As to language, there is nothing worse than a few common euphemisms (blasted, heck, golly, dang) and one use of the word “Lord” as an interjection.

What will happen to the “Z” and money? What will happen to Dallas and Florida? Will they ever get to go on their trip? This is a sweet, old-fashioned type of story.

Meanwhile, the twins, afraid that the Moreys might turn out to be mean like some of their previous foster parents, take all their new gear and run away. However, “Z” is also a neighbor and friend to Tiller and Sairy. Trepid about the Moreys’ “understone funds” hidden on their property, and he hires a shady character known only as “Z” to locate the money so that he can steal it. When they go back into town to pick up supplies, the twins accidentally tell Mr. Tiller and Sairy Morey, a 65-year-old couple who live in nearby Ruby Holler, want to “borrow” the twins for a while to go on adventures with them, Florida with Tiller on a Rutagabo River boat trip and Dallas with Sairy on a visit to the island of Kangadoon. Thirteen-year-old Dallas and Florida Carter are orphaned “trouble twins” who live in Boxton Creek Home for Children run by greedy and neglectful Mr. Ruby Holler (published in 2002 by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, 10 E. No other compensation has been received for the reviews posted on Home School Book Review.Ĭreech, Sharon. (1=nothing objectionable 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms 3=some cursing or profanity 4=a lot of cursing or profanity 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)ĭisclosure: Any books donated for review purposes are in turn donated to a library.

Publisher: HarperCollins, reprinted in 2003

Ruby holler book review