From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6 Talented Tony award-winner Judith Ivey is the narrator of this inventive title. An exceptional story in its own right, author Deborah Wiles (Harcourt, 2001) has created an irresistible character in Ruby Lavender, the most precocious resident of Hallelulia, Mississippi. Ruby is the only grandchild of Miss Eula Dapplevine, and the two are definitely "kindred spirits." Partners in crime - they steal ready-to-be-slaughtered chickens - the two share their thoughts and feelings by leaving daily missives in the knothole of a silver maple. Ruby, adventurous and opinionated, is devastated when her grandmother announces her plans to visit a new grandchild ("I hope they name her Hortense," Ruby offers) in Hawaii. Miss Eula and Ruby continue their correspondence throughout the summer, as Ruby offers "free advice," like "Always jiggle babies after they eat." Miss Eula consoles Ruby as she faces challenges and tries her best to combat the jealousy she feels toward her new cousin. Ruby's arch rival, Melba Jane, irritates Ruby, tells secrets. and generally upstages her until the day she really needs help, and Ruby comes to her rescue. Proving her theory that "life does go on," Miss Eula returns to Hallelulia to find that Ruby has, to her own surprise, made new friends and matured a bit in her absence. A rewarding read that perfectly blends the culture and the humor of the south, this not-to-be-missed title will be welcome in all collections that circulate audiobooks for children. -Kirsten Martindale, Buford Academy, GA Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Good garden of peas! It's hard to imagine a better book for audio narration than this charming, funny, and deeply touching novel of life in the small town of Halleluia, Mississippi. Think kidnapped chickens! Think Yoo-Hoo and pink muumuus! Think handmade quilts, letters tucked into the root tangle of a silver maple tree, and the deep love between a granddaughter--9-year-old Ruby L--and her widowed grandmother--Miss Eula. Judith Ivey's long, leisurely vowels are filled with the sultriness of summer, the longing for connection, the generations-old belief that life does go on, even after a tragic loss. Ivey, Bemmie, and Bess will squawk at you. Miss Mattie will scold you sternly. Aunt Tot will bless your heart. Miss Eula will cajole you with the hoarse voice of reason. And Ruby herself will charm you with her brash enthusiasm and down-home sincerity. There's more fun and feeling here than you can shake a stick at! T.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. Ruby Lavender is a nine-year-old charmer, in love with life and her adoring grandmother. She and Miss Eula keep in touch daily by leaving letters for each other in the knothole of a silver maple in Halleluia, Mississippi--that is, until Miss Eula goes to Hawaii to visit her son and his wife and her new granddaughter, Leilani. Ruby is crushed, forced to spend a hot summer on her own, and jealous, too, of a new little girl she fears will steal her grandmother's heart. But the summer is a maturing one as Ruby nurtures hatching chickens, makes a new friend, Dove, and finally comes to terms with her grandfather's death. Wiles has painted a picture of a time long past when communities were small and close-knit, people wrote letters, and chickens escaped only to create havoc at play practice. Yet she has also created a timeless story of life and death, the bond between grandparent and grandchild, and the reality that, regardless, "life does go on." Frances Bradburn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Ruby Lavender used to have a good life. She and her grandmother, Miss Eula, were inseparable--they even drove the getaway car together for chickens rescued from the slaughterhouse! But this summer, Miss Eula will be in Hawaii, and Ruby's sure it'll be a lonely, empty, horrible season without her. What happens instead? Ruby makes a new friend, saves the school play, writes plenty of letters to her favorite (and only) grandmother . . . and finally stops blaming herself for her grandfather's death.



Card catalog description
When her quirky grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer, nine-year-old Ruby learns to survive on her own in Mississippi by writing letters, befriending chickens as well as the new girl in town, and finally coping with her grandfather's death.

ANNOTATION

When her quirky grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer, nine-year-old Ruby learns to survive on her own in Mississippi by writing letters, befriending chickens as well as the new girl in town, and finally coping with her grandfather's death.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When her quirky grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer, nine-year-old Ruby learns to survive on her own in Mississippi by writing letters, befriending chickens as well as the new girl in town, and finally coping with her grandfather's death.

SYNOPSIS

A charming and hilarious coming-of-age story about two chicken thieves, best friends, and how each learns to survive loss.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Charming nine-year-old Ruby invites readers to view life with her grandmother in small-town Halleluia, Mississippi, with a winsome third-person narrative that incorporates letters, newspaper articles and an abundance of comical details. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Nine-year-old Ruby is devastated when her grandmother (and best friend) goes to Hawaii to see her newest (and second) granddaughter. Ruby fights loneliness and jealousy by writing letters to her grandmother and by caring for three chickens they rescued from the slaughterhouse. There was a serious accident a year ago￯﾿ﾽRuby's grandfather and Melba's (also nine) father were killed in a car accident. Each character handles the personal loss differently￯﾿ﾽMelba is angry and blames Ruby, Ruby's grandmother goes to Hawaii to escape the memories, and Ruby feels guilty and always takes the long way into town to avoid the scene of the accident. She must also cope with Melba's anger and cruel teasing. The grudge escalates to Melba tossing rocks at the hen house and killing two baby chicks just before they are due to hatch. Ruby is devastated but learns to forgive herself as well as Melba. The maturity level and perceptions of these nine-year-olds is exceptionally high, but it is well-written and could appeal to an older audience. The format includes letters Ruby writes to and receives from her grandmother, which are full of pathos, humor and feeling. 2001, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 9 to 11. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6 Talented Tony award-winner Judith Ivey is the narrator of this inventive title. An exceptional story in its own right, author Deborah Wiles (Harcourt, 2001) has created an irresistible character in Ruby Lavender, the most precocious resident of Hallelulia, Mississippi. Ruby is the only grandchild of Miss Eula Dapplevine, and the two are definitely "kindred spirits." Partners in crime - they steal ready-to-be-slaughtered chickens - the two share their thoughts and feelings by leaving daily missives in the knothole of a silver maple. Ruby, adventurous and opinionated, is devastated when her grandmother announces her plans to visit a new grandchild ("I hope they name her Hortense," Ruby offers) in Hawaii. Miss Eula and Ruby continue their correspondence throughout the summer, as Ruby offers "free advice," like "Always jiggle babies after they eat." Miss Eula consoles Ruby as she faces challenges and tries her best to combat the jealousy she feels toward her new cousin. Ruby's arch rival, Melba Jane, irritates Ruby, tells secrets. and generally upstages her until the day she really needs help, and Ruby comes to her rescue. Proving her theory that "life does go on," Miss Eula returns to Hallelulia to find that Ruby has, to her own surprise, made new friends and matured a bit in her absence. A rewarding read that perfectly blends the culture and the humor of the south, this not-to-be-missed title will be welcome in all collections that circulate audiobooks for children. -Kirsten Martindale, Buford Academy, GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile