Ruby Lost and Found

by Christina Li

It’s the summer after seventh grade, and Ruby Chu is feeling more lost than ever.

Her best friends aren’t speaking to her. She ended the year in detention. Her sister’s about to leave for college. Ruby’s still grieving her grandfather, Ye-Ye, when it seems like no one else is. And without Ye-Ye and his annual scavenger hunts across their hometown of San Francisco, their hometown doesn’t really feel like home anymore.

Things get worse when Ruby’s forced to spend the summer with her distant grandmother, Nai-Nai, in Chinatown. But the looming shutdown of a beloved former scavenger hunt stop, May’s Bakery, and a secret about Nai-Nai threaten to change everything. Though Ruby feels out of place, maybe this summer of forming unexpected friendships and fighting to save the bakery will help Ruby reconnect with the world — and discover what it means to find home again.

Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Family, Audiobook, Juvenile

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[b. ♡]

christina li has mastered the art of depicting childhood grief and the emotional damage she’s caused me is immeasurable

no love in the world is comparable to the love of a grandparent, and the safety and comfort ruby felt with her grandparents in contrast to how she felt misunderstood and ignored by her parents really resonated with me

ruby’s relationship with her older sister was also so lovely, and i felt pain for both of them as they navigated the loss of their grandfather alone, each with their own external pressures and regrets

each relationship in this story was written with such care, and their developments all felt natural and well-paced

i realize this book came out only a few days ago, but i’m already looking forward to whatever christina releases next <3

[Jake Arlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

my official blurb: Christina Li’s Ruby Lost and Found is a stunning portrait of a girl discovering her place in the world. It truly made me laugh, cry, and crave an egg tart. This is essential reading for anyone who has loved and lost an elder in their life, or anyone who needs a reminder that the love someone’s given them never goes away.
my unofficial blurb: TEARS

[gauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful. comforting. totally sobbed.

incredibly heart touching story of dealing with grief, struggles of early teen years and how important it is to find your own community of support system. also, mouth water Chinese food descriptions.

[Ella✨(booktrovert) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book, but it also explored a lot of themes that resonated with me: like death, friendship, struggling with identity. Honestly, I did cry when reading this. I loved the plot, the characters, the writing, and the conclusion was amazing!

[Ann Zhao · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suggestion: don't read this book while you're sick like I did. The amount of crying you'll do is just going to worsen your congestion. Christina Li has truly worked some magic in her writing; Ruby's story made me feel so many things. Give a big hug to your elders.

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story about family, grief, and growing up in San Francisco as an Asian American. I enjoyed the story and thought it was sweet. Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Poignant story of a young girl learning to deal with many changes in her life. Ruby misses her grandfather, who passed away recently. One of her best friends has moved across the country, and her other friend Naomi no longer associates with Ruby (unless she wants something). Ruby’s parents have begun a new business, her sister is headed off to college; the thought of any other changes makes Ruby want to scream. When she figures out a way to ditch eating lunch alone in the cafeteria at school, and have some quiet time to herself, she has no idea of the chain of events that will begin to unfold as a result…

[Heather Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️
I felt this was a little harsh and authoritarian at times, but I can see how it would be both relatable and informational.

[Malia Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 I absolutely loved this Middle Grade story!! It had me crying by the end! A story about family, Chinese culture, grief, friendships, dementia, and a Middle Schooler who is given way too much expectation and responsibility for a child. I've visited San Fransisco only once but could picture Ye-Ye's scavenger hunts (and wanted to be part of them too). I loved the Senior Center crew, especially Liam, and the food made me so hungyyyy!!! The only reason I took off .5 stars because it felt like too many sideplots, but they did come together nicely! A new Middle Grade favorite!!! The perfect start to AAPI heritage month :) Now to go plan a scavenger hunt around my town ...

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin's Children's Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[tiffany (readbytiffany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

brb calling my grandma bc this book made me emo(!!)

WE NEED MORE ASIAN GRANDPARENTS IN STORIES PLEASE AND THANK YOU

[alaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

christina li's brand is writing books that i don't know if i should look back on with a warm smile or a mental breakdown and i love her for that!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ruby is having a hard time now that seventh grade is out for the summer. She got into some trouble at school, and isn't doing as well academically as her older sister Viv. She's also still mourning the loss of her beloved Ye-Ye (grandfather), which has been made harder since her Nai-Nai (grandmother) left San Francisco's Chinatown after the funeral and hasn't been in contact. Since her parents are running a start up energy company, they don't want to have Ruby at home alone, and also have concerns about Nai-Nai, so Ruby gets to spend the summer hanging out with her grandmother and going to the local community center. Nai-Nai has a good network of friends, which include May, who used to run the popular local bakery that is now operated by her daughter Annie, as well as the somewhat mean Auntie Lin. There's a boy, Liam, who comes with his own grandmother, but Ruby is struggling with so much friend drama in her own life that she ignores the fact that he is lonely, and rebuffs his frienship. Ruby is also upset that May's bakery may go out of business, and looks into ways to save it, including applying for the Legacy Business Registry and getting grants. Even more concerning is Nai-Nai's increasing memory lapses. In flashbacks to past summers, we see some of the scavenger hunts that Ye-Ye put together, and Ruby longs for the time that they spent together and feels guilty about what happened the day he died. When she finally tells her parents about Nai-Nai's problems, they want to have her see a doctor, but Nai-Nai interprets this as them trying to lock her up, and decides to run away. Ruby goes with her, and they do get a chance to see some of the city's sites that held a special place in Nai-Nai's memory. Will Ruby be able to keep her world from changing, or will she be able to adapt to it when it does?
Strengths: Having been to San Francisco in 1989, I definitely think that it would be a great city for a scavenger hunt, especially having read Bertman's The Book Scavenger as well! This had a great setting, and lots of opportunities to get out into the city to see the sights. It was very realistic that Ruby's parents didn't want to leave her home alone after she got into some trouble, and it made perfect sense for her to go and stay with her grandmother. I liked the positive depiction of the senior center, and the inclusion of a bakery that has fallen on hard time. Businesses don't last forever, as we also saw in Chao's When You Wish Upon a Lantern and Boba Time for Pearl Li. My town recently lost it's local Yogi's Hoagis (which must have housed an ice cream shop back in the day) to a Dunkin' Donuts shop, and feelings ran pretty high about that. Luckily, Schneider's Bakery seems to still be going strong.
Weaknesses: There was so much going on with the bakery and Nai-Nai that we didn't get to really fully investigate Ruby's problems with Naomi and Mia. I'm a big fan of friend drama, but almost with that it had been left out. There were also some currents of Ruby feeling that she was a disappointment to her parents that could have been fleshed out, but then the book would have been too long!
What I really think: I always enjoy a book with close bonds with grandparents, and think this book will be popular with readers who liked Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, Sumner's Roll with It, Camiccia's The Memory Keeper, Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance.

[Tori Otstot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Ruby Lost and Found by @christinaliwrites , and I adored it. Follow along long enough and you will find that books where the kid(s) gets it right and the adults get it wrong are my favorites. As a middle school teacher, I see daily how misunderstood kids are by the adults around them. It can be such a challenging age, but as adults, we have a huge opportunity and responsibility to recognize their growing independence, their ingenuity, their empathy, etc. Kids are incredible, and Ruby and Liam are definitely proof of that!

I’ve never been to San Francisco, but Li does such a beautiful job painting a picture of the setting with words that I hope to visit someday. My mouth was also watering at the list of tasty treats available at May’s bakery.

I think books like Ruby Lost and Found will become more and more necessary as our middle grades kiddos deal with losses. Many have lost folks very close to them due to Covid-19, and the truth is that parents don’t always know how to deal with the grief their children are experiencing, or they may not have the capacity to do so because they are dealing with their own grief and other significant challenges. Reading a book like Ruby Lost and Found will let those kids know they are not alone.

I definitely recommend that you pre-order this one - my daughter has already asked to read it with me when it comes out!

[Alysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

RUBY LOST AND FOUND is a beautiful and very loving tribute not only to the bond between grandparents and grandchildren, but also to that tenuous moment in the middle-grade years when everything is changing.
In the summer before 7th grade Ruby Chu is surrounded by loss. Following the sudden and heartbreaking loss of her beloved Ye-Ye, Ruby's friendships are changing or disappearing, and she's even about to lose her oldr sister -- to college in the fall. Ruby is at sea. But when she tries to find a small silver of happiness for herself by sneaking out of school to have lunch in the park, she finds herself in a lot of trouble. Her parents ground her for the summer and send her to spend the weekdays with her Nai-Nai, her recently widowed grandmother.
What follows is a tender blossoming of connections across generations, a surprisingly fun friendship, and an attempt to save a bakery, and the true flavor of the neighborhood.
Christina Li writes with incredible true authentic ease, generosity, and heart. The neighborhood and its elder citizens are brought to life in technicolor, and Ruby's struggles to cope with change are pitch-perfect.
This is a story to savor and get lost in.

Thank you to Netgalley and QuillTree for the pleasure of reading this e-arc.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ruby’s still grieving her grandfather, Ye-Ye, when it seems like no one else is.."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
•Takes place in San Fransisco Chinatown
•So many San Fransisco landmarks and places mentioned
•Ruby doesn't quite know how to move on after her grandfather passes away
•New found friendships

This middle grade book blew me away! Living so close to San Fransisco, I loved all the places mentioned. Ruby is struggling with some tough issues, including grief. I enjoyed the flashbacks of her grandfather. My favorite is the Little Free Library memory and the scavenger hunts 🥹 Ruby is also struggling with growing apart from friends. This one I knew all too well and I thought it was portrayed so realistically. Liam and Auntie Lin were my favorite characters! This book has a great message about family, and having a great support system around you. I will be purchasing this book when it releases!

Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc!

[Daniela Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ruby Lost and Found is an honest book about grief and learning how to live after losing a loved one. I’ve not seen a book quite like this before in how it portrays the main character dealing with grief. Grief doesn’t just have one look and Ruby is a character that is dealing with grief in a way that others don’t quite understand after she loses her grandfather. Ruby is a character who makes mistakes but ultimately learns from them. I think kids will be able to relate to how Ruby works through her grief and changes in her life.

I think that the author built a great community of people that Ruby finds herself surrounded by. I enjoyed the parts where we got to learn more about her parents, sister, grandmother, and the people at the community center. While Ruby is dealing with her own problems, I think she learns that people can also be dealing with their own problems that aren’t always easy to see. This idea is something that can be good for students to encounter and think about or also engage in discussions about with others.

Ruby Lost and Found is a great addition for any middle school audience.

[Jenthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lacking in plot and character growth, but mostly: is anyone going to actually tell Ruby that she was not to blame for her grandfather's death? I feel like so much of Ruby's emotional turmoil went unaddressed in the end...

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby has been having a rough time since one of her best friends moved to the other side of the country, her friendship with her other friend seemed to die out, her grandfather Ye-Ye died (who was one of her best friends), her parents are consumed by their new business start up, and her older sister is preparing to go to college. She was caught sneaking out of school for lunch and now she's grounded for the whole summer. Even though she's almost in 8th grade, her parents are forcing her to go stay with her grandmother Nai-Nai throughout the week and go back home only on the weekends. She used to love staying with her when Ye-Ye was alive and he'd take her on grand scavenger hunts across San Francisco, but Nai-Nai just spends her time going to the Senior center in Chinatown playing games with Senior citizens which isn't exactly thrilling. Ruby hears there that the family's favorite bakery is in danger of closing, and Ruby doesn't know if she can handle one more change in her life. She wants to do something to stop it. She feels like she could do something about that one, unlike the other change she's noticed in Nai-Nai's memory as she stays with her.

This was a pretty heartbreaking read. Ruby is really hurting and has pretty much no one around her with enough time or care to realize it. She and Nai-Nai end up being the perfect companions for the summer, because it turns out they both need each other. There's another grandkid who comes to the Senior center named Liam who also turns out to be a good friend, but it is a rough road getting there. Ruby is hurting and lashes out at a lot of people because she doesn't know how to deal with her feelings or even exactly what she is feeling. Eventually, there is help and hope and reconciliation and better understanding, but it is a long, hard road to get there. Still, the ending is very touching. And the themes of changes being hard is one everyone can identify with. Not necessarily a happy story overall, but it ends happily, and I can see some readers growing through Ruby's mistakes and growth.

Notes on content:
Language: None.
Sexual content: None
Violence: None. A death from natural causes is part of the background of the story.
Ethnic diversity: Most of the characters are Chinese American (some speak different dialects of Chinese).
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Grief over death and change and what can happen when that isn't dealt with in healthy was is a huge theme. Ruby's parents are a bit neglectful in their busyness with their new business. Nai-Nai has dementia. Racism is mentioned (mostly in the past). Small businesses being bought out is part of the story.

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ruby Lost and Found" is a touching and well-written realistic fiction novel that navigates themes of grief, friendship, and self-discovery. The story follows Ruby Chu, who feels adrift after the death of her beloved grandfather, Ye-Ye, whose scavenger hunts once made her feel grounded in San Francisco’s Chinatown. As Ruby struggles with feelings of abandonment and isolation, she’s forced to spend the summer at her Nai-Nai’s senior center, where unexpected connections begin to form.

The book beautifully explores Ruby’s journey through her grief as she uncovers old maps and memories, ultimately retracing Ye-Ye’s scavenger hunts in search of healing. What starts as a summer of loneliness becomes an opportunity for Ruby to find new meaning in old traditions, make new friends, and save a beloved Chinatown bakery.

I appreciated how well the author conveyed Ruby’s emotions, making her journey relatable and heartfelt. While the plot leans heavily on themes of loss, it’s balanced with moments of warmth, humor, and hope. The inclusion of family dynamics, cultural heritage, and community issues adds depth to the story, making it more than just a coming-of-age tale.

It’s an engaging, well-written novel, perfect for readers who enjoy realistic fiction that tackles complex emotions with care.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing we have to learn in life is when to let things go and when to fight like hell for the things that are important to us.

In this middle grade level story of Ruby, she has lost her grandfather, her Ye-Ye, and now just has her grandmother, her Nai-Nai.

It was hard to lose her Ye-Ye, but she also lost her two best friends. One moved away to the East Coast, and the other got more involved in her soccer group. We don’t find out until later what Ruby did next, but she gets grounded, and has to spend her summer with her Nai-Nai, and hang out at the senior center, in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown.

She thinks it will be the worst summer ever, but gradually gets to know the other seniors, including May, the owner of her favorite bakery, where she used to go with her Ye-Ye. Chinatown is being gentrified, and May’s bakery will probably close, because of it.

That is the last straw for Ruby. She wasn’t able to save her Ye-Ye, but perhaps she can save the bakery.

There is so much going on in this story. There are friendships. There is loss, and there is realizing that some things you just can’t fix. That is the hardest thing of all.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried several times while listening to this sweet middle grade book that explores relationships with family and friends. Ruby, 13, has had a TOUGH year. Her beloved grandfather died, one best friend moved away and the other is not speaking to her. She got in trouble at school at the end of a difficult year, and now her parents have banished her to stay with her grandmother during the summer to "keep her out of trouble." Her older sister is getting ready to go to college and never has time for her, and her parents are too busy with their new business to really see what is going on with Ruby, other than that she is struggling to move on in her grief.
I really loved the way the story unfolded a little at a time, with Ruby gradually getting to why she got in trouble, and why she is still frozen in grief. The secondary characters are fantastic, especially Nai-Nai and her friends at the senior center, and of course Liam. I loved the maps, the treks around San Francisco, and Ruby's heart. This is not a fast-paced book, but readers who like getting to know characters and settings will love it, and the payoff at the end is worth it. Yes, there are tears, but there are also laughs - and Ruby is a character that will stay with me.

[Stephanie Ridiculous · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read! Li does a fantastic job of distilling the spiraling sense of loss when you are young and grasping for stability. Ruby is so relatable, and refreshingly stays her age the entire time - a true feat in middle grade writing these days.

I love the growth we see from Ruby, her family, and the other characters. I love that the challenges are realistic and utterly believable, and their resolutions aren't neat little bows that would swing this to feel good mush - it stays authentic and real, but still has a lovely and satisfying conclusion.

I appreciated that we model a lot of apologizing - a very important skill for young folks to learn! - but I wish the adults had done a little more of it. I do maintain the interactions and resolution is all very realistic and entirely plausible, but all the same I would have loved Ruby's parents to take just a few small steps further. That being my only complaint, though! Highly recommend.

Content warnings for death of a family member, dementia, and what I would classify as emotional abuse of a child, but it may land differently with you.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

13-year-old Ruby is having a rough time: in school, with her two best friends, with her parents, with her sister, and most importantly, with how much she misses her grandfather Ye-Ye who died six months ago. Her parents tell her she will be spending her summer weekdays with her grandmother, Nai-Nai, staying with her and accompanying her to the local Senior Center. Ultimately, Ruby’s memories of Ye-Ye help center her as she gets to know the women at the Senior Center, as well as her growing friendship with Liam, grandson of one of those women. At times the story is a little disjointed, reflecting Ruby’s aimless feelings. However, once Ruby and Liam team up together, whether it’s playing video games, throwing a surprise birthday party, coming up with a plan to save May’s bakery, or helping Nai-Nai, Ruby begins to come into her own. A very satisfying ending to a delightful middle-grade novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

thoughts right after reading: beautiful. i sobbed about five times. just beautiful.

full review:

Whenever anyone says that adults shouldn’t read YA/middle grade books, I’m going to rec them Ruby Lost and Found. This book is an incredible story about grief, family, and growing up. I related to Ruby **so** much, despite her being about 5 years younger then me. The message of this story is, at its core, “change is okay,” and though that may seem simple, this book deals with it beautifully and fully. I saw so much of myself in Ruby, from her waning relationship with her friends, to her strained one with her parents, and seeing that on-page was so cathartic.

In short, this book is wonderful; proof that middle grade books can be timeless.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC of this book.

[Beth Given · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby has had a hard school year: her grandfather passed away, her parents are fighting, and two friendships she's had since elementary school have dissolved. When she's caught leaving school grounds, her parents dictate that she will spend her summer vacation being babysat by her grandmother, who's now living alone in San Francisco's Chinatown. At thirteen, Ruby is too old for babysitting -- but maybe the time with her grandmother is just what she needs to heal .. to find some of the things she's lost.

This is just what I love in middle grade novels: characters I can root for, strong themes, rich setting. Loved the happy and hopeful ending. I really liked this book.

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

actual rating: 4.5 stars

rtc

[youj · Rating 4 out of 5]

story about family, friendship, loss, and a touch of gentrification.

[Pietra Ibrisimovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh i FLEW through this! such a sweet and tender story :’) i need to hold ruby so close to me and sincerely never let her go ❤️‍🩹

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did a great job reminding me why I dislike realistic fiction.

[Michelle Brosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. Heart wrenching. Relationships of grandfather and granddaughter are so special. Childhood grief and processing loss while going through the tough middle school years.

Perfect for 5-8th grade