and twenty-five years of classroom experience. Her day position is being the Special Education Coordinator at the Denton County Juvenile Justice System for at-risk kids. By night she is an avid reader and a compulsive writer. Robin has two grown children and a grandson. She resides in Dallas, Texas with her dog and cat.
To date, her popular literary works include approximately two hundred articles in magazines such as Live, Lookout, Mennonite, Christian Reader, Decision, and Breakthrough. Her short stories can be found in book collections such as A Match Made in Heaven, Stories from the Heart, The Evolving Woman, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and in the New York Times Bestseller, In The Arms of Angels. One of these shorts, Mom s Last Laugh, was re-enacted for a PAX-TV program: It s a Miracle.
Robin co-authored three fiction novels, The Chase, The Replacement, and The Candidate. She went on to write Wildcard, The Christmas Edition, The Valentine Edition, and The Easter Edition.
The Christmas Edition will be released as a movie, Journey to Paradise by Salty Earth Pictures.
Ruby Red is Robin's first young adult book and first book with Sparklesoup LLC. Ruby Red and the Colors of Home, Book 2 of the Ruby Red Series will be published by Sparklesoup LLC in the Fall 2010.
An interesting fact about Robin Jansen Shope is, she is a former missionary.
Join Robin on Ruby Red's Official Facebook page to find out more about Discussion questions, historical facts, group discussions, contests, promotions, tours, author interviews, book trailer, author videos, and more!
