Ruby on the Outside

March 15, 2015
Having a mom in prison presents Ruby with complications and challenges.Ruby's most prominent concern is her need to keep the truth about her mom secret. On the cusp of sixth grade, Ruby is becoming discontent with her situation. Until now, Ruby has kept her life compartmentalized, establishing a strong distinction between the "outside world" and her "inside world." But with middle school looming, Ruby decides a best friend is a necessity. The arrival of new girl Margalit inspires Ruby to attempt a connection with someone from the outside, and she learns that Margalit also struggles in the wake of a family crisis. Despite their different circumstances, both girls cope with the repercussions of events far beyond their control. The joy Ruby expresses in her blossoming friendship with Margalit profoundly demonstrates the isolation she has endured as a result of keeping her inside and outside lives separate. When a startling coincidence compels Ruby to investigate her mother's history, her discovery has the potential to unravel her fledgling friendship. Writing in Ruby's voice, Baskin delves into her protagonist's evolving perceptions as her awareness of her mother's circumstances deepens. Ruby's gradual revelation of the truth represents her determined, hopeful progress toward healing and acceptance. A deeply compassionate exploration of an experience underrepresented in children's literature but overrepresented in the real world. (Fiction. 10-14)

April 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-The touching, emotionally complex story of Ruby Danes, an 11-year-old with a big secret. For the past six years, Ruby has lived with her aunt because her mother has been in prison. Thus far, Ruby has kept her secret close, thereby developing an overwhelming self-consciousness to avoid sharing her true self. But now she finds herself forming a new friendship with her neighbor Margalit, and Ruby struggles to negotiate the powerful feelings of friendship with the bewildering guilt of having an incarcerated parent. Baskin elegantly guides readers through Ruby's painful but cleansing reconstruction of the mysteries of her past while she comes to terms with her current situation. Ruby's story will speak to any young person struggling with the consequences of their parents' choices and the psychological ache of safeguarding their true selves. The author takes great pains to assure readers of Ruby's mother's moral-and likely legal-innocence, which may alienate some readers familiar with the criminal justice system. Still, readers will benefit from Ruby's emotional evolution as she learns the cathartic power of creativity, honesty, and friendship. VERDICT Sensitively handled and emotionally impactful, this novel is especially a must-have for libraries that serve children of incarcerated parents.-Anna Murphy, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn

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