- Hardcover: 223 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Canada / Other (Feb 8 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0060776285
- ISBN-13: 978-0060776282
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.2 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 363 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 6–9—When she was six, Ruby Parker landed a part on a popular TV soap opera. Now the 13-year-old spends summers taping the show, and in the fall she returns to a performing-arts school where other students are jealous of her career. Otherwise, she is a typical teen. She has a crush on a boy who ignores her, she giggles and schemes with her best friend, and she worries about the increasing tension between her parents. When Mum and Dad announce that they are splitting up, Ruby is devastated. With the help of friends, familiar and unexpected, she comes to terms with the change and learns more about herself in the process. The book is front-loaded with exposition, but, once established, the story clips along at a good pace. The writing is realistic; the language is suitably naive and particularly poignant when Ruby struggles to explain her feelings about the divorce. Her growth is demonstrated best in responses to fan letters sprinkled throughout the book. Early on, she tells the girls who write to her about their problems that things will be OK, and that they should talk to a trusted adult. The last letter sensitively acknowledges her pain, and she admits that although she doesn't know when or how it will go away, she trusts that it will. The happy ending isn't that everything works out the way she hopes; it's that everything works out in other ways, and she comes to terms with it.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
On the outside, 13-year-old British TV soap actress Ruby Parker seems to love her life. She is famous, and she attends a posh performing-arts school. Inside, however, she doesn't feel like a star. Her parents are separating, her classmates talk about--rather than to--her, and she is facing a first kiss with the actor she likes. While she discovers some things are out of her control, she also learns that people and situations aren't always what they seem and that she has choices, on- and offscreen. Coleman's novel is entertaining and insightful, with an engaging protagonist whose droll narrative bursts through soap-opera superficialities touching on familiar adolescent concerns about self-esteem, school, and personal relationships with compassion and humor. Ruby's fan mail and her replies are scattered throughout the book, echoing the young teen's changing perspective. An adept blend of spoof and heart in a fast-paced, lively read. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too,
By TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ruby Parker Hits the Small Time (Hardcover)
Since she was six years old, Ruby Parker has been an actress on the British Soap Opera Kensington Heights. She's famous for her role as Angel MacFarley, and fans love her because Angel is the most normal character on the show. Ruby gets tons of fan mail, she attends an exclusive stage school for young actors and actresses, and she works with the ever-so-cute Justin de Souza.Ruby's always been pretty lucky, but now that she's almost thirteen, things seem to be falling apart. Her family life isn't going so well and her parents are splitting up. There are rumors going around that Ruby's going through an "awkward stage" and might get fired from the soap. On top of that, Ruby's just been given a big kissing scene for the show, and she has to kiss her crush, Justin. The only problem is, Ruby's never been kissed and she needs her kiss with Justin to be perfect so he'll fall madly in love with her. Ruby and her best friend, Nydia, decide there's only one person they can turn to for help -- mean girl Anne-Maria. Will Ruby get to stay on the show? Will Justin fall in love with her after their perfect kiss? Ruby Parker is just who you'd want to be a celebrity. She's smart, funny, and totally down-to-earth and real. RUBY PARKER HITS THE SMALL TIME is just the beginning of Ruby's adventures. If you're a fan of soap operas or THE PRINCESS DIARIES, you'll love this series. Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Soapy Fun!,
By Jessica Burkhart "Canterwood Crest author" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ruby Parker Hits the Small Time (Hardcover)
I greatly enjoyed RUBY PARKER. The infusion of soaps, romance and bad girls made it a fun, fast read. I look forward to reading more books by Rowan Coleman.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too,
By TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ruby Parker Hits the Small Time (Hardcover)
Since she was six years old, Ruby Parker has been an actress on the British Soap Opera Kensington Heights. She's famous for her role as Angel MacFarley, and fans love her because Angel is the most normal character on the show. Ruby gets tons of fan mail, she attends an exclusive stage school for young actors and actresses, and she works with the ever-so-cute Justin de Souza.Ruby's always been pretty lucky, but now that she's almost thirteen, things seem to be falling apart. Her family life isn't going so well and her parents are splitting up. There are rumors going around that Ruby's going through an "awkward stage" and might get fired from the soap. On top of that, Ruby's just been given a big kissing scene for the show, and she has to kiss her crush, Justin. The only problem is, Ruby's never been kissed and she needs her kiss with Justin to be perfect so he'll fall madly in love with her. Ruby and her best friend, Nydia, decide there's only one person they can turn to for help -- mean girl Anne-Maria. Will Ruby get to stay on the show? Will Justin fall in love with her after their perfect kiss? Ruby Parker is just who you'd want to be a celebrity. She's smart, funny, and totally down-to-earth and real. RUBY PARKER HITS THE SMALL TIME is just the beginning of Ruby's adventures. If you're a fan of soap operas or THE PRINCESS DIARIES, you'll love this series. Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen
3.0 out of 5 stars
its ok I suppose,
A Kid's Review - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ruby Parker Hits Small Time (Paperback)
This is a great book, very romantic and it feels as if you are a part of it. But there is something about it that makes it a bit cheesy. And it dosn't really teach say your kids a very good lesson as Ruby is sometimes a bit stuck up and it will say to them that being famous means everything, but it dosn't. The storyline itself is good but personaly when i'm older I will not want my kids to read this, as they will want to be famous and then they might have their hopes ripped out because they are let down. But this book is gaurented to get thier imaginations spinning.(...) |
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