Ruby Lee and Me: 02/26/18

Ruby Lee and Me by Shannon Hitchcock is a based on actual events. Sarah Beth loves to read and was happily absorbed in her book when her younger sister is hit by a car. Robin's hospitalization and rehabilitation throws Sarah's family and life into chaos.

Sarah, understandably feels guilty for her sister's accident. Maybe things would have been different if she had paid more attention. Maybe her parents will never trust her again. Maybe her sister will hate her. Maybe her sister will never recover.

One thing is for certain, the family can't afford to live in their home any more. They move back to the family farm and Sarah has to change schools.

Sarah's change in schools happens just as the school district is desegregating. While she's best friends with Ruby Lee at the farm — her family has worked for or with Sarah's family for generations — neither family is sure how to react to the desegregation.

Stress of the move, stress over Robin brings out the worst in Sarah. She's forced to confront head on her own racism and her own fears over the larger changes coming to the area. It's a frank portrayal of racial prejudice tucked into a story about a family dealing with a horrific accident.

The afterword includes photographs from the author's childhood of the people and places that inspired the book.

Five stars

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