Love, Ruby Lavender
Gr 4-7-A lively, humorous story featuring Miss Eula Garnet and her granddaughter Ruby as they share adventures and day-to-day miseries. The feisty duo shakes up their Mississippi town, Halleluia, "Population: 400 Good Friendly Folks And A Few Old Soreheads," when they liberate three soon-to-be-euthanized chickens from an egg ranch in a daring, daylight raid. They share an abiding sadness over the death of Grandpa Garnet, whose passing seems to be clouded by some terrible secret. When Miss Eula announces an unexpected trip to Hawaii to visit her son and to put some distance between herself and sorrow, the girl is shattered. Ruby fills her days by writing daily letters to her grandmother, monitoring the chickens, befriending the niece of the new fourth-grade teacher, and trying to avoid her nemesis whose father died in the same accident as Grandpa Garnet. Tensions between Ruby and Melba escalate as rehearsals for the annual Town Operetta commence. Resulting fireworks clear the air, reveal secrets, and resolve hard feelings just in time for Miss Eula's return. The engaging narrative, interspersed with amusing letters exchanged between Eula and Ruby and articles from the local newspaper, is witty and fast paced and the quirky, diverse cast of human and poultry characters is colorful and spirited, if not totally realistic. This refreshing novel recognizes how daily events often take on huge proportions in the minds of children and that with love, support, and kindness, youngsters can find their way.-Alice Casey Smith, Sayreville Public Schools, Parlin, NJCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.