Book: Ruby Lu, Empress of EverythingAuthor: Lenore Look
Audience: Grades 2-3
In a Nutshell: spunky second-grader learns to love immigration and swimming lessons
This is a sequel. I'm sorry. I have a problem.
When we last saw our heroine at the end of Ruby Lu, Brave and True, Ruby's cousin, Flying Duck, and had just emigrated with her family from China, and they're staying in Ruby's house. Ruby likes immigration at first: all the excitement, the parties, her role as a local tour guide, and her new playmate. Flying Duck is deaf, so Ruby also gets to learn some Chinese sign language, which is the hit of 20th Avenue South. Like it says at the end of chapter one: "Flying Duck was just perfect. Having a cousin from China who was deaf was as good as having a cousin who had a third eye in the middle of her forehead."
But just like her Samurai Sumo Sidekick toy, the excitement of immigration fades for Ruby. Everyone is speaking Cantonese around the house now, and Ruby, who is practically flunking out of afternoon Chinese School, can barely understand a word. And she's no good at chopsticks, but her mother puts all the forks away so they can "practice." But never fear, everything gets worked out, but not without the help of a few magnets her little brother sticks up his nose. Ruby also handles her fear of swimming, friendship troubles with neighbor Emma, summer school, and a stray dog named Elvis with equal spunk. Elements of Asian culture are nicely integrated into the story without sounding pedantic, and a clever glossary of Chinese and other tricky terms brings up the rear to help young readers. Fans of Junie B. Jones and Ramona should give Ruby Lu a try.
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