Reminds me of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer -- sharing as they do, both the letter writing format and the central drama of chicken lives. They complement each other nicely while telling entirely different stories.

This is the tale of Miss Ruby Lavender and her partner in crime Miss Eula (her grandmother) -- liberating chickens, leaving notes for each other in a hollow tree, and generally enjoying the lives of the 3 rescued hens sometime in the 1950-60s in halleluia, Mississippi. However, they are also grieving together, as their town is grieving, over the loss of Ruby's grandfather and young Melba Jane's father in a tragic car accident. Melba and Ruby are at odds and constantly fighting. Miss Eula has decided to go spend the summer in Hawaii visiting her new grandchild, and there's a new girl in town. By turns funny, sad, and just plain interesting. ( )

A lively, humorous story featuring Miss Eula Garnet and her granddaughter Ruby as they share adventures and day-to-day miseries. The feisty duo shakes up their Mississippi town, Halleluia, "Population: 400 Good Friendly Folks And A Few Old Soreheads," when they liberate three soon-to-be-euthanized chickens from an egg ranch in a daring, daylight raid. They share an abiding sadness over the death of Grandpa Garnet, whose passing seems to be clouded by some terrible secret. When Miss Eula announces an unexpected trip to Hawaii to visit her son and to put some distance between herself and sorrow, the girl is shattered. Ruby fills her days by writing daily letters to her grandmother, monitoring the chickens, befriending the niece of the new fourth-grade teacher, and trying to avoid her nemesis whose father died in the same accident as Grandpa Garnet. Tensions between Ruby and Melba escalate as rehearsals for the annual Town Operetta commence. Resulting fireworks clear the air, reveal secrets, and resolve hard feelings just in time for Miss Eula's return. The engaging narrative, interspersed with amusing letters exchanged between Eula and Ruby and articles from the local newspaper, is witty and fast paced and the quirky, diverse cast of human and poultry characters is colorful and spirited, if not totally realistic. ( )

In this book, Ruby lives in a small town and loves to raise her chickens. Here very best friend there is her grandmother, who leaves to go visit her new granddaughter in Hawaii. Ruby is very upset to not have her with her, especially because now she'll have to face Melba Jean all alone (they are NOT friends). Ruby meets a new friend, Dove, who is staying with her aunt and uncle in the house nearby. Some shenanigans occur between Ruby and Melba Jean before they come together at the end and resolve their differences, apologizing for all that happened.
This book is a good example of realistic fiction because all the aspects of the book are realistic and could really happen- the characters, the conflict, the setting, etc. For example, the fact that Ruby and Melba Jean don't get along because of the accident that killed both Melba Jean's father and Ruby's grandfather is a realistic conflict.
Age Appropriateness: Intermediate

Love, Ruby Lavender is the perfect middle school novel to read. Ruby and her grandmother have a very close relationship. But when her lovely and funny grandmother leaves to Hawaii for the summer, Ruby is left to dealt with her problems all on her own. To deal with a girl she doesn't like, the new girl in town and finally learning how to cope with her grandfather's death. She has to learn how to survive without leaning on her grandmother and do things her way. Love, Ruby Lavender has no illustrations because it was a chapter book. But it does make you think about how the characters look, how her town is like and the many activities she does. The text is the perfect and right size for reading. Teachers should always be encouraging their students to read. So, this book can't really be used in the classroom because it is a great book to read on your free time. Ruby Lavender is such an amazing and strong individual and I admire that so much. For a nine-year-old to learn how to cope with the loss of her grandfather and be able to fight everything or anyone who comes her way is simply powerful. ( )

The story is about MIss Ruby Lavender, a fun and wild 9 year old. The book is mostly told in letters to Ruby's grandmother, who sadly had to leave Ruby for the summer. Ruby learns how to relies on herself this summer and makes new friends. She even joined a play! A fun and quick read for all ages. It will make you laugh every page you turn too. Great coming to age! ( )