RUBY'S WISH
Shirin Yim Bridges, , illus. by Sophie Blackall. . Chronicle, $15.95 (36pp) ISBN 978-0-8118-3490-2
Bridges, in her first book (based on her grandmother's story), handles the conflict between Chinese tradition and young Ruby's longing to attend university with grace and compassion. She sets the scene with a description of "a block of houses, five houses wide and seven houses deep, [once] the magnificent home of one family." Ruby lives in this home with her grandfather (who "did what rich men did in old China: he married many wives"). A tutor teaches any of the 100 assorted grandchildren who wish to learn, but Ruby is the only girl who continues to study while also keeping pace with learning her many household duties. Bridges characterizes the heroine as confident and spunky. For instance, she "insist[s] on wearing red
Reviewed on: 08/19/2002
Genre: Children's
Open Ebook - 36 pages - 978-1-4521-3347-8