The Search For Baby Ruby

My most recent novel was The Search For Baby Ruby by Susan Richards Shreve.  The book is 224 pages and I would consider it a suspense novel, maybe a mystery.

It is the evening before big sister Whee's wedding, the evening of the rehearsal dinner.  The O'Fines family is getting ready in their hotel room where the festivities will take place.  At the last minute, the babysitter cancels and the only option is the youngest of the O'Fines kids - 12 year old Jess.  While the family is incredibly dysfunctional, Jess is the responsible and caring one and would never say no.  Jess is heartbroken because she was so excited about attending the rehearsal dinner and has been looking forward to the wedding for months.  But Jess would never be selfish or say no if someone needed help.  So she is left up in the hotel room with baby Ruby, her niece, while the family goes downstairs for the celebration.  Jess plays with baby Ruby for a while and then leaves her on a hotel towel on the floor while she slips into the bathroom to secretly try on her sister's wedding dress while the family is gone.  When she comes out, baby Ruby is gone.  Jess searches the entire hotel room, but the baby is no where to be found.  As Jess tries to put the missing pieces together, she begins to think of things that were "out of place" or unusual that day - such as the man in the green shirt who just stood watching her in the hotel hallway as Jess waved to her family when they got on the elevator.  Jess is certain baby Ruby was stolen from the hotel room - kidnapped.  It is now Jess's responsibility to find out who took baby Ruby and get her back.

This is a great middle school read.  Throughout the novel the author has woven in stories of Jess's dysfunctional family and how it has affected Jess growing up.  They do not have the perfect, traditional family and this may be a great novel for others who could relate to that family dynamic.  The book is fast-paced and the events happen quickly, so this novel may appeal to a reader looking for action.

Happy reading!