[Ruby Parker: Soap Star] [By: Coleman, Rowan] [September, 2011]

Ruby Parker #1

by Rowan Coleman

It seems like Ruby Parker has the perfect life.goes to an exclusive stage schoolstars in the hit soap operagets to kiss Justin de Souza, the hottest actor aroundMillions of fans are watching Ruby—and wishing they could be her.If only they knew that behind the scenes, Ruby's life is falling apart.

Genres: Young Adult

Paperback

First published February 20, 2007

About the author

Rowan Coleman lives with her husband, and five children in a very full house in Hertfordshire. She juggles writing novels with raising her family which includes a very lively set of toddler twins whose main hobby is going in the opposite directions. When she gets the chance, Rowan enjoys sleeping, sitting and loves watching films; she is also attempting to learn how to bake.

Rowan would like to live every day as if she were starring in a musical, although her daughter no longer allows her to sing in public. Despite being dyslexic, Rowan loves writing, and The Memory Book is her eleventh novel. Others include The Accidental Mother, Lessons in Laughing Out Loud and the award-winning Dearest Rose, a novel which lead Rowan to become an active supporter of domestic abuse charity Refuge, donating 100% of royalties from the ebook publication of her novella, Woman Walks Into a Bar, to the charity. Rowan does not have time for ironing.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this one well because I think it would be good for preteens to read, even though I, as an adult, was a little bored with it. But then again, that's what I get for always perusing the teen section at my age. However, I really do think it's a great little story.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coleman, Rowan Ruby Parker Hits the Small Time, 223 p. Harper Tempest, 2005. Language- G; Sexual Content- G; Violence- G;

Ruby becomes a TV star when she is little. She becomes Angel on Kensing Heights. She gets nervous when she overhears her boss talking to other members of the cast about firing her because she is "off balance". Her best friend Nydia comes up with this crazy plan to stop her from getting fired. The next day at work, Ruby talks to her boss and her boss says that she will admit her love to her cousin who she absolutely adores! While all this is going on, Ruby's dad moved out of the house and she falls apart.

I think that Nydia was a cool character because she made parts of the story real.

MS-OPTIONAL. Student Reviewer: SH
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...

[N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 - A cute story about a 13-year-old who stars in a soap opera and attends a drama school. Ruby has been famous since she was 6 years old. Now, it looks like she's become too awkward-looking to continue her role. Will the series writers kill off her character?

Meanwhile, at home, her parents have been slowly growing apart and her father's decided to move out. Between her parents splitting and the potential for losing her job, Ruby is no longer sure where she fits in and what will happen to her.

The only problem I had with this book was a scene in which Ruby and her best friend Nydia went to snobby Anne-Marie for help and they had a fight, then everything went sappy. It threw me out of the storyline. But, I liked the direction it eventually went and loved the ending.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

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.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should make a group of books, the category "Hallie Chose For Me". This is another book that Hallie pulled off the shelf while I was looking for something else and said, "Here's a book for ya Mommy." I gave it a glance, gave it my usual once over to make sure it met all my pre-reading of a completely unknown book tests, and brought it home.

It was highly predictable, but that's probably the only real negative thing I have to say about it. It dealt with a lot of issues that a normal teenage girl might conceivably go through, although of the three main issues, the only one that I went through myself I did at a much older age.

A good story for girls trying to figure out who they are, and who they want to be, and that life isn't as bad as it seems in middle school.

[Gela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read "Ruby Parker Hits the Small Time" twice! It is my favorite somewhat romantic teen book, but I love to read it because of its plot. Not every star's going to be happy and this book shows it,but what suprised me was how Ruby's parents were fine of her just having a boyfriend at the age of thirteen. well, maybe because it's not based on an American teen but I love the book and I would be delighted to reread the story again. The design of the cover and Chapters were so pretty,and I bet Ruby's boyfriend was cute-reminds me of my classmate ;)

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute enough YA book about a British child actress who is on a popular TV show. It was a super fast read, and was pretty wholesome too, so it would be very easy to recommend.

[Ebehi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book and I like the way Coleman didn't make the characters too cliche. I definitely did not see the end coming and I think it was well written.

[Anita Croos · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love how ruby is just like me. we are both stubborn. just like when she doesnt want her dad to move out

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

really good book

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish the rest of the series was published in the USA 'cause I dig this series.

[Anneve J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The same book as Ruby Parker, Soap Star. Quality YA.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! :-)

[Carter Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a really awesome book about a teen who is 13 and how her life is..

[Kuhle :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Ruby Parker books :-)