Ruby Lost and Found

Ruby (13) was especially close to her Ye-Ye (grandfather). He had so many ways of making their time together special like their frequent trips to their favorite bakery for egg tarts and coconut bread and their elaborate scavenger hunts. Now he is gone and she's missing him terribly. She's also missing her two best friends—one who has moved 3000 miles away and one who is still physically present but switching her friendship loyalties.
As summer vacation begins Ruby has served a two week detention for being caught off campus during school hours. Her parents have deemed her untrustworthy and decided that during the week days while they work, she'll stay with her Nai-Nai (grandmother) who hangs out at a senior rec center. She's sure it will be a long, boring summer…
…until it isn't. Ruby starts developing strong feelings for Nai-Nai and her chums. The senior center turns out to be more fun than she expected. There's even a boy her age with friendship potential who goes with his grandmother. But she's in for two cruel changes. She's noticing that Nai-Nai is experiencing moments of confusion where she forgets people's names, misplaces things, and even gets lost in the city she's lived in for decades. And after over half a century in business the beloved bakery will be shutting down.
Big sister, Viv, is filling her last summer before college with fun and friends. And their parents, preoccupied with starting their own business, are clueless.
Christina Li's Ruby Lost and Found is pitch perfect for its target demographic, kids who are about to be hit with a whole lot of change which often does include loss. And it has the potential to be especially helpful for those who are seeing the frightening and confusing signs of dementia in their own beloved grandparents.
On a purrrsonal note, wouldn't you know it! The picture perfect weather we started the week with has turned ugly just in time for Maine Day, the day of volunteering and free barbecue and all kinds of activities UMaine students look forward to just about all year.
A great big shout out goes to the folks running this MAJOR event.
Jules Hathaway