Ruby Holler Paperback – December 23, 2003

I was a little scared to order a used book, but my grandson loves it. It was the only thing he asked for at Christmas. I told him I was sorry that I could not find him a new gift but when he saw it his little face lite up brighter that the Christmas tree itself. He LOVES to read. He has ready it several times already.

There are not words strong enough to express what a wonderful and joyous book this is! "Ruby Holler" is the most rewarding book I've read in ages. In fact, it could be described as a manual for excellent parenting and excellent living. What a great reading experience!I have fairly recently discovered Sharon Creech and her delightful books, including  Love That Dog  and  Hate That Cat [HATE THAT CAT -LIB] [Library Binding ]. She was awarded the Newbery Medal for  Walk Two Moons  (the Newbery is awarded to the best of older children's literature every year)."Ruby Holler" itself won the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature. Frankly, I would like to stand outside big chain stores, outlet malls, and the like with boxes and boxes of this book to hand out. If I could put this book into the hands and hearts of every adult with children, maybe we could eliminate emotional and psychological child abuse. It has long been my personal thesis that the ills of a country lie in child abuse and the anger that develops from it. But that's another story for another place."Ruby Holler" is the story of fraternal twins, Dallas and Florida, who live in this horrible orphanage and are taken out from time to time into foster homes by horrible adults who abuse them then return them. Part of the journey of the book is the revelation of the kinds of abuse they experience, from being thrown into a totally black cellar with spiders and rats to the devilish treatment by a couple's larva-from-hell, picture-perfect little girl. The twins' revenge is rewarded with a trip back to the orphanage. Creech wisely keeps the abuse to emotional and a little physical (the stay in the cellar), making her point quite clear without edging into other kinds of noxious abuse.So why the names Dallas and Florida? The twins were left on the doorstep of this emotionally sterile orphanage run by a couple themselves emotionally sterile. The box in which the twins were found was lined with travel brochures, one with Dallas, one with Florida. Their birthdays and last names were manufactured. What is real about the twins is their absolute connection with each other.At thirteen they are requested by an eccentric, older couple to accompany them on separate trips. Of course, these children wonder what is in store--and what is in store is wonder! Through the vicissitudes of daily life and all it entails, Dallas and Florida begin to experience what a loving home can be, how two people can bring wonder and joy and surprise and stability. Oh, how I love this book and the tears of trepidation, the tears of recognition of purity of heart, but ultimately, tears of pure joy that it brings!There are surprise subplots as well. As for Ruby Holler itself, a quiet country backroad where the leaves turn into rubies in the fall--well, back in their younger years, Tiller uses it to woo his Sairy home from New York. His quiet manner and her understanding of his technique is another stirrer of heart emotion. Ruby Holler is also a quiet draw for the parched souls of two young teenagers in desperate need of emotional drink. They find it in Ruby Holler with this eccentric, endearing, and aging Baby Boomer couple who "find" and carve beautiful things out of wood.Please take the journey of the joy found in this remarkable book. As librarian in a PK3-8 school, I've added copies to our collection and ordered all of Sharon Creech's other books. As the book cover states: "You are now entering Ruby Holler....Your lives are never going to be the same--." Oh so true!

My amazoo pen-pal Judy was right. This is a book about Love and Decency getting the best of Ugliness and Greed, and although it amounts to a moral lesson, it's a heap of fun to read, even for a skeptical grown-up who no longer has a 'young reader' in his household but who remembers happy hours dawdling with his son, reading Roald Dahl and Gary Paulsen by trading chapters. That's the shelf this book belongs on, alongside Dahl and Paulsen. Come to think of it, the old guy Tiller who lives in Ruby Holler is probably a spitting image of me. Tiller and his wife Sairy have raised a family, sent their kids out into the wide world, and now are just a tad restless in their 'empty nest' in Ruby Holler, a spot so charmingly rustic it might be the original Garden of Eden. Tiller and Sairy have the hare-brained urge to go on separate adventures, just for once, so they temporarily requisition the Twins, Florida and Dallas, for companionship. The Twins have lived all their thirteen years in the saddest, meanest orphanage this side of the Brothers Grimm, under the cold-hearted care of the Trefids, who hate their work. They've bounced out and back from foster homes so often that they've become cynical about all adults and convinced of their own worthlessness. They're labeled the Trouble Twins, but in fact 'trouble' is less apt for them than 'intrepid,' as the story will show.The writing is deft and simple, yet not so simple that it's cloying. I'm reminded in a backwards way of the Lemony Snicket "Unfortunate Events" books, also about intrepid sibling orphans assaulted by rapacious adults. Whereas the Snicket books are coyly pretentious -- yes, funny but disingenuously snarky to the point of nastiness -- Sharon Creech gives us a pair of kids who are edgy smart-alecks when they need to be but capable of responding to decency with warmth. I think I'll set this book aside for my son to read to his kids some day.

I bought this book for my 10 year old granddaughter to read for an AR quiz at school. She loved this book and related with some of the adventures of Florida and Dallas. This book has a great happy ending!

Dallas and Florida survived being in a horrible orphanage but encounter a good couple that takes them on an awesome adventure.

I volunteer in a school of last resort. Trying to get a girl, 13, to read, I asked her if she had ever liked a book. She said, "Ruby Holler," without hesitation. I checked it out of the library using my card and she took it home for vacation. She went from her mom's to her dad's when she was half way through and left it. Then she missed school and didn't return it to me. I told the library, ordered this one, sent her mom a postcard, and she returned the library book the day I took this one in. All I can say is it made a difference in her life. I've read other wonderful books by Creech, but not this one.

A story of twins seeking a true family. The chapters are short and easy to read. There are so many scene with deeper meaning. Read it slow to absorb the meaning of life.

Love this book and author - my ten year old loves it also

Really like this book. Vert nice story based on a true story.

Our daughter has read the book. She loved the complexity and intricacy of the story with its twists and turns. The story was not entirely to her taste but the quality of the structure of the book kept her going and will no doubt delight many others. Thank goodness for well structured books like this one.

sharon creechの本はこれで4冊目。どの本も深みのある温かな作品で、かつ文章も易しく、お気に入りの作家です。10歳前後の困難を抱える子が、温かな大人や自然に守られて成長する、ヒューマンストーリー。そこに謎解き要素も加わってワクワク、というのがお決まりのパターン。子どもの目線、大人の目線でも読める一冊です。オーディブルは、男の子の訛りが強く、私には聞き取りにくかったです。

大人への反抗心を持った双子がRuby Hollerで老夫婦の愛情を受けながら、心を開いていくという、物語。確かに心を開くのにはきっかけがあるのだけれど、ある出来事で急に心を開くのではなく、いろんなことの積み重ねで少しずつ変わっていくところが素敵でした。子供の微妙な感性がうまく書かれており、読んでいてダラスとフロリダを応援したくなりました。分からない単語はありますが、前後の文章から大体の意味は推測でき、読みやすいのではないかと思います。子供の頃にかえったつもりで読んでみるといいかも知れないです。気持ちが優しくなれたような気がします。

双子の孤児が老夫婦に心を開いていく過程が描かれています。　Walk Two Moonsで、trickyだが心に残る小説を読んでいたので、賞を取ったこの小説も読んでみました。　Walk Two Moonsとは違い、非常に素直なストレートな作品と思います。児童書として申し分ないし、探偵小説やロマンスに食傷気味の時に最適かと思います。　もちろん英語も平易で気分転換という意味でも良いと思います。