- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday Children's Books; First Edition edition (1 April 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385410433
- ISBN-13: 978-0385410434
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 15.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,738,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Ruby Tanya
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Product Description
Product Description
This is a contemporary tale about two friends - one of whom, Asra, is an asylum seeker from an unnamed Eastern European country. The other, Ruby Tanya, is the daughter of a local man who is campaigning against the presence of asylum seekers in his community. During a dramatic explosion at the girls' school, a young teacher is killed. The asylum seekers at the local camp are blamed, and local people begin to argue that they should be deported. A branch of the National Front gets involved and demos are planned. Asra and her parents are due to be deported, but Asra runs away at the last minute so her parents have to return without her. She hides in a nearby derelict building and is helped by Ruby Tanya.
From the Publisher
A highly topical and thoroughly entertaining thriller about tolerance and hate.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this after reading a very positive review in the T.E.S., and was rewarded with the real and very human way in which Swindells tells this story.
The best thing about 'Ruby Tanya' is that what happens is so believable - because the tensions in Tipton Lacy (setting of the book) are those faced in many areas of our country today. This book gets under the skin of the hype on either side of the asylum debate, and lets you meet the people at the heart of these issues.
Highlights the negative power of peer pressure (tabloids included in that!) and honours the courage of standing up for what you believe in. I particularly like that this includes young people having the 'right' view, independently of their parents - who may be in the wrong. You get a strong picture of how quickly tension can escalate and get out of hand. Shows very clearly that the mass hysteria response to issues like asylum seekers, risks not just being ill-informed, but an example to our children of how not to behave.
The best thing about 'Ruby Tanya' is that what happens is so believable - because the tensions in Tipton Lacy (setting of the book) are those faced in many areas of our country today. This book gets under the skin of the hype on either side of the asylum debate, and lets you meet the people at the heart of these issues.
Highlights the negative power of peer pressure (tabloids included in that!) and honours the courage of standing up for what you believe in. I particularly like that this includes young people having the 'right' view, independently of their parents - who may be in the wrong. You get a strong picture of how quickly tension can escalate and get out of hand. Shows very clearly that the mass hysteria response to issues like asylum seekers, risks not just being ill-informed, but an example to our children of how not to behave.
This book may be an invaluable school read. The chapters are short, and the story accessible. Chapters are narrated by each of the main characters, and you can 'feel' the difference in narrative voice. The exploration of family and friendship is convincing and compelling.
Only 4 out of 5 stars because of 2 reasons:
(1) Maybe it's just me, but many parts of the plot were more predictable than I'd have liked. (To be fair, I'm being harsh here - it is a children's book after all).
(2) Ruby's father. He undergoes some 'road to Damascus' type change, and I have no idea why, because it just suddenly happens. I found this really out of line with the development of his character, and was frustrated by the total lack of explanation or justification. Not a believable shift!
Don't let my two small concerns put you off this book - I read it avidly and was almost entirely drawn in by the whole experience. I will be recommending it to readers from year 7 - year 9 in particular, but this book needs to be read widely - as much for the issues it handles so well, as for the engaging experience of another success from Robert Swindells.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
After a slow start, this book really got going. I thought I might not like it in the first few pages, but it turned out to be v.good. I would definetely reccomend it. It explores the issues of racism and problems caused by it. Worth reading.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
lite 3
13 April 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
good book, hard cover, small and pocket size, perfect to read in a week.
good!!! 100% satisfied with the purchase and with the conditions sames was received.
good!!! 100% satisfied with the purchase and with the conditions sames was received.
I was the first!
9 July 2005
Format:Paperback
i thought this was an outstanding book. I am a book worm and i have read a lot of books. Sampled a lot of books but this is was a truly moving story. I encourage others to read it just and my friend Eve did.
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