Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li | Book Review

I received this book for free in exchange of an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Disclosure here.

A girl needs to find herself again after her beloved grandfather’s death.

Ruby Chu, an almost eighth grader, is being sent to her Nai-nai’s (that’s Mandarin for grandmother) apartment for the weekdays in summer as a punishment for getting detention on the last day of school. Things changed in the seventh grade; Her friends were not really her friends anymore, and her beloved Ye-ye (grandfather) had died. Now how will Ruby spend her summer? And what changes will she make in the process?

The story was very relatable; I can relate that some of my friends suddenly don’t want to hang out anymore for no specific reason, and I also had a friend who moved away.
This book tackles different kinds of loss: loss of a friend, relationship breakup, death of a family member (her grandfather), and losing a sibling to college (her older sister going to college in the Fall). So Ruby Lost and Found is a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of grief and how to cope with loss.
On the bright side, the story is full of hope, and I loved this book’s message: to create memories with people you love and cherish them.
I am thrilled to see my grandparents this summer. I will give them a tight hug.
I also loved hearing about the Chinese desserts from Ruby Nai-nai’s friend, May Wong. I craved coconut bread.
The scavenger hunts Ye-ye created for Ruby were sweet and fun.

Ruby is a brilliant and complex character. Ruby learns many things throughout the story and stays true to herself. Her Nai-nai is an excellent cook, and May is a fantastic baker. Her Ye-ye sounds nice, and I felt sorry that he died.

Give this book to anyone suffering from losing a family member who loves an inspiring story.

My rating