Love, Ruby Lavender

Reminds me of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer -- sharing as they do, both the letter writing format and the central drama of chicken lives. They complement each other nicely while telling entirely different stories.

This is the tale of Miss Ruby Lavender and her partner in crime Miss Eula (her grandmother) -- liberating chickens, leaving notes for each other in a hollow tree, and generally enjoying the lives of the 3 rescued hens sometime in the 1950-60s in halleluia, Mississippi. However, they are also grieving together, as their town is grieving, over the loss of Ruby's grandfather and young Melba Jane's father in a tragic car accident. Melba and Ruby are at odds and constantly fighting. Miss Eula has decided to go show more spend the summer in Hawaii visiting her new grandchild, and there's a new girl in town. By turns funny, sad, and just plain interesting. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Because I loved Each Little Bird That Sings, I wanted to read the this first work by the author. While Each Little Bird That Sings resonated with me more than this tale, still, Love, Ruby Lavender is delightful and poignant and worth the time spent in reading.

Ruby lost her beloved grandfather. Now, a year later, her very special grandmother needs time away from Halleluia, Mississippi. Leaving Ruby heartbroken, through a series of letters the two remain connected.

When Ruby lost a grandfather, her classmate and enemy Melba Jane lost her father in the same car accident. While grief tugs at both, they tear at each other verbally and physically. Wishing her grandmother was there to guide her, Ruby finds a way to reach out through the pain show more and work toward healing.

Ruby Lavender melts your heart with her endearing, quirky personality.

Recommended. show less

Loved the Southern flavor of the story and the connection between Ruby and Eula. This is a touching story about family, loss the fact that "life does go on." The use of chickens to connect many of the story elements is both a lesson in animal husbandry and just plain funny. Ruby's descriptions of the chickens’ motives and emotions is better character development than many humans in other stories I've read. Another strong point is how this doesn't really have a "they all lived happily ever after" ending but is realistic and relatable for many young readers.

This was a sweet story about life in small town Mississippi, mostly through the eyes of a granddaughter and grandmother. The two were in the habbit of writing letters to one another, whether they were in the same town or not. The grandmother, Miss Eula, was a pistol, someone you'd like to have as your grandmother. Granddaughter Ruby Lavender had many adventures the summer Miss Eula went to Hawaii to visit the new grandbaby, and the letter format was an interesting way to see how young Ruby processed the things that happened to her that summer. Neat book.

The way the story unfolded kept me reading. The close relationship with her grandma Eula was very special. I enjoyed how they used the letter writing as a way to connect the character into the story. I made a lot of connections with this character and I am sure many children do. She goes through a series of experiences like chicken raising and having an enemy whom she learns she is very similar to. I felt the feelings as she most have about having guilt, shame and heartfelt loss. Great!

I'm very close to my grandmother, she lives a few houses down from my parents. As I read this story it made me think of my relationship with her. This book also reminded me of "Eight Keys" and "Clementine". The girl is real sassy and struggles with being forgiving. By far my favorite part happens at the end when she helps Melba. Melba says she will return the borrowed hat tomorrow at Ruby's house but she doesn't want to stay and visit and Ruby informs her she doesn't want her to either. I love that they resolved their differences but it didn't mean they wanted to spend time together. Kids need to learn that you can still be kind and not have to spend time together.