Kathryn Paszkiewicz
Dear Ms. Deborah Wiles,
Love, Ruby Lavender has changed everything about me, my feelings, my emotions, and so much more. I have never experienced someone that I was close to leave for a long time, or forever. I have, on the other hand, had personal items and feelings taken away from me.
One of the feelings that I have had taken away is happiness. One minute someone can be so happy and bouncing off the walls and the next they can be sitting on the ground crying. Things, feelings, emotions, and people can be taken away in a second like Ruby's grandfather and Melba Jane's dad.
One of the things I have had taken away from me was not as important as a person, but it was important to me. It was my blanket, my special blanket that I always slept with. This special blanket was given to me when I was a baby. I was crying the whole night that I did not have it. I was so sad. This happened when I was little, but I still remember the emotions that I had and I related to Ruby while her grandmother was gone.
When I read that Melba Jane's father died with Ruby's grandfather in the car accident, it made me think about the people I do not really like very much. I realized that the people that I do not like that much and I are in the same situation. We do not like each other, and we do not know why. It did start me thinking about the reasons why I do not like some people. I realized that the only reasons were that sometimes they were annoying or they were considered 'weird.' I should not judge people like that. Now I am going to think twice before I evaluate someone, or I am not going to evaluate them at all.
Your book has changed my life. I cried at the end and in the middle too. I will never be the same. Your book helped me realize that enemies can become friends.
You taught me that it is okay to feel sad about events and to feel sad for people leaving or dying. Love, Ruby Lavender taught me that some emotions can start out sad but then turn into something good.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Paszkiewicz
