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beccadavies's review
3.0
Dallas and Florida have been dubbed the 'trouble twins' due to the fact that they constantly question authority and are generally clumsy and rambunctious. Having being shifted off to various homes throughtout their short life, they call a depressing group home for children their 'home' but they dream of running away on a train and never coming back.
Tiller and Sairy are an older couple who feel like their home of Ruby Holler is empty without the presence of their children who are now grown up and living in cities. In order to fill the void, they bring home Dallas and Florida who quickly succumb to the magic of Ruby Holler.
I had read many reviews of this book before I read it and I think this was done to my detrement. I had seen the words 'magic' 'humor' 'treasure maps' and I guess I expected more than what was the reality. It was still a lovely story and very heartfelt but I also couldn't get over the horrible names of every single character. Florida? Dallas? and even worse- Tiller and Sairy? Really?! I also thought the chapters were too short and I often got confused with who was narrating which chapter.
Even though this title was chosen by the book group and not myself, I think I still would have chosen it for my monthly Mother-Daughter book group. I think the girls will respond well to it. FOr myslef, I wanted more. I'm not sure what, but more.
Tiller and Sairy are an older couple who feel like their home of Ruby Holler is empty without the presence of their children who are now grown up and living in cities. In order to fill the void, they bring home Dallas and Florida who quickly succumb to the magic of Ruby Holler.
I had read many reviews of this book before I read it and I think this was done to my detrement. I had seen the words 'magic' 'humor' 'treasure maps' and I guess I expected more than what was the reality. It was still a lovely story and very heartfelt but I also couldn't get over the horrible names of every single character. Florida? Dallas? and even worse- Tiller and Sairy? Really?! I also thought the chapters were too short and I often got confused with who was narrating which chapter.
Even though this title was chosen by the book group and not myself, I think I still would have chosen it for my monthly Mother-Daughter book group. I think the girls will respond well to it. FOr myslef, I wanted more. I'm not sure what, but more.
onceuponacarm's review
4.0
Orphans Florida and Dallas have an awfully interesting past, which unfolds throughout the story through flashbacks, sharing of memories, and mysteries that come back to haunt them in both good and bad ways. Raised primarily at the Boxton Creek Home by the "putrid" couple that runs the orphanage, they grow up thinking of themselves as the "trouble twins," spending plenty of time in the cellar as punishment for running, yelling, and being themselves. When Sairy and Tiller, an elderly couple, borrow them from the orphanage to accompany them on two different trips, the twins have little hope that this time will be any different from the many other times a foster family took them in, treated them horribly, and quickly sent them back. The love, patience, and wisdom of Sairy and crotchety-old-Tiller work their magic slowly and realistically on these two children. Several times they attempt to run away, steal from Sairy and Tiller, punish themselves for being "bad," and fight the temptation to get comfortable. Unlike some other classics about orphans finding a family, these two are compelling and likable from the beginning, in spite of Florida's crankiness and their penchant for breaking things and distrusting everyone. Love runs throughout this story, as well as questions of identity, family, and right and wrong. It's beautifully written and a pleasure to read. Recommended for middle grade readers who enjoy realistic fiction with compelling characters (and maybe a hint of magic) such as books by Wendy Mass, Jerry Spinelli, and others by Sharon Creech.
spazmatikdingo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
A core memory book for me, read it freshman year!
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I read this when I was much younger and didn't really have a recollection of it besides a tree, a rock, and an extremely small town. As it would turn out, there was indeed a tree with meaning, hidden rocks, and an extremely small town, so I'm glad my past self at least remembered some of the symbolism in this book.
Truly though, reading it now was so emotional. Half the time my hand was placed over my heart, because as an adult I now have a much bigger understanding of the troubles Dallas and Florida went through. The amount of abuse, troubles with foster care, troubles with adults they've had are not isolated cases, but Creech writes about these difficult subjects with grace and nuance.
Not only that, but each character has their own distinct personality and reasons for being the way they are--even the Trepids. The Trepids are easily the antagonists of the story, but they're people, too, and Creech does a fantastic job of emphasizing that. Not only that, but one of the biggest intrigues of this book was Z, who works for the Trepids, but who's also Sairy and Tiller's friend...and perhaps the long lost father of Dallas and Florida?
I'm just utterly in love with Sharon Creech's books once more, and can only hope that I continue to rediscover my childhood love for her stories. I'd definitely recommend Ruby Holler from ages 9-13, though as can be seen by this review, it can be loved by those of all ages.
Review cross-listed here!
Truly though, reading it now was so emotional. Half the time my hand was placed over my heart, because as an adult I now have a much bigger understanding of the troubles Dallas and Florida went through. The amount of abuse, troubles with foster care, troubles with adults they've had are not isolated cases, but Creech writes about these difficult subjects with grace and nuance.
Not only that, but each character has their own distinct personality and reasons for being the way they are--even the Trepids. The Trepids are easily the antagonists of the story, but they're people, too, and Creech does a fantastic job of emphasizing that. Not only that, but one of the biggest intrigues of this book was Z, who works for the Trepids, but who's also Sairy and Tiller's friend...and perhaps the long lost father of Dallas and Florida?
I'm just utterly in love with Sharon Creech's books once more, and can only hope that I continue to rediscover my childhood love for her stories. I'd definitely recommend Ruby Holler from ages 9-13, though as can be seen by this review, it can be loved by those of all ages.
Review cross-listed here!
katie_chandler's review
3.0
Juvenile fiction about twins in foster care system who have a summer adventure with an older couple. While it involves buried treasure and a couple Miss Hannigan type characters, there are some more realistic emotions of kids in foster care.
thewallflower00's review
5.0
My daughter said this is one of her favorite books and Sharon Creech is one of her favorite authors. I had already read “Walk Two Moons” but that didn’t set me up proper for this one. Walk Two Moons has big questions, like karma, parental loss, parental absence, and lots of death. Ruby Holler is about a brother and sister, two grandparents in a cabin, and evil villains who run an orphanage.
It reminded me of a female Roald Dahl book + Gilmore Girls/Switched at Birth. There’s all this quaint country stuff (living in the woods, rural lifestyle, hiking and boating) with a little spitz of magic. There are some problems with choppiness and loose ends (the evil orphanage owner gets a rather pithy comeuppance for his misdeeds). It’s like "Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" if it was shown on CMT.
It reminded me of a female Roald Dahl book + Gilmore Girls/Switched at Birth. There’s all this quaint country stuff (living in the woods, rural lifestyle, hiking and boating) with a little spitz of magic. There are some problems with choppiness and loose ends (the evil orphanage owner gets a rather pithy comeuppance for his misdeeds). It’s like "Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" if it was shown on CMT.
kmcneil's review
4.0
Loved the quirky characters, the setting, the plot ... I can highly recommend this book to my upper elementary students who like realistic fiction, and I can recommend it to adults who are in search of a sweet and satisfying read.
From Kirkus Review 3/15/2002
The trouble twins, Dallas and Florida, are given the opportunity to take a three-month vacation from the horrible orphanage that has been home. An elderly couple, Sairy and Tiller of Ruby Holler, wants help. Tiller would like to build a boat and explore the river Rutabago with Florida, while Sairy dreams of visiting far-off Kangadoon to see a red-tailed rocking bird, but needs Dallas's assistance. Dreamy Dallas and Feisty Florida have always counted on each other and dread parting. As the twins naturally strew trouble wherever they go, they also reveal the horrors of their past-but gradually, all four characters draw together. The charm of Sairy's acceptance of whatever awful thing the twins do is matched by her desire to see what she's like when Tiller isn't there. Despite ominous signs that the separation of both pairs may be dire, they persist. Adding tension, Mr. and Mrs. Trepid, who run the nursing home, hire Z (their only Ruby Holler neighbor) to discover the buried funds that will finance the upcoming expeditions. Tiller, is a grumbler, but it only hides his soft heart. Dallas and Florida both have a hard time believing that anywhere in the universe can be as wonderful as Ruby Holler, and they try to remain committed to their original plan to catch the freight train and escape. Various tidbits about the origins of the twins tumble into the plot in haphazard ways, developing that mystery. Such charm and humor is encapsulated in this romp with its melodramatic elements of treasure and orphans, that it feels perfectly reasonable to want it to go on and see what happens next. Creech ends with the readers more in the know than the characters concerned, making for a slightly unsatisfying finish. Still: an altogether engaging outing. (Fiction. 9-12)
From Kirkus Review 3/15/2002
The trouble twins, Dallas and Florida, are given the opportunity to take a three-month vacation from the horrible orphanage that has been home. An elderly couple, Sairy and Tiller of Ruby Holler, wants help. Tiller would like to build a boat and explore the river Rutabago with Florida, while Sairy dreams of visiting far-off Kangadoon to see a red-tailed rocking bird, but needs Dallas's assistance. Dreamy Dallas and Feisty Florida have always counted on each other and dread parting. As the twins naturally strew trouble wherever they go, they also reveal the horrors of their past-but gradually, all four characters draw together. The charm of Sairy's acceptance of whatever awful thing the twins do is matched by her desire to see what she's like when Tiller isn't there. Despite ominous signs that the separation of both pairs may be dire, they persist. Adding tension, Mr. and Mrs. Trepid, who run the nursing home, hire Z (their only Ruby Holler neighbor) to discover the buried funds that will finance the upcoming expeditions. Tiller, is a grumbler, but it only hides his soft heart. Dallas and Florida both have a hard time believing that anywhere in the universe can be as wonderful as Ruby Holler, and they try to remain committed to their original plan to catch the freight train and escape. Various tidbits about the origins of the twins tumble into the plot in haphazard ways, developing that mystery. Such charm and humor is encapsulated in this romp with its melodramatic elements of treasure and orphans, that it feels perfectly reasonable to want it to go on and see what happens next. Creech ends with the readers more in the know than the characters concerned, making for a slightly unsatisfying finish. Still: an altogether engaging outing. (Fiction. 9-12)
mikimeiko's review against another edition
4.0
Magical, and funny, and bittersweet; generally feel-good, with a non-sloppy happy ending.
Just like the other books by Sharon Creech, really.
I could keep reading her books forever ♥
Just like the other books by Sharon Creech, really.
I could keep reading her books forever ♥
hamckeon's review
4.0
I enjoyed this novel because it was uplifting without being too much like an unrealistic fairy tale. The orphan twins and the older couple helped each other in ways they never possibly imagined.