Healing Ruby

Jennifer H. Westall knows how to put the reader into a place and time that truly feels like the American 30's era. This work of fiction, with some truths in various places, is fiercely tender-hearted. A few notes first: The pronoun for God is not capitalized (something I'm not used to), I did wonder what happened to Chester and Calhoun, and why Mr. Doyle was abrupt with Ruby didn't get explained, but in the whole scheme of the story, none of these aspects took away from the wonderful playing out of the plot and the spectacular growth of the title character. Ruby, a 12-year old girl whom we see over a three-year period, is incredibly inspiring. Her tenacity and zeal for doing what is right and pleasing to God shoves back the many many obstacles (people) who try to warn her or harm her as she embarks on a mission to find her place in this world and in God's will. Westall creates a young girl with an enduring spirit who finds her way in The Depression and insists on making pathways never before traveled. The characters surrounding her include many loving family members and friends, though even they themselves function as obstacles to her mission, and then there's the villain Brother Cass. Cass is not your typical villain and I couldn't help but be in awe over how strong-spirited Ruby managed to be in spite of him (and other beastly characters). I loved this girl and Matt and just the way that everything continued to play itself out. Ruby is a girl who takes on risks that most people, in any given time and place, would hesitate doing. I want to add that Ruby epitomizes Ephesians 3:12. The story is ripe with simplicity of farm life but written in a memorable way that will have you cherishing Ruby, et al for years to come.