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Love, Ruby Lavender
Unavailable
Love, Ruby Lavender
Unavailable
Love, Ruby Lavender
Audiobook3 hours

Love, Ruby Lavender

Written by Deborah Wiles

Narrated by Judith Ivey

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Who is Ruby Lavender? She used to have a fun life, until her Yoo-hoo-drinking, pink muumuu-wearing, best friend of a grandmother up and left for Hawaii to spend the summer with her new (smelly) grandbaby. Now Ruby is stuck in boring old Halleluia, Mississippi, reading to her chickens, sweeping floors at the general store (torture), and being tormented by the curly-haired, tip-tapping Melba Jane.

In letter after letter, nine-year-old Ruby pours out her heart to her grandmother. But there is one thing Ruby cannot tell even her—the very same thing that makes Ruby take the long way home every single time and that makes her hate Melba Jane more than anyone.

She’s resourceful. She’s feisty. She’s in for some big surprises. Oh, Miss Ruby Lavender—she will pull at your heart.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 26, 2002
ISBN9780807207192
Author

Deborah Wiles

DEBORAH WILES is the award-winning author of Each Little Bird That Sings, a National Book Award finalist; Love, Ruby Lavender, an ALA Notable Children's Book, a Children's Book Sense 76 Pick, an NCTE Notable Book for the Language Arts, and a New York Public Library Book for Reading and Sharing; Freedom Summer, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; The Aurora County All-Stars, a New York Public Library Book for Reading and Sharing; and One Wide Sky. She lives in Georgia.www.deborahwiles.com

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Reviews for Love, Ruby Lavender

Rating: 4.070866333858268 out of 5 stars
4/5

127 ratings17 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. Ruby's relationship with her grandma is so precious. The conflict and healing that Ruby goes through is moving and relate able. There are great discussion group questions and activities in the back of the book. I'd use this as a read aloud in second grade but for reading groups in 3rd and 4th grade. I need to buy this book asap to add to my library!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I absolutely loved this book! It reminded me of the relationship I have with my own grandma. I really enjoyed reading the letters they wrote back and forth. It would be fun to incorporate this book into a letter writing unit.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. It was one that I couldn't put down. I wanted to keep reading it every time I had to stop. It is a story about dealing with changes in life and that life does go on. She and Miss Eula, which is her grandmother write letters to each other throughout the story and it was nice to hear the connection they have and how she seems to always look to her for advice in life. Very cute story. I think kids could really relate to it. Would make a perfect read aloud and could introduce letter writing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I LOVED this book. I could not stop reading it. I really enjoyed the story and thought that lots of kids could relate to it. I would definitely read the story to my future classroom of older students. Loved, loved, loved it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an absolutely delightful book that I didn't want to put down. Ruby is a little firecracker, but she learns many lessons over the summer. I love that this book is a celebration of life lessons and the relationships between grandmothers and granddaughters. Overall, one of my favorite reads of the summer so far!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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 and work toward healing.Ruby Lavender melts your heart with her endearing, quirky personality.Recommended.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I really enjoyed this book because it is about this girl mamed ruby laveder and her and her gramdmaw Mrs.Eula amd they are best freinds and one day Mrs.Eula went to Hawaii to see her new grandbaby and when she left Ruby felt that she could not do anything without her and she was really upset and she felt like the new baby was replaceing her and Ruby and this girl Melba Jane were got into fights all the time and when Rubys chicken was going to have chicks and Melba Jane killed them and Ruby was really hurt and she did not know that Melba Jane would do somthing that mean and Mrs.Eula and Ruby always write to each other about evrey thing that happens and Rubys grandmother has been gone for a mounth now and read the book and you will find out what happens when Rubys grandmaw is gone and if Mrs.Eula will ever come back also there are some big seenes about Ruby and Melba Jane to.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a good book it was also very funny. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction. My favorite parrt was when they went to this old ladys house and took some of her chickens and they got off safe and they got back home. And a little while later they started to lay eggs..... To find out what happens next read Love,Ruby Lavender.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Powerful children's book touching on many subjects, including loss.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fun story,innocent. Good for solid 4th + readers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This author was at the school media conference I attended. Ruby is a girl who raises chickens with her best friend, her grandmother, who goes to Hawaii to visit her new grandchild. To Ruby, her grandmother leaving is the end of the world. A cute book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The story is about MIss Ruby Lavender, a fun and wild 9 year old. The book is mostly told in letters to Ruby's grandmother, who sadly had to leave Ruby for the summer. Ruby learns how to relies on herself this summer and makes new friends. She even joined a play! A fun and quick read for all ages. It will make you laugh every page you turn too. Great coming to age!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This story is about a girl and her grandmother. Her grandmother had to go to Haw ii to see her new grand baby. Rudy thinks she is about to have the most boring summer of her life. She lived in Mississippi and she didn't have many things to do. Well her summer ended up being fantastic. Ruby met new friends, joined a play, and wrote letters. I think this story was a good read. I enjoyed the letter Ruby wrote.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Deborah Wiles captures the essence of what it means to be a child, and all its complications which most writers are too afraid to touch. Ruby, a precocious red head, deals with a summer without her beloved grandmother. This comes on the heels of the death of her grandfather. When Miss Eula goes to Hawaii to visit her new grandbaby and family, Ruby finds herself having to face Miss Mattie - the aunt she isn't very fond of and Melba Jane - the yearly star of the town's operetta. Ruby discovers that she is, after all, capable of making decisions about how to handle conflicts with others and growing new friendships along the way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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.