Ruthie's GiftHow can a girl ever hope to become a lady when she's surrounded by a houseful of boys? Eight-year-old Ruth Hawk, an energetic and irresistible tomboy, loves her rough-and-tumble brothers, but sometimes she can't help wishing for the company of another girl. Even at school, Ruthie is isolated: She's the only child, male or female, in the third grade. But Ruthie's life is about to take a turn for the dramatic. Wonderful new friends, a just-born family member, challenging storms and ailments, unexpected moments of joy, and the hardships of war will all accompany Ruthie through her year of discovery and change. Will she end up a lady? Or maybe someone even better? Set in a cozy Indiana farming community at the start of World War I, "Ruthie's Gift, /i> introduces both an unforgettable heroine and a talented new novelist. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, whose story was inspired by her own grandmother's history, has created a heartwarming, gently humorous, and thorougly satisfying story of family and identity. |
