Parents' Guide to Ruby Lost and Found

Ruby Chu's Chinese American family life rings true in this quietly moving middle grade novel. The family culture in Ruby Lost and Found is complemented by authentic characters and the well-drawn cityscape of San Francisco and Chinatown. These elements aren't lost in the telling of the story as Ruby endures the loss of family and friendships. Though she initially struggles to think outside herself, and comes off as harsh, insensitive, even bratty, Ruby always apologizes, makes up for her behavior, and finds herself naturally wanting to make things better, and to be a better person.

However, the drama of Ruby's grandmother showing signs of Alzheimer's might be too subtle for tween readers who don't know about dementia or how serious it can be. Also, the central conflict that lets Ruby have her big moment in the end feels forced, and her parents' reaction to it, a bit off, given the set-up. Finally, thrill-seeking readers beware: this is not an exciting, page-turner; it's a self-contained family drama that's essentially about a grieving girl getting to know her grandmother better. It's definitely worth a read though -- Ruby's family and struggles feel real, the exploration of grief and intergenerational family relationships is touching, and the San Francisco setting sparkles.