Review: Ruby Red by Robin Jansen Shope

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Review by Elisa Maria Crites

What if dark skinned children had been able to ride the orphan trains?
What impact would those children have had on the communities they landed in?

Robin Shope seems to ask those questions and the result is the story of Ruby Red. Ruby rode the orphan train by accident, but it changed her life and the lives of those who met her.

How did the other children treat her? How did the folks who met the train to take home a child to love as part of the family, or to take home farm hands react to the dark skinned child?

Ruby meets well rounded characters who possess both strengths and flaws in her adventures. This story is well worth reading.

Age Range: 9-12
Genre: Historical
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 190
Publisher: Sparklesoup LLC
Released: 2010

INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY WITH AUTHOR ROBIN JANSEN SHOPE

Hi, everybody. Elisa Maria here, and I’m as happy as a bear in a berry patch to be a part of Novel Teen. I’m the mom of three and the grandmother to nine awesome kids, who are seven through fifteen years old. I live in Alaska and can see Denali out my front windows. (Breathtaking!)

I love young people. You are the life blood of the future and my heart is to encourage and lift you up, so that you will be fulfilled walking out God’s amazing plan for your life.

And now for my first post, I’m pleased to interview Robin Jenson Shope, author of Ruby Red. (And other books, but I haven’t read them yet.)

Robin, welcome to Novel Teen and thank you for agreeing to give us an interview.
It is my pleasure, Maria, thank you for inviting me.

Click to view Ruby Red on Amazon.com.

Is writing books your “day” job or do you work someplace else?
Writing is my fun job and I work some place “else.” Actually, I enjoy being the Special Education Coordinator at the Juvenile Justice System in Denton, Texas. I work with teens who have been court ordered to be here, or expelled from school. I love it when lives turn around.

When you were a teen, what were your favorite books?
I loved reading the Nancy Drew series. However, the first book I fell in love with was in its first printing at the time, Island of the Blue Dolphins. I read, and reread, that book all summer long, crying at every read as though it was the first time.

In less than 20 words, please give us your life story pitch sentence.
I grew up in Chicago and attended a private school. We summered on Lake Delavan in Wisconsin and finally moved there when I was in 7^th grade. It was there that I found happiness and came into my own. I began writing my stories.

If you could bring any character from one of your books to life, who would it be and why?
I would bring Ruby Red to life. Ruby has an interesting perspective on life and though a bit of a realist, she still has an indomitable spirit that feeds her hope. Ruby is kind, loving, and sees through people’s actions to their intentions.

What actors would your choose to star in your book-turned movie if you could choose them?
Ruby would have to be an unknown. Many of the cast members around her would be well-known, but Ruby is clearly the star. The Grand Missus would be played by Jane Fonda. Miss Marie would be Sandra Bullock. Mister Frank would be George Clooney.

A group of teens ask you the best way to become a published writer.  How do you answer the question?
Read as much as you can. It teaches you the genre and also helps with vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Not only read books but poetry. It teaches lyrical writing. Keep a notebook of all your ideas and write them down. Don’t ever be discouraged. Keep going. When I was in 5^th grade, my English teacher never read any of my essays aloud to the class. She said they were not good enough. I didn’t allow it to crush me. Instead it fueled me.

What are your three favorite books that you’ve read this past year?
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighorn George, Missing May by Cynthia Rylant, and Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Click to visit Robin's blog.

If you would meet any celebrity (actor, author, historical figure, etc), dead or alive (and not Jesus), who would you choose and what would you ask him or her?
I would love to meet Albert Schweitzer. When I was in middle school, he was the person I looked up to and the reason is because he gave his life to the service of others. A well-known German doctor, he gave up his lucrative practice and started a clinic for lepers in the African nation of Gabon. He had a reverence for life that not only included humans but every living creature. He was kind and had a wonderful sense of humor. A newsman traveled to Africa to speak with Dr. Schweitzer and asked him how hot it was there. The good doctor answered, “I have no idea. I don’t want to know or I wouldn’t stay.” The doctor had his organ transported to the jungle of Gabon, and at night, anyone for miles and miles, could hear his music in the sultry air.

Thanks for the interview, Robin!

You can learn more about Robin on her blog: http://write2robinshope.blogspot.com/

Also, find her under Robin Jansen Shope on Facebook and be sure to join the Ruby Red Group.

If you have questions for Robin, email her here: write2robinshope (at) yahoo.com

Robin is giving away a free copy of her book, Ruby Red, and ten mystery prizes! Leave a comment with your email address in an anti-SPAM form, something like this: elisamaria [at] yahoo [dot] com, and you will be in the drawing for a copy of Ruby Red!