This Old Man

by Lois Ruby

A spunky young girl forms an unlikely friendship with a dying Chinese man while living in a group home

For Greta, having light and carefree Hackey hanging around her mom is a lot more fun than having an ordinary dad. But Hackey isn’t her father—he’s more like a pimp, and no matter how friendly he is, he still treats Greta’s mom like dirt. When the situation at home goes from bad to worse, sixteen-year-old Greta is moved into a home for at-risk children where she meets some of the most interesting girls she has ever known—and a shy young boy named Wing. Here, Greta gains new understanding of herself and her mother through her friendship with this Chinese-American boy and his strict, aged grandfather.

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 12, 1986

About the author

Lois Ruby is the author of fifteen books for middle-graders and teens, including STEAL AWAY HOME, SKIN DEEP, and THE SECRET OF LAUREL OAKS. She and her husband live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the foothills of the awesome Sandia Mountains. Lois explores lots of haunted places, including ghostly locations in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and even a few spooky spots in Australia and Thailand. No spirits have tapped her on the shoulder yet, but she hasn't given up hope.

Reviews

[AE Michels · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting idea, but the plot has too many holes and too many questions left unanswered. In addition, there's at least one puzzling inconsistency.