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RUBY ELECTRIC

Name: RUBY ELECTRIC
Author: Theresa Nelson
ISBN: 0-689-83852-2

by Theresa Nelson ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2003

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A budding screenwriter, full of dreams and longing, finds a place for herself on the edge of the drainage ditch that was once the Los Angeles River. Aside from writing movies, 12-year-old Ruby Miller’s primary goal is to find her father, who disappeared from her life five years ago. Her pursuit of her goals is somewhat hampered by the gentle demands of her mother and little brother, and greatly hampered by the unwanted interest shown in her by her two loser classmates, Big Skinny and Mouse. In the way of things Hollywood, plot elements from Ruby, Big Skinny, and Mouse’s apprehension for vandalism, little brother Pete’s loss of his beloved mammoth puppet, their prissy landlady’s determination to clean up her little part of the world, and her mother’s new and alarming interest in her podiatrist boss coalesce in a marvelously Andy Rooney–esque climax. Punctuated by snippets of Ruby’s scripts, the present-tense narrative positively fizzes with emotion and goodwill. The happy ending is just honest enough not to be pure Hollywood, and thus is all the more satisfying. Thumbs up. (Fiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: June 1, 2003

ISBN: 0-689-83852-2

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2003

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
THE YEAR WE SAILED THE SUN
by Theresa Nelson

- BOOK REVIEW
THE EMPRESS OF ELSEWHERE
by Theresa Nelson

- BOOK REVIEW
EARTHSHINE
by Theresa Nelson

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THE BAD BEGINNING

by Lemony Snicket ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 30, 1999

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The Baudelaire children—Violet, 14, Klaus, 12, and baby Sunny—are exceedingly ill-fated; Snicket extracts both humor and horror from their situation, as he gleefully puts them through one terrible ordeal after another. After receiving the news that their parents died in a fire, the three hapless orphans are delivered into the care of Count Olaf, who “is either a third cousin four times removed, or a fourth cousin three times removed.” The villainous Count Olaf is morally depraved and generally mean, and only takes in the downtrodden yet valiant children so that he can figure out a way to separate them from their considerable inheritance. The youngsters are able to escape his clutches at the end, but since this is the first installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there will be more ghastly doings. Written with old-fashioned flair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish: the Baudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters who encounter a multitude of distressing situations. Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: Sept. 30, 1999

ISBN: 0-06-440766-7

Page Count: 162

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
SWARM OF BEES
by Lemony Snicket ; illustrated by Rilla Alexander

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BAD MOOD AND THE STICK
by Lemony Snicket ; illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

- BOOK REVIEW
GOLDFISH GHOST
by Lemony Snicket ; illustrated by Lisa Brown

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GLORIA'S WAY

by Ann Cameron ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 9, 2000

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Fans of Cameron’s Huey and Julian stories (More Stories Huey Tells, 1997, etc.) are in for a treat as Gloria, their friend from those tales, gets a book of her own and graciously allows the two brothers to share it . In the first tale, Gloria makes a wonderful card for her mother, but the wind blows it away and it ends up in the cage of a cantankerous parrot. Thanks to Mr. Bates, Huey and Julian’s dad, the day is saved, as is the burgeoning friendship that Gloria and the boys have struck up with new neighbor Latisha in the story, “The Promise.” In another story, Gloria has to deal with a huge problem—fractions—and this time it’s her dad who helps her through it. Mr. Bates proves helpful again when the group trains an “obsessed” puppy, while Gloria’s mother is supportive when Gloria is unintentionally hurt by her three best friends. The stories are warm and funny, as Gloria, a spunky kid who gets into some strange predicaments, finds out that her friends and wise, loving adults are good to have around when trouble beckons. Great fun, with subtly placed, positive messages that never take center stage. (b&w illustrations) (Fiction. 8-12)