RUBY UNSCRIPTED

Fifteen-year-old Ruby is facing another major upheaval in her life. Her mother and stepfather are moving the family hours away from their small town to a more upscale community in Marin County, Calif. Here, they will move into a house provided by a relative, and Ruby will take a part-time job in her Aunt Jenna’s coffeehouse/cinema. To add to Ruby’s distress, crush Nick reveals he likes her just as she is leaving, and her older brother, Carson, decides to stay with their father and stepmother. Descriptions of Ruby’s work in the coffeehouse and her memories of life back in Cottonwood effectively create a sense of contrast between the two worlds. Ruby’s family has a strong connection to their Christian faith and she tries to understand God’s purpose for her life as she navigates even more difficulties with new family members and new friends. Ruby is a lively character, and the Christian themes are woven seamlessly through the story. The complicated adults in Ruby’s life are especially well drawn. An enjoyable story that will resonate with teen readers of Christian fiction. (Fiction. 12 & up)