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Ruby Lu #2
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything
When Ruby's cousin Flying Duck emigrates from China to live with her, Ruby decides the best thing about Flying Duck is that she is a great new friend. BUT the worst thing about Flying Duck is that now, no one speaks English at home. Plus, there's strange food on the table every night and only chopsticks to eat it with. And Flying Duck is deaf, and Ruby doesn't know any Chinese Sign Language. As if that weren't enough, this summer proves to be even more perilous as Ruby faces the dangers of swimming lessons, the joys of summer school, the difficulty of staying with a twelve-step program, the miracle needed to keep a beautiful stray dog that wanders into her life, and much more. Is it all too much for anyone -- even the Empress of Everything -- to handle?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
9 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Lenore Look
33 books114 followersI first began making picture books in kindergarten because my other career option at the time was stealing. But a life of crime requires practice and patience, neither of which I had, so I settled into industry, making what I coveted but what my parents could not afford to buy: beautiful books like the ones my teacher read to us in school.
Publishing was no problem in those days, not like it is now. By first-grade, I was my own publisher, making multiple copies of my books by hand. As for fame and fortune, I took care of that, too–I taught my brothers and the neighborhood kids how to wait in line for autographed copies, and I charged them 25 cents a book (an enviable paperback royalty today!), but also accepted candy.
By third grade, I had abandoned the literary scene. My parents had bought an old piano and signed me up for lessons and, thus, I began dreaming of becoming a world-famous concert pianist.
Then I came across a book on Maria Tallchief, and became a ballerina, just like that. I weighed only 40 pounds and could leap and pirouette all day without stopping. It was a lot easier than becoming a pianist.
Then I read a book about a surgeon, and one about a veterinarian, and another about a great tennis player . . . and I found myself wanting to become whatever I’d last read.
Eventually I grew up and became a newspaper reporter. It was the perfect job for me. I got paid to do the two things I loved most: writing and being curious. Working as a reporter taught me how to talk to people, how to find the story behind the story, and how to tell a story in a way that keeps a reader reading. I learned to listen to the way people talk. I learned to be precise and concise in my own choice of words. Best of all, the more I wrote, the more I was filled with a sense of wonder. I loved writing not only about what happens to people, but also about what happens inside of them, which is what writing for children is all about, but I didn’t yet know it.
It wasn’t until I became a mother and began reading children’s books again that I felt what the Chinese call yun fuen, a continuing of work begun in past lives. I had long forgotten my early foray into picture books, the thread I’d dropped in kindergarten, a thin rig, like the one a spider would use in rising. I had journeyed nearly 30 years down through space by then, unaware of my silken strand. Then one afternoon, with my two young children clamoring for something to do, I showed them how to fold paper into a book . . . picked up some crayons and a pen, and then . . . felt myself rising . . . returning to that place where I began, that brief age in which I had so many talents, and leapt and pirouetted into the sun, and could not stop.
Publishing was no problem in those days, not like it is now. By first-grade, I was my own publisher, making multiple copies of my books by hand. As for fame and fortune, I took care of that, too–I taught my brothers and the neighborhood kids how to wait in line for autographed copies, and I charged them 25 cents a book (an enviable paperback royalty today!), but also accepted candy.
By third grade, I had abandoned the literary scene. My parents had bought an old piano and signed me up for lessons and, thus, I began dreaming of becoming a world-famous concert pianist.
Then I came across a book on Maria Tallchief, and became a ballerina, just like that. I weighed only 40 pounds and could leap and pirouette all day without stopping. It was a lot easier than becoming a pianist.
Then I read a book about a surgeon, and one about a veterinarian, and another about a great tennis player . . . and I found myself wanting to become whatever I’d last read.
Eventually I grew up and became a newspaper reporter. It was the perfect job for me. I got paid to do the two things I loved most: writing and being curious. Working as a reporter taught me how to talk to people, how to find the story behind the story, and how to tell a story in a way that keeps a reader reading. I learned to listen to the way people talk. I learned to be precise and concise in my own choice of words. Best of all, the more I wrote, the more I was filled with a sense of wonder. I loved writing not only about what happens to people, but also about what happens inside of them, which is what writing for children is all about, but I didn’t yet know it.
It wasn’t until I became a mother and began reading children’s books again that I felt what the Chinese call yun fuen, a continuing of work begun in past lives. I had long forgotten my early foray into picture books, the thread I’d dropped in kindergarten, a thin rig, like the one a spider would use in rising. I had journeyed nearly 30 years down through space by then, unaware of my silken strand. Then one afternoon, with my two young children clamoring for something to do, I showed them how to fold paper into a book . . . picked up some crayons and a pen, and then . . . felt myself rising . . . returning to that place where I began, that brief age in which I had so many talents, and leapt and pirouetted into the sun, and could not stop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 18, 2025
This children's book is very interesting and has quite a diversity of characters: it speaks of two Chinese immigrant families living in United States. The newly arrived family has a deaf daughter, in addition, the daughter of the other Chinese family has a neighbor and best friend who is black, the male teacher of the three girls is Rapa Nui (the aboriginal Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean), the female summer school teacher is Japanese. In this summer school, there are American sign language classes, as the deaf Chinese girl only knows Chinese sign language; all students want to participate in these classes, even if they are not deaf; in this summer school there are also other immigrants: from Vietnam, Colombia and Japan.
April 17, 2018
Appealing story about what Ruby does when her cousin Flying Duck's family immigrates to the US and moves in with Ruby. Flying Duck is deaf, and knows Chinese sign language, so Ruby becomes a Smile Buddy at school to help her adjust. It's a charming kid hijinks kind of story, but I found some of the narrative choppy. It felt like it leaps from adventure to adventure with very little transition.
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September 5, 2008Ruby Lu’s cousin, Flying Duck, is migrating with her family from China to America to live with Ruby and her family. Ruby is excited because her and her cousin will become the best of friends. But as Ruby’s mother says even the most interesting things become old. Ruby finds her mother is right again. Soon Ruby’s family is hardly speaking English and they are eating with chopsticks. To make matters worse, Flying Duck is deaf and Ruby does not know any Chinese sign language. While Ruby learns to communicate with Flying Duck and begins to adapt to her new environment, she goes through many ups and downs. Ruby is honored when she becomes Flying Duck’s “Smile Buddy,” but this causes her school work to suffer and both, Ruby and Flying Duck, have to attend summer school. Ruby is also faced with dreaded swimming lessons, an on-and-off-again friendship with Emma, and the task of convincing her parents to keep a stray dog that wanders into their yard. The comic-like illustrations are a nice touch and help young reader’s picture what they’re reading. Sentences are generally short and sweet, which make for a fairly easy read. It is likely younger readers may not understand some words and sayings, but overall there is plenty of information to completely grasp the story. (Grades 1-4)
February 17, 2010
Can I say how much I love these books? Ruby Lu returns, spunky as anything and excited about everything, especially being a "Smile Buddy" for her deaf cousin Flying Duck who just moved to the United States. Adventures ensue. The writing is hilarious (sometimes I wonder if kids get all the jokes) and the stories cute.
September 27, 2016
Charming and funny--would definitely recommend to young library patrons. The Deaf supporting character was well-realized. Introduces children to the idea that there isn't international sign language. As a native ASL signer, I appreciated the lesson in Chinese Sign Language.
June 3, 2017
Great diverse read about Ruby, whose world gets turned upside down when her cousin's family moves in with her, newly immigrated from China.
January 30, 2024
Deaf reader reviewing books with deaf characters. This book is listed on my ranked list of books with deaf characters.
There's no mention of a sensitivity reader, but the author did use a Chinese Sign Language dictionary (though no info on which dictionary or when it was published).
Flying Duck (FD) has many skills, but her most impressive skill to the other children is that she can lipread.
Deafened at four from head trauma, FD, who is now about 8 years old, can speak and lipread Cantonese as well as some English, and signs Chinese Sign Language. It's unclear how deaf she is, but obviously a significant degree to be sent to the school for the deaf in Taishan.
For Ruby, “Having a cousin from China who was deaf was as good as having a cousin who had a third eye in the middle of her forehead.”
They (the neighborhood children) only like FD for the novelty, which quickly wears off and comes with problems such as (surprise, surprise) communication issues because everyone is speaking Cantonese rather than English. Ruby ends up studying Cantonese more, which helps.
Ruby gives little speeches during class explaining how to interact with deaf people (make eye contact before speaking, etc.). Among other tips, she says to call FD’s name first, suggesting FD has a certain level of residual hearing. Ruby is presumably tasked with this because FD cannot speak English fluently, even though she is in an English-speaking classroom with no apparent support services. She apparently does not wear hearing aids, does not have an aide like a certified deaf interpreter or a CSL-fluent interpreter to ensure she has access.
FD says “pay me” instead of “play with me,” and Ruby does all her homework, which suggests that she doesn’t speak or speechread much English, making it stand out even more to me that she lacks support in school. Indeed, she is failing and has to attend summer school. Honestly, the lack of support is completely realistic, especially for less affluent schools, which this seems to be. But it is extremely strange to me that the author would mention FD went to a deaf school in China, but mentions no linguistic accessibility now that she is mainstreamed in the US.
In summer school FD and all the other hearing children (mostly immigrants) take ASL classes, which is an exciting “secret language.” Unsure if it’s common for hearing people to think signs are a secret language or if this is a reference to Ann M. Martin’s book "Jessi’s Secret Language," which was a great big thumbs-down from me. Either way, annoying. (Why isn’t any spoken language a “secret language”?)
FD features surprisingly little in the book. She excels at everything she tries and any struggles she might have with communication is never brought up. Only Ruby's struggles to understand spoken Cantonese is touched on toward the beginning.
There's no mention of a sensitivity reader, but the author did use a Chinese Sign Language dictionary (though no info on which dictionary or when it was published).
Flying Duck (FD) has many skills, but her most impressive skill to the other children is that she can lipread.
Deafened at four from head trauma, FD, who is now about 8 years old, can speak and lipread Cantonese as well as some English, and signs Chinese Sign Language. It's unclear how deaf she is, but obviously a significant degree to be sent to the school for the deaf in Taishan.
For Ruby, “Having a cousin from China who was deaf was as good as having a cousin who had a third eye in the middle of her forehead.”
They (the neighborhood children) only like FD for the novelty, which quickly wears off and comes with problems such as (surprise, surprise) communication issues because everyone is speaking Cantonese rather than English. Ruby ends up studying Cantonese more, which helps.
Ruby gives little speeches during class explaining how to interact with deaf people (make eye contact before speaking, etc.). Among other tips, she says to call FD’s name first, suggesting FD has a certain level of residual hearing. Ruby is presumably tasked with this because FD cannot speak English fluently, even though she is in an English-speaking classroom with no apparent support services. She apparently does not wear hearing aids, does not have an aide like a certified deaf interpreter or a CSL-fluent interpreter to ensure she has access.
FD says “pay me” instead of “play with me,” and Ruby does all her homework, which suggests that she doesn’t speak or speechread much English, making it stand out even more to me that she lacks support in school. Indeed, she is failing and has to attend summer school. Honestly, the lack of support is completely realistic, especially for less affluent schools, which this seems to be. But it is extremely strange to me that the author would mention FD went to a deaf school in China, but mentions no linguistic accessibility now that she is mainstreamed in the US.
In summer school FD and all the other hearing children (mostly immigrants) take ASL classes, which is an exciting “secret language.” Unsure if it’s common for hearing people to think signs are a secret language or if this is a reference to Ann M. Martin’s book "Jessi’s Secret Language," which was a great big thumbs-down from me. Either way, annoying. (Why isn’t any spoken language a “secret language”?)
FD features surprisingly little in the book. She excels at everything she tries and any struggles she might have with communication is never brought up. Only Ruby's struggles to understand spoken Cantonese is touched on toward the beginning.
May 23, 2021
Second grader Ruby Lu loves having her cousin Flying Duck and her family living with her family. Everyday is like a party, she has a new great friend, and best of all she was a “smile buddy”. Ruby had waited her whole life to be a smile buddy. With all the good comes the challenges as Ruby must now deal with summer school, swim lessons, and sometimes friend Emma. Readers will enjoy the spunky and spirited Ruby. The book is peppered with black and white line drawings that add humor and interest to the story. At 149 pages the book is a bit long, but the simple sentence structures, familiar vocabulary, and smooth transitions make this a good selection for early readers.
March 28, 2020
This book was delightful. Felt like I was in second grade all over again. A mild introduction into deaf culture. Several Chinese cultural references. Figurative language. Vivid vocabulary. Although, I loved the idea of the illustrations on the corner of the pages, I didn’t actually enjoy the illustrations themselves. They actually seemed to take away from the bright-light and boldness of Ruby and friends’ personalities portrayed via text. Overall, a fun, multi-cultural read.
September 13, 2021
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything is a delightful chapter book featuring a diverse cast, cute illustrations by Anne Wilsdorf, and plenty of humor. I noticed one or two typos and some water-safety inaccuracies, but mostly lots of fun featuring Ruby and her family and friends.
Note: this is officially the second book in the Ruby Lu series, but all three books in the series work fine as standalones too.
Note: this is officially the second book in the Ruby Lu series, but all three books in the series work fine as standalones too.
May 28, 2019
This one wasn't quite as good as the Star of the Show, but still an enjoyable read. We are inadvertently reading these in reverse order which is interesting, but doesn't really spoil anything in terms of story line. Ruby Lu is a fun protagonist and is able to overcome some fears and problems in this book. A good chapter book for young readers.
April 20, 2023
This was a fun children's book. I would give it three stars on the quality of writing, it wasn't overly memorable and didn't have me laughing out loud during any of the funny parts, but I'm adding a star for the immigrant & deaf representation. The way Ruby navigated learning about different cultures, immigration, and sign language was really educational and would be useful for children to read!
July 15, 2018
The story of Ruby, her cousin, her family, and her friends, moves along quickly. I like that Ruby's life isn't always perfect, but she works through many of her problems on her own.
May 12, 2019
Very cool to have Asians ...
May 15, 2020
"I enjoyed it, but I read it with my little sister so it was very hard to get through it fast." - Ana Sofia, age 8.
December 16, 2020
Good book. The book has some ups and downs with friendship.
April 6, 2008
CIP: "After Ruby Lu's deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her parents come from China to live with her, Ruby finds life challenging as she adjusts to her new family, tries to mend her rocky relationship with her friend Emma, and faces various adventures in summer school."
Ruby Lu is a feisty 2nd grader who will win the hearts of many readers with her misadventures as she learns to cope with new changes in her life. While not as funny as Sara Pennypacker's Clementine, this is a good book that will appeal to reluctant readers. One great thing about the Ruby Lu book is that the reader is introduced to new cultures and ideas, which is important in our increasingly diversified society.
School Library Journal review (July '06): "Gr 1-3-Ruby Lu takes her role as Smile Buddy to her deaf cousin, Flying Duck, so seriously that her work suffers, dooming the second grader to a vacation marred by summer school and a repeat of last year's swimming lessons. She is also dealing with the ups and downs of her relationship with her sometinies-best-friend, Emma. In the first two chapters, Ruby Lu's feelings about her cousin's arrival from China fluctuate from loving to disliking to accepting. Simple sentence structure, clear but varied word choice, and attention-grabbing transitions create a smooth chapter book that is suitable for early and reluctant readers. Black-and-white cartoon drawings add emotion, characterization, and humor, showing, for example, the exaggerated water-safety gear that the feuding Ruby Lu and Emma wear in the waist-deep pool before learning to swim. Pleased with accomplishing all 7 goals on her 12-step summer plan, Ruby Lu realizes too late that she has forgotten her summer reading, leaving readers anticipating another book fresh with third-grade misadventures. With exuberant impulsivity yet earnest introspection. Ruby Lu invites readers into a contemporary world that honors differences while ultimately celebrating universal moments of childhood-friendship, school, and self-realization.-Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Inland Branch Library, Stevensville, MD"
The Horn Book Magazine review (May/June '06): "In this follow-up to Ruby Lu, Brave and True, second-grader Ruby's cousin Flying Duck arrives from China. Ruby loves her cousin, but soon everyone starts speaking Cantonese instead of English at home, forks are replaced by chopsticks, and after teaching Ruby's baby brother Chinese Sign Language, Flying Duck knows what he wants before Ruby does. "I hate immigration!" sobs the histrionic Ruby. And that's just the beginning. The next few months include not one but two life-saving events (one at the pool and the other involving refrigerator magnets); a meeting in the principal's office for fighting; and swimming lessons for aquaphobic Ruby. This Ruby Lu offers a main character as spunky as Ramona and as moody as Judy, a bustling pace, and a difficult vocabulary that should challenge readers almost outgrowing early chapter books. Energetic ink cartoons are in line with this comic novel's frenetic atmosphere. J.M.B."
Ruby Lu is a feisty 2nd grader who will win the hearts of many readers with her misadventures as she learns to cope with new changes in her life. While not as funny as Sara Pennypacker's Clementine, this is a good book that will appeal to reluctant readers. One great thing about the Ruby Lu book is that the reader is introduced to new cultures and ideas, which is important in our increasingly diversified society.
School Library Journal review (July '06): "Gr 1-3-Ruby Lu takes her role as Smile Buddy to her deaf cousin, Flying Duck, so seriously that her work suffers, dooming the second grader to a vacation marred by summer school and a repeat of last year's swimming lessons. She is also dealing with the ups and downs of her relationship with her sometinies-best-friend, Emma. In the first two chapters, Ruby Lu's feelings about her cousin's arrival from China fluctuate from loving to disliking to accepting. Simple sentence structure, clear but varied word choice, and attention-grabbing transitions create a smooth chapter book that is suitable for early and reluctant readers. Black-and-white cartoon drawings add emotion, characterization, and humor, showing, for example, the exaggerated water-safety gear that the feuding Ruby Lu and Emma wear in the waist-deep pool before learning to swim. Pleased with accomplishing all 7 goals on her 12-step summer plan, Ruby Lu realizes too late that she has forgotten her summer reading, leaving readers anticipating another book fresh with third-grade misadventures. With exuberant impulsivity yet earnest introspection. Ruby Lu invites readers into a contemporary world that honors differences while ultimately celebrating universal moments of childhood-friendship, school, and self-realization.-Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Inland Branch Library, Stevensville, MD"
The Horn Book Magazine review (May/June '06): "In this follow-up to Ruby Lu, Brave and True, second-grader Ruby's cousin Flying Duck arrives from China. Ruby loves her cousin, but soon everyone starts speaking Cantonese instead of English at home, forks are replaced by chopsticks, and after teaching Ruby's baby brother Chinese Sign Language, Flying Duck knows what he wants before Ruby does. "I hate immigration!" sobs the histrionic Ruby. And that's just the beginning. The next few months include not one but two life-saving events (one at the pool and the other involving refrigerator magnets); a meeting in the principal's office for fighting; and swimming lessons for aquaphobic Ruby. This Ruby Lu offers a main character as spunky as Ramona and as moody as Judy, a bustling pace, and a difficult vocabulary that should challenge readers almost outgrowing early chapter books. Energetic ink cartoons are in line with this comic novel's frenetic atmosphere. J.M.B."
August 30, 2008
In Ruby Lu Empress of Everything, Ruby Lu is a young girl who is excited to have her cousin Flying Duck and her family come to live with them all the way from China. Flying Duck however is deaf and uses sign language and also is a lip reader. Ruby Lu enjoys the new addition to her family at first, because she finally gets to be a "smile buddy" at school (she was in charge of helping Flying Duck feel welocme there. This was something she has waited a long time for. Ruby Lu then begins to rethink her decison about liking Flying Duck and her family living with her. First of all, their family does things different (leaving the Chinese Internet on for example). Then as the book progresses Ruby Lu and Flying Duck get in trouble because school work isn't being completed properly. (Ruby Lu gets caught doing her homework for her.) It it is then decided they must both attend summer school. During the summer they also learn to swim and Ruby Lu is somewhat of a hero for helping save her neighbor Emma in the pool. Just before the new school year Ruby Lu and Flying Duck both have a vision test at school where Ruby Lu FINALLY is told she needs glasses, something she had always wished for! Not to mention she also finds a stray dog, Elvis who she ends up being able to keep! In the end she simply become Empress of Everything with a tin foil crown and all.
I feel the book has some complex concepts for young children to understand.(immigration). Although it appears to have been written for young children it could very easily be utilized in a classroom of middle school students who have learned about/are learning about issues of immigration for example. Having an idea of the concepts mentioned in the book would make it easier for a student to fully understand and comprehend in my opinion.
I feel the book has some complex concepts for young children to understand.(immigration). Although it appears to have been written for young children it could very easily be utilized in a classroom of middle school students who have learned about/are learning about issues of immigration for example. Having an idea of the concepts mentioned in the book would make it easier for a student to fully understand and comprehend in my opinion.
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December 22, 2010J Short Chapter Look
I want to be friends with Ruby Lu! She is spunky, knows magic tricks, and is determined to follow all of the goals in her 12 step summer plan (some of which include "hold breth while in swimming skool" and "play with flying duck"). Ruby Lu is a second grader who likes "different" and "weird", but she doesn't like "having her life turned upside down", which is exactly how she feels when her cousin, Flying Duck, arrives with her family from China to live with Ruby Lu's family until they can adjust to life in the United States.
At first though, Ruby was anxious to help Flying Duck and was assigned to be her "Smile Buddy" at school. It turns out, however, that, despite being deaf and not speaking English, Flying Duck has no trouble adjusting to life, and is even a top notch swimmer. Unfortunately, Ruby was so overwhelmed by her role as a "Smile Buddy", that her own school work suffers so much that both she and her cousin must attend summer school for extra practice. Ruby Lu also experiences the trauma of a letter home pinned to her shirt (which she later removes and puts in her backpack until the end of the summer), getting glasses, experiencing a fight to defend her "alien" cousin, and scary swimming lessons. There are great illustrations throughout this book that make readers smile and laugh along with Ruby.
Ruby Lu is a typical kid. Through her eyes, readers experience the joys of childhood, including on again/off again best friends, the good feelings of helping others, the excitement of overcoming fears, and the joy of learning new things. Read the book to have fun and see how many of Ruby's 12 steps she accomplished.
Extra neat-o features at the end are "Ruby's Amazing Glossary and Guide to Important Words" and "Flying Duck's Awesome Glossary and Guide to Important Chinese Sign Language Signs (as demonstrated by Ruby)".
I want to be friends with Ruby Lu! She is spunky, knows magic tricks, and is determined to follow all of the goals in her 12 step summer plan (some of which include "hold breth while in swimming skool" and "play with flying duck"). Ruby Lu is a second grader who likes "different" and "weird", but she doesn't like "having her life turned upside down", which is exactly how she feels when her cousin, Flying Duck, arrives with her family from China to live with Ruby Lu's family until they can adjust to life in the United States.
At first though, Ruby was anxious to help Flying Duck and was assigned to be her "Smile Buddy" at school. It turns out, however, that, despite being deaf and not speaking English, Flying Duck has no trouble adjusting to life, and is even a top notch swimmer. Unfortunately, Ruby was so overwhelmed by her role as a "Smile Buddy", that her own school work suffers so much that both she and her cousin must attend summer school for extra practice. Ruby Lu also experiences the trauma of a letter home pinned to her shirt (which she later removes and puts in her backpack until the end of the summer), getting glasses, experiencing a fight to defend her "alien" cousin, and scary swimming lessons. There are great illustrations throughout this book that make readers smile and laugh along with Ruby.
Ruby Lu is a typical kid. Through her eyes, readers experience the joys of childhood, including on again/off again best friends, the good feelings of helping others, the excitement of overcoming fears, and the joy of learning new things. Read the book to have fun and see how many of Ruby's 12 steps she accomplished.
Extra neat-o features at the end are "Ruby's Amazing Glossary and Guide to Important Words" and "Flying Duck's Awesome Glossary and Guide to Important Chinese Sign Language Signs (as demonstrated by Ruby)".
September 3, 2007
Reading children’s books really is my style. I love that I can sit down and within an hour or two be finished with a chapter book. Granted, the chapter book has ginormous font and pictures—but I still feel accomplished.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything loses little of the first book’s charm. Ruby still does delightful things—like try to fry an egg, hotdog, and pot sticker on a hot slide at her school playground—and gets herself into one mishap or another (she hides school letters from her parents and brings home a stray dog).
Lenore Look also continues to acknowledge and appreciate her adult reader. She winks at her older audience with snarky details—like comparing Ruby’s book reports to Russian novels—and includes some adult subtext. Ruby’s aunt and uncle, recent immigrants from China, spend the entire book unsuccessfully trying to find work in the United States. Like most children, Ruby has little understanding of the adult world that surrounds her.
Reading about Ruby reminds me of when I was a child. I only have vague memories (I seriously have early-onset dementia), but I remember walking to school, taking swimming lessons, and spending a summer voluntarily taking math tests (don't ask me how I ended up doing that, and I won't admit that I actually enjoyed it).
Despite my fond memories and Look’s respect for her adult reader, I just realized (okay, I had to do some research) that 40 of the last 50 books I’ve read have been for children or young adults. Oh my. It is time I bit into some juicy, complicated adult fare.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything loses little of the first book’s charm. Ruby still does delightful things—like try to fry an egg, hotdog, and pot sticker on a hot slide at her school playground—and gets herself into one mishap or another (she hides school letters from her parents and brings home a stray dog).
Lenore Look also continues to acknowledge and appreciate her adult reader. She winks at her older audience with snarky details—like comparing Ruby’s book reports to Russian novels—and includes some adult subtext. Ruby’s aunt and uncle, recent immigrants from China, spend the entire book unsuccessfully trying to find work in the United States. Like most children, Ruby has little understanding of the adult world that surrounds her.
Reading about Ruby reminds me of when I was a child. I only have vague memories (I seriously have early-onset dementia), but I remember walking to school, taking swimming lessons, and spending a summer voluntarily taking math tests (don't ask me how I ended up doing that, and I won't admit that I actually enjoyed it).
Despite my fond memories and Look’s respect for her adult reader, I just realized (okay, I had to do some research) that 40 of the last 50 books I’ve read have been for children or young adults. Oh my. It is time I bit into some juicy, complicated adult fare.
September 9, 2008
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything is the fun, upbeat sequel to Lenore Look’s Ruby Lu, Brave and True. We are met with yet another Ruby Lu adventure; the immigration of Ruby’s deaf cousin, Flying Duck, along with her aunt and uncle who all have moved here from China. Ruby is very excited about this change in her life, along with becoming a Flying Duck’s “Smile Buddy” for the school year, until things start getting too difficult for her handle. With new foods and ways of eating being introduced into her life, notes being sent home, her on-and-off-again relationship with her “best friend” Emma, and incomplete homework assignments, Ruby Lu is slowing steering away from the good student she is known to be. With the school year coming to an end, Ruby finds herself being forced to attend summer school, along with dreadful swimming lessons for the second summer in a row. Surprisingly summer school and swim lessons turn out to be a more enjoyable experience than Ruby ever imagined. As a successful summer come ends, Ruby can’t wait to get back to school and start the year off right. This is until she remembers the one thing she forgot to do this summer: her summer reading!
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything is a great children’s book that touches on many issues that students may face today including; incomplete homework assignments, immigration, deafness, and unexpected change. I would recommend this book to teachers and elementary school aged children. This simple read is very enjoyable, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything is a great children’s book that touches on many issues that students may face today including; incomplete homework assignments, immigration, deafness, and unexpected change. I would recommend this book to teachers and elementary school aged children. This simple read is very enjoyable, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
September 6, 2008
Ruby Lu is a book that I believe kids in the first or second grade would love to read. After Ruby's cousin Flying Duck comes to live with her, she is made a smile buddy. She is suppose to make the transition for Flying Duck, a deaf Cantonese student, easy and fun. Ruby does this by helping with homework, having adventures and experiments and playing with their friends. Ruby has some adjusting to do at the same time she has to make it through summer school, swimming lessons, and get her friend Emma back.
While Flying Duck has to learn how to make it in a new world, Ruby also has to learn how to deal with the changes Flying Duck's family has brought to the house. Only Cantonese is spoke in the house now as well as Chinese signlanguage. They both go through a learning experience that I beleive many young immigrants do in today's society.
This book is funny and exciting at the same time for a young reader. They would be able to relate to the ideas that are presented and learn how they would be able to deal with certain situations if they were put in them. It informs the students of some important life lessons at that age including getting good grades so you don't have to go to summer school, losing and regaining friendships after fights, and cooperating with others when aspects of ones living changes.
Great read for a child. It's fun and a good tool as well!
While Flying Duck has to learn how to make it in a new world, Ruby also has to learn how to deal with the changes Flying Duck's family has brought to the house. Only Cantonese is spoke in the house now as well as Chinese signlanguage. They both go through a learning experience that I beleive many young immigrants do in today's society.
This book is funny and exciting at the same time for a young reader. They would be able to relate to the ideas that are presented and learn how they would be able to deal with certain situations if they were put in them. It informs the students of some important life lessons at that age including getting good grades so you don't have to go to summer school, losing and regaining friendships after fights, and cooperating with others when aspects of ones living changes.
Great read for a child. It's fun and a good tool as well!
September 5, 2008
In Lenore Look’s Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, readers meet again with the loveable character from Ruby Lu, Brave and True. In her most recent adventure, Ruby Lu’s deaf cousin Flying Duck emigrates from China with her parents and they all move into Ruby’s family home. Ruby suddenly feels like she is in another country in her own house because everyone is speaking Chinese, eating with chopsticks, and playing mah-jongg. Despite these challenges, Ruby becomes Flying Duck’s Smile Buddy at school and teaches her class that “the only thing a deaf person can’t do is hear” (31). As summer unfolds, Ruby finds herself in swim school and summer school, where the fun continues.
Lenore Look manages to discuss serious and often tough life issues in a positive light. The tone is upbeat, even when dealing with deafness, immigration, and culture shock. Though some of the issues tackled here are unique and limited in scope, Look manages to make them relatable to the life of every person, regardless of age and experience. Told entirely from Ruby’s viewpoint, the book seems authentically from a second-grade perspective. With a scattering of fun ink drawings by Anne Wilsdorf, this book is a great choice for children who are early in their “chapter book career.”
Lenore Look manages to discuss serious and often tough life issues in a positive light. The tone is upbeat, even when dealing with deafness, immigration, and culture shock. Though some of the issues tackled here are unique and limited in scope, Look manages to make them relatable to the life of every person, regardless of age and experience. Told entirely from Ruby’s viewpoint, the book seems authentically from a second-grade perspective. With a scattering of fun ink drawings by Anne Wilsdorf, this book is a great choice for children who are early in their “chapter book career.”
September 8, 2008
"Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything" was a really great read! I am studying to be an elementary school teacher and had to read it for my Methods of Teaching Children Literature class. This is a fantastic book for elementary age children. This book deals with the topics of immigration, multiculturalism and being deaf, but in a very casual and non-intimidating manner. This book also deals with the idea of summer school in a very positive way. I found this refreshing because for most children summer school is looked at very negatively, causing feelings of embarrassment and shame for those children who have to attend summer school. This book is a great means of teaching children about diversity and tolerance.
The way Lenore Look writes is appealing to both children and adults. She uses clever ways of throwing adult humor into the book, for example when Ruby uses quotes she has heard her parent's or other adults say, even though she has no idea what they mean. Look is very good at writing from the perspective of a young child. She is able to take complex topics and simplify them into a context that is easy for children to understand.
I would recommend this book to any parent or teacher for elementary school aged children. It is a very entertaining and quick read!
The way Lenore Look writes is appealing to both children and adults. She uses clever ways of throwing adult humor into the book, for example when Ruby uses quotes she has heard her parent's or other adults say, even though she has no idea what they mean. Look is very good at writing from the perspective of a young child. She is able to take complex topics and simplify them into a context that is easy for children to understand.
I would recommend this book to any parent or teacher for elementary school aged children. It is a very entertaining and quick read!
September 13, 2008
I was reading this book for a methods class I am taking to become a teacher. I thought it was a very good book. It would teach students a lot of life lessons. It would teach them about different cultures. Flying Duck is from China to the United States. Other students in her class had to understand her broken English. Ruby Lu was her smile buddy who showed her around the school, and helped her get used to the school. At the end of the school year though, both were sent to Summer school. At first Ruby Lu was not excited, but then she remembered the fun she had in Summer school before.
Another lesson it taught was to face your fears. Ruby Lu was afraid of the pool. She had been in swim lessons before and never was able to put her face in the water. When a girl her age, who was her friend off and on, was in trouble Ruby Lu saved the day. Ruby Lu forgot all about her fears and helped someone in need. All students can learn from that.
Over all, I liked this book. Students can learn a lot from it, I know I did. I will use this book in my classroom, and will be able to come up with some fun activities t go along with it. If you are looking for a book that teaches lessons you should review this book!
Another lesson it taught was to face your fears. Ruby Lu was afraid of the pool. She had been in swim lessons before and never was able to put her face in the water. When a girl her age, who was her friend off and on, was in trouble Ruby Lu saved the day. Ruby Lu forgot all about her fears and helped someone in need. All students can learn from that.
Over all, I liked this book. Students can learn a lot from it, I know I did. I will use this book in my classroom, and will be able to come up with some fun activities t go along with it. If you are looking for a book that teaches lessons you should review this book!
August 11, 2016
My soon to be second grade daughter and I read Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything by Lenore Look together. Ruby Lu is Chinese-American, and her cousin Flying Duck's family has recently emigrated from China and her family is leaving with Ruby's while they get adjusted and Flying Duck's parents find jobs. This book has lots of great lessons for kids. It teaches them about immigration and what it's like to move to a new country. It also provides great examples of diversity with multiple races represented in the characters. And, Flying Duck is deaf which is included as a story line, but not the main focus which I think helps take a disability and normalize it in the sense that "some kids can't hear and this is how we handle it, but it's just part of life". And, Ruby Lu is a real spitfire girl which I love in books for my daughters. That being said, my daughter is the exact target age of this book and she is a skilled reader, but I thought there were a lot of words way beyond this age group's comprehension level. I'm glad my daughter and I were reading this together, so that I could explain the meaning of the words to her and help her learn the pronunciation.
September 9, 2008
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything by Lenore Look and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf is an excellent piece of literature for students in grades 1-3. Adjusting to her deaf cousin's recent immigration from China has been both really great and really awful in Ruby Lu's eyes. She has had to endure chopsticks, sharing, and her family only speaking in Chinese. Worst of all, because she has been such a great "Smile Buddy," helping Flying Duck adjust to her new school, Ruby Lu has neglected her own schoolwork and now must attend summer school! Add horribly terrifying swimming lessons to the mix and Ruby Lu is completely overwhelmed. However, summer school proves to be surprisingly fun and eventful, swimming lessons are a breeze after she saves her on-and-off best friend, Emma, and being a Smile Buddy to Flying Duck makes her feel great. With a mix of simple words and new vocabulary, this short chapter book is an easy read for beginning readers and will have them captivated by Ruby Lu's hilarious antics and the situations she gets herself into.
September 9, 2008
This book was a wonderful children's story based on a young girl and her adventures and of being a child. It shows how amazing helpful she can be when she becomes a Smile Buddy for her cousin who's family has come to stay with Ruby Lu's family. A Smile Buddy is someone who helps a new student at school feel welcome. Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything is also a great book to help children learn a little bit about different cultures and also how to deal with students who have special needs. Flying Duck, Ruby Lu's cousin, is deaf and she doesn't speak English. Ruby Lu helps to show other students at school how to try and communicate with Flying Duck. It could also show children children how to get through things they are struggling to do, just like Ruby Lu and her experience learning how to swim. Ruby Lu is an incredibly interesting character. I loved the book and think it would be great for children to read. It's entertaining and an easy read.
September 16, 2008
"Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything" was a great book. I read it for the fact of it being assigned by my Methods of Teaching Children's Literature class to become an elementary school teacher. However,I actually really enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was very creative and easily understandable to its appropriate age range. It was exciting to find out what was going to happen next to this young girl. It dealt with a wide range of topics including immigration, disabilities, friendship, and dealing with change as we grow older. It shows children that not all families are alike and that other children go through hard times in their lives. However, the book also showed the strength of Ruby Lu to overcome her struggles and be a better person by aplogizing when she was wrong. Ruby Lu, is a strong character and one in which many children can relate. Great book! I would definitely recommend it to my students, when I become a teacher someday!
July 10, 2016
I think Ruby Lu is cute enough, and it's awesome for readers to begin to understand what immigration is and learn a bit about another culture. That being said, I felt like this story was incredibly choppy. For example, throughout the whole book we're waiting to find out what's written in the letters that Ruby stuffed in the bottom of her backpack, and when they're finally pulled out she's not in trouble at all and she goes and gets glasses right away, as in within one page. Very odd wrap-up for that storyline. And how the book ends, with Ruby realizing she didn't do summer reading? I didn't quite understand that randomly being the final sentence of the book. Even how Ruby keeps a stray dog and no one is upset with her for doing so... not sure I found that at all realistic.
The pink cover will attract the girls who come to my library and I think they will enjoy the story enough. As an adult, I'm a bit confused by some of it but I know it's not aimed at pleasing me, either. :)
The pink cover will attract the girls who come to my library and I think they will enjoy the story enough. As an adult, I'm a bit confused by some of it but I know it's not aimed at pleasing me, either. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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