Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles

"So I'll interview everyone in Halleluia. I'll learn about the town excitements and tragedies and customs and traditions and then I'll write it all up ... but first I have to know all the facts. For instance what's the biggest thing that ever happened in this town?"

Ruby lives in Halleluia, Mississippi. Deborah Wiles gives her readers tiny hints that, in the past, there has been some terrible tragedy in this small community.  It is a tragedy that has affected everyone but in particular Ruby is deeply hurting as is her beloved Grandmother Miss Eula Dapplevine. Caught up in all of this we also have Melba Jane Latham. The only thing we know is that Ruby's Grandfather Garnet is dead as is Melba's daddy.

Ruby has one special friend - Eula, her grandmother. As the story opens the two of them raid a chicken farm and rescue three hens. These precious chickens will claim a place in Ruby's heart. She is looking forward to sharing the chicken raising with her grandmother who suggests keeping the chickens in a old greenhouse in her garden. Things become especially wonderful for Ruby when one of the chickens lays three eggs. Ruby has a very hard time coping with Melba but grandmother Eula seems to understand this offers great wisdom. At the same time, though, Eula herself is grieving and so,when invited, Eula takes up an offer to visit her son in Honolulu so she can meet her newest and second grandchild.  Ruby is so sad to say goodbye to her grandmother but the pair keep in touch with letters. This book was written before the age of email etc. It does not feel old fashioned. I found the letters themselves delightful.

Publisher blurb:  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.

This unforgettable story is told both in third person narrative and through letters which Ruby and Miss Eula write to each other. All the characters in this story are full of life, practically leaping off the pages complete with their peculiarities, their hurts, and the triumphs. Looking Glass Review

I mentioned a few posts back that I have a small collection of older books picked up from a library where the Teacher-Librarian had done a thorough cull of her oldest books most of which were in very poor condition. 

I read Love, Ruby Lavender when it was first published in 2002 and my memory is that this was a wonderful story. Today I re-read Love, Ruby Lavender and I am sighing with happiness.  This is a beautifully told story filled with genuine emotion. This is a book about relationships, and guilt and healing. I am so happy to see it is still available.  I am also so happy I was able to spend today reacquainting myself with Ruby. You will fall in love with the chickens too!

You can see three covers above.  The collage art cover is by Britta Teckentrup. Here are a set of Book Club questions to use with Love, Ruby Lavender.

I would follow Love, Ruby Lavender with The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley.

I have talked briefly previously about another book by Deborah Wiles - Each little bird that sings.