Ruby's Slippers

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 2010年11月8日

Like her idol, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Ruby believes that there's no place like home; she's very happy living in Curly Creek, Kans., a place where there's no need for technology and the neighbors are family. But Ruby's mother is taking her to Oz aka Coconut Beach, Fla. to live with Ruby's Nana Dottie, who her mother had an unexplained falling out with years ago. Ruby sticks out like a pair of ruby slippers (if ruby slippers were red Chuck Taylors) among her sophisticated classmates, and her eccentric mother doesn't help (as when she gives Ruby a vintage ABBA lunch box that sets off the school's metal detector). While navigating emotional landmines at home, Ruby tries to make sense of the culture of cell phones and divas-in-training while holding onto her ideals; she is challenged by popular Ava, who is enraged when Ruby is put in her group for the illustrious school talent show. Secondary characters are less developed than Ruby, but Rayburn's (the Maggie Bean series) story is a fun romp over the rainbow with a plucky and entertaining heroine. Ages 9 13.