Summary:
The Boxton Creek Home for Children is the only home thirteen-year-old twins Dallas and Florida have ever known - and it hasn't been a happy one. Their lives are filled with endless rules that are given to them by the proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Trepid, and the unjust name of the "trouble twins". They plan to change their fate by running away and riding the rails on the night train. However, these plans go awry when they are asked to live with the elderly couple Tiller and Sairy to accompany them on their separate vacations. Dallas and Florida are leery of the couple because of past encounters with potential adoptive families, however Tiller and Sairy come to love Dallas and Florida who have re-sparked their interest in life. This love helps Dallas and Florida to blossom as well as the glorious, country setting of Tiller and Sairy's home in Ruby Holler.
My Evaluation:
This book has been on my "to-read" list for some time because it is one of the most popular books for the middle school age children. I really can't keep it on the shelf. I was rewarded with a touching and engaging novel when I finally checked out Ruby Holler. There are some truly beautiful themes woven throughout the well-written tale, and I found myself rooting for the "trouble twins". This book brings to light a real issue that orphans experience. The foster system is usually a grueling and truly horrifying experience. The plight of Dallas and Florida can help children from happy homes understand the plight that is faced by some of their peers. The only criticism I would have of the book is that the "Z" being their father sub-plot didn't really seem to flow or fit well with the rest of the book.
Reviews:
Vandenbroek, R.R. (2002). Book of the Week: Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA199370.html?q=ruby+holler
Orphaned twins Dallas and Florida have resigned themselves to living within the confines of the Boxton Creek Home for Children. It's a loveless existence. The Trepids, owners and "rule enforcers" of the home, target the brother and sister at every opportunity and all of the prospective adoptive parents have returned them to the orphanage. Eventually the children are sent to act as temporary companions to an eccentric older couple who live in Ruby Holler, and there they find love and acceptance. While the plot is predictable, the story weaves in an interesting mix of mystery, adventure, and humor, along with age-old and modern problems. Creech does a fine job of developing the unique personalities and the sibling relationship, and the children's defense mechanisms (Dallas's dreamy escapism and Florida's aggression) figure prominently in the interplay among the characters. The text is lively and descriptive with an authentic, if somewhat mystical, rural ambience. This entertaining read from a first-rate author will not disappoint Creech's many fans.
Coulter, E. (n.d). Amazon.com Review. Amazon.com. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Holler-Sharon-Creech/dp/0060560150
Having suffered through a string of appalling foster homes (the spitting Cranbepps; scary, toothless Mr. Dreep who locked them in his cellar; and the mean Burgerton boys), 13-year-old orphan Dallas and his twin sister, Florida, have pretty much given up on ever finding a happy home. So when an eccentric older couple enters their lives, providing such adventures as a river expedition, a treasure hunt (of sorts), and a whole lot of remarkable meals: "beat-the-blues broccoli," "anti-cranky crumpets," and "getting-used-to-kids- again stew," the twins take a while to warm up. Florida's language teems with outrageous, telling negativity--everything is "putrid"--and even dreamy Dallas is inclined to bouts of doubt. But warm up they do, to the continual delight of readers of all ages.
Sharon Creech, author of Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and Newbery Honor book The Wanderer, is in fine form with her hilarious yet poignant novel about downtrodden siblings who refuse to be squished altogether. The perfectly happy ending is somewhat predictable, but readers who have fallen in love with each quirky character won't mind a bit.
My Suggestions for Use in a Library Setting:
I believe that Ruby Holler would be excellent for a lesson in the library about colloquialisms. We would start off by asking the children why they believe Sairy and Tiller's home is named Ruby Holler. After giving them some time to put forward their ideas, we would explain the word "holler"s Appalachian roots. We would then say that it actually is "hollow" and refers to a small valley. We would suggest that the children look for colloquialism in their own reading and bring examples for the next week.
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