Kliatt: Kogler, Jennifer Anne. Ruby Tuesday

KOGLER, Jennifer Anne. Ruby Tuesday. HarperCollins. 307p. c2005. 0-06-073956-8. $15.99. JS *

Another excellent first novel, this one began as the author's senior thesis when she was at Princeton University as an English major. The unusual, memorable characters include Ruby Tuesday, her parents Hollis and Darlene, her grandmother Nana Sue, and an assortment of secondary characters the reader will remember as well. Ruby is only 13 years old, but she is brilliant, as is everyone in her family. Her road trip with Darlene from the California coast to Las Vegas to cash in a $2 million winning ticket on a bet after the Dodgers win the World Series will appeal to any reader of whatever age. Ruby and Hollis have had a stable home life, with Hollis a nurturing parent busy figuring the odds on games--on the weekends he watches multiple TV screens, following the action and adjusting the odds. Darlene is mostly away, but she comes home to protect Ruby when Hollis is accused of murdering the bookie he works with. The mob is after them, because they want the money. Nana Sue, Hollis's mother who has been a lifelong gambler, lives in a hotel in Las Vegas and has many connections there. It is she who orchestrates the cashing in of the ticket and the exonerating of Hollis.

What makes this story so much fun, along with these flamboyant characters, are the wonderful descriptions Kogler creates with her writing: the opening scene of the wedding of Ruby's older brother on the beach during the crucial world series; the Open House at school, yikes!; going backstage with Darlene at a rock concert and finding out her mother is an insider there--a successful writer of rock songs; Ruby and Nana Sue (and her pet iguana Twenty-One) playing blackjack at the casino, and on and on--each scene is mind-bending. Recommended highly for fun and adventurous reading. Claire Rosser, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescent and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.