Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Reviewed by JenniferRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
ADULT THEMES
Ratings Explanation
Language: 2 instances of “Lord” as an exclamation. Florida uses words like “putrid” and “stupid” throughout the book.
Violence: Several foster families mistreat Dallas and Florida. Mr. Trepid, who runs the orphanage they live in, smacks them when they misbehave.
Adult Themes: Dallas and Florida’s mother abandons them as babies. They genuinely want a family to call their own, but their behavior always lands them back in the orphanage. Because of their experiences they have a general distrust of adults. A young boy dies while living in the orphanage and Dallas thinks it is his fault. Mr. Trepid is dishonest.
Synopsis
13-year-old twins, Dallas and Florida, have lived in the Boxton Creek Home for Children all of their lives, and according to the proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Trepid, cause much more trouble than they are worth. They want more than anything to find a family, but after a long string of unsuccessful foster home experiences which included digging a well, being locked in a dark, damp cellar, and defending themselves against unwelcoming foster siblings, they have all but given up hope.
Then one day Tiller and Sairy walk into the Boxton Home looking for a couple of teenagers to accompany them on their next adventure. Florida is to join Tiller on his trip down the Rutabago River and Dallas will help Sairy find an exotic bird on the island of Kangadoon. As this unlikely family gets to know and understand each other, Florida and Dallas are surprised to learn that adults can be trusted and that they are worth loving.
This is the second time our family has read Ruby Holler aloud and it was just as good the second time. We all love this sweet book in which Florida and Dallas expect the worst from Tiller and Sairy, but are terribly disappointed. These sweet, older parents teach instead of scold and show patience instead of anger when the twins misbehave. I love Creech’s writing style and the hilarious way the twins mix up words. One of my favorites comes from Florida, “She wished she’d paid more attention in health class, when that nurse had come in with a rubber dummy and showed how to do that artificial perspiration stuff.”
Recommend this one to your kids, and then treat yourself to it as well.