The Ruby Stories: 4 Books in One

by Penny Matthews

The year is 1930 and Ruby Quinlan lives in a big house in Adelaide with her parents and her fox terrier, Baxter. As she prepares for her 12th birthday party, Ruby has never been happier, but the world outside is experiencing harder times. Ruby knows that lots of people are losing their jobs, but her own family life seems comfortable and secure . . . until things start falling apart. Happy-go-lucky, compassionate, and loving, Ruby is an unforgettable Australian Girl. This bind-up of the four Ruby stories comes with a brand new chapter updating her life two years after the final book, Ruby of Kettle Farm. 

496 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2019

Reviews

[Michelle Hickey]

Great book for kids. I like the way Matthews takes historical periods and writes about them for kids. She set this series in Adelaide and in the nearby countryside which is a nice change in Australian children's literature. The story of Ruby occurs over 4 books. Ruby lives a charmed life as an only child in an affluent family until financial misfortune befalls the family. Set in the 1930s amidst the great depression, it shows the confusion of a child facing changed status in life. Ruby goes to live with her country cousins and gets a rude shock about how hard life can be. Ruby's father is imprisoned over a wrongful embezzlement charge and her mother spirals into depression. Nevertheless Ruby thrives in her new environment and the family is happily reunited at the end of the saga. It is similar to many other historical novels for children but with an Australian flavour.

[Jazzy !]

I love the grandma or great aunt or whoever the old lady is