Title: Ruby on the Outside
Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin
Published: 2015
Genre: Contemporary
Grade Level: 3rd-5th Grade
-Movie Rating: PG-13 for violence
-Features: A parent in prison
Blurb (from goodreads):
Eleven-year-old Ruby Danes is about to start middle school, and only her aunt knows her deepest, darkest, most secret of secrets: her mother is in prison.
Then Ruby thinks she’s found her first true-blue friend, Margalit Tipps —but can she tell Margalit the truth about her mom?
Eleven-year-old Ruby Danes is about to start middle school, and only her aunt knows her deepest, darkest, most secret of secrets: her mother is in prison.
Then Ruby thinks she’s found her first true-blue friend, Margalit Tipps —but can she tell Margalit the truth about her mom?
Maybe not. Because it turns out that Margalit’s
family history seems closely connected to the very event that put her mother in
prison, and if Ruby comes clean, she could lose everything she cares about
most.
My Scores:
Writing Style: Sparse
The writing style is rather inconsistent for my
taste. But I will say that there were moments I loved, especially towards the end.
Characters: Memorable
The character development of the MC was
wonderful! I felt her frustration, her fears, and her need for human connection
on a raw emotional level.
The book wasn’t really long enough to give other
characters much complexity, but they are all given personality and purpose to the
overall plot.
Plot:
Absolute Page Turner
This plot was so unique that it was the driving
force that kept me reading until the very end. I wish there were more children’s
books that featured difficult topics so that kids could begin to grapple with
the imperfections of this world and become more emotionally developed and empathic
adults.
Overall:
Enjoyable
Overall, I’m really glad to have read this book.
It has such a unique plot and such a relatable MC that it makes it a worthwhile
read.
It wasn’t perfect by any means, but I’m glad
that there’s a children’s book out there that deals with this very difficult
topic head on.
Messaging:
“She made a terrible mistake. I don’t think your
mother ever understood how important she was to you. She didn’t think she was
important to anyone.”
This book is about the dangers of having an
inferiority complex. Having feelings of worthlessness leads to a misunderstanding
of how important you are to other people in your life.
Goodreads Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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