Finally. I finally recovered enough from the sob fest that was each little bird that sings to read Deborah Wiles' first book, Love, Ruby Lavender. Everyone and their mom had said to me: "Leila. Stop being such a weenie. We promise that Ruby won't make you cry. Just read it. C'mon. Read it. JUST READ IT, YOU HUGE WIMP!"
So I did. And it didn't make me cry. So yes, you all win:
Well, Good Garden of Peas, Miss Happiness,
Your letter was exciting. I was sure you would hate Hawaii. Maybe by now you do.
For your information, Melba Jane is curling her hair so loopy it looks like a heap of catfish guts. It's very attractive. I told her so.
The whole book is pretty darn adorable. Fans of Winn-Dixie will especially like it -- it's got the small-town southern setting, the quirky characters and a similar storyline about loss. It's much funnier, though.
This is going to ruffle some feathers (HAH! Get it? Feathers?), but as much as I like this book, I still liked each little bird more. Sorry.
I'll have to read this one, Leila. I sobbed my way through "each little bird" as well. Sobbed. It's been a long time since I've cried when reading. That being said, though, I couldn't recommend "each little bird" to my daughter--she's way too sensitive and would be devastated.
Posted by: Kelly | 11 April 2006 at 02:30 PM
Oh, it would have killed me as a kid. Killed me. (As a grown-up, it came pretty close...)
I've only given it to a few kids -- with a huge warning that it's WAY sad. They've all loved it, but they like tearjerkers once in a while.
Posted by: Leila | 11 April 2006 at 02:38 PM
I think Ruby Lavendar might have made me a little teary...but not much.
Posted by: jess | 11 April 2006 at 05:33 PM