Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

• Title: Ruby Holler
• Author: Sharon Creech
• Publishing: HarperCollins, Reprint Edition. April 24th, 2012. 
• Synopsis: This book starts at Boxton Creek Home, and orphanage in which the main characters of this novel, boy and girl twins Dallas and Florida live. The 13 year old twins have been tossed around by many adoptive families before and are making plans to run away, that is before they are adoptive by an older couple named Tiller and Sairy Morey who live on a plot of land called Ruby Holler. The elderly couple reveals their plans to go on separate trips, each with one of the twins. Over the course of the preparation process, the elderly couple works to prove that not everyone is the twins' enemy and that some people are worth trusting. The twins struggle to trust Sairy and Tiller, with multiple episodes of attempted running away. Eventually the twins realize that they can't trust the Moreys after all and they learn the true meaning of trust and family. 
• This book is a gentle story with themes pertaining to belonging as well as family. In addition, trust seems to be a common thing throughout the story. The author uses direct quotations to make the reader feel like they are actually present while the story is unfolding. The author also does a great job using imagery to really help the reader visualize  the setting of Ruby Holler. 
• I really enjoyed this book and remember reading it in a small group novel study in 4th grade. The author made me fall in love with Ruby Holler and really sympathize with the twins. This book really transported me into the story and I felt involved with the character's lives and the plot of the story, which I think is the mark of a great book. I also think that the themes of trust, belonging and family are excellently woven into the story.
• Like I did as a student in 4th grade, I would definitely use this novel as an older grade novel study. One of the activities I would do to work on comprehension and using imagery would be to have the students work in groups to create a labeled map of Ruby Holler. Once all of the groups finish their maps, I would have them present them to the class, and then we would make a full class final draft of the map and hang it in our classroom. 
• In searching for things to use Ruby Holler for, I found an awesome website that had a printable word search with vocabulary words from the book, ideas for fun related activities, as well as discussion questions for literature circles. Here is the link to this resource: http://www.surreylibraries.ca/programs-services/4858.aspx
• I found a really good book trailer for Ruby Holler that can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IoGa84TrDA
• The author Sharon Creech has a really nice website that has resources specifically for teachers using her books in the classroom that includes discussion questions as well as suggested activities to go along with her book. Her website can be found here: http://www.sharoncreech.com