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Ruby and the Booker Boys #4
Ruby Flips for Attention
Brought to you by Newbery Honor author Derrick Barnes, high-flying Ruby Booker soars to new heights!
After watching her big cousin Kee Kee compete in a cheerleading competition, Ruby attempts to copy some of the high-flying moves she saw earlier. This cheerleading stuff could be just the thing to bring her a ton of attention. But during practice with Marcellus, she injures her arm and must be rushed to the hospital. The doctors fit her with a hot-pink cast that turns out to be a great conversation piece. After giving a million different versions of the accident to everyone at school, she becomes the center of attention after all!
After watching her big cousin Kee Kee compete in a cheerleading competition, Ruby attempts to copy some of the high-flying moves she saw earlier. This cheerleading stuff could be just the thing to bring her a ton of attention. But during practice with Marcellus, she injures her arm and must be rushed to the hospital. The doctors fit her with a hot-pink cast that turns out to be a great conversation piece. After giving a million different versions of the accident to everyone at school, she becomes the center of attention after all!
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
5 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Derrick Barnes
28 books248 followersWhere I come from, no one dreams of becoming an author.
I didn’t know any famous African American male authors. I didn’t actually meet one until I attended college. I wanted to be a football player, the next Sean Combs, or a rapper; anything that would instantly provide me with the riches I would need to “move my mama off of the block”. I was raised in a single parent household by my mother, the lovely Miss Catherine Barnes, along with my big brother, Anthony, in Kansas City, MO.
My first attempt at writing a real story was in the fifth grade. I think it was about a group of stray dogs trekking across the country to find a magic bone or something. I can’t remember. But I do remember what it felt like when I finished and read it. It felt powerful to create characters, places, and stories that began and ended the way I wanted them to. After that I wrote songs, poems, plays, and short stories. I also read like crazy. I remember tying a shoestring around a flashlight, hanging it on the bar in my closet, and sitting in there reading encyclopedias. My brother thought I was the weirdest kid ever, but that was my way of traveling, of flying, and dreaming.
When I graduated from high school, I worked a couple of part time jobs and attended a local community college. I received an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration. I went on to Jackson State University, a historically black college in Jackson, Mississippi, where I obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. It was there that I experienced life altering events and met people that changed me forever. I met my then college sweetheart and now beautiful wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes. I met life long friends (big up to my brothers JG, Killa Don, and Noir). I also became a campus newspaper advice columnist. All three of those occurrences and acquaintances changed my life vividly, but the column, entitled Brown Sugar, gave me the confidence to write with purpose. I also felt like, for the first time, that I had something to say and that people would listen. Who wouldn't listen to a guy with the pen name "Hershey Brown"?
Upon graduation, I moved back to Kansas City with no intentions of using my brand new, shiny Marketing degree in a drab, corporate environment. With the urging of my wife, I sent a writing portfolio to Hallmark Cards, and was hired as the first African-American man in the history of the company as a staff copywriter in 1999. I worked there for three years. I learned so much about crafting my words, about editing, and about constructive criticism. While at Hallmark, I met so many talented artists and was introduced to my now literary agent, Ms. Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency. Within a month, we had a two-book deal signed with Scholastic. My wife and I also welcomed our first son into the world, Ezra.
My family and I moved to New Orleans, LA so that my wife could complete her medical residency in 2003. While there we had our second son, Solomon, and I landed a deal with Simon Pulse for my first novel, “The Making of Dr. Truelove”. We lived there for two and a half years until we were chased back to Kansas City by the most disastrous force of nature in US history, Hurricane Katrina.
We returned to KC safe and sound. My wife officially finished medical residency and became a full fledged doctor. We had our third son, Silas, and I landed a four-book deal with Scholastic for the ultra popular hit series, “Ruby and the Booker Boys”.
Some days, when I read to my sons or go to schools and read to kids, I can still see that little boy reading encyclopedias by flashlight. Hopefully, a child will meet me and say to themselves, “You know what, it’s possible. I can become an author! I’ve met, and have seen with my very own eyes, a living, breathing author. It’s definitely possible for me.”
It most certainly is.
I didn’t know any famous African American male authors. I didn’t actually meet one until I attended college. I wanted to be a football player, the next Sean Combs, or a rapper; anything that would instantly provide me with the riches I would need to “move my mama off of the block”. I was raised in a single parent household by my mother, the lovely Miss Catherine Barnes, along with my big brother, Anthony, in Kansas City, MO.
My first attempt at writing a real story was in the fifth grade. I think it was about a group of stray dogs trekking across the country to find a magic bone or something. I can’t remember. But I do remember what it felt like when I finished and read it. It felt powerful to create characters, places, and stories that began and ended the way I wanted them to. After that I wrote songs, poems, plays, and short stories. I also read like crazy. I remember tying a shoestring around a flashlight, hanging it on the bar in my closet, and sitting in there reading encyclopedias. My brother thought I was the weirdest kid ever, but that was my way of traveling, of flying, and dreaming.
When I graduated from high school, I worked a couple of part time jobs and attended a local community college. I received an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration. I went on to Jackson State University, a historically black college in Jackson, Mississippi, where I obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. It was there that I experienced life altering events and met people that changed me forever. I met my then college sweetheart and now beautiful wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes. I met life long friends (big up to my brothers JG, Killa Don, and Noir). I also became a campus newspaper advice columnist. All three of those occurrences and acquaintances changed my life vividly, but the column, entitled Brown Sugar, gave me the confidence to write with purpose. I also felt like, for the first time, that I had something to say and that people would listen. Who wouldn't listen to a guy with the pen name "Hershey Brown"?
Upon graduation, I moved back to Kansas City with no intentions of using my brand new, shiny Marketing degree in a drab, corporate environment. With the urging of my wife, I sent a writing portfolio to Hallmark Cards, and was hired as the first African-American man in the history of the company as a staff copywriter in 1999. I worked there for three years. I learned so much about crafting my words, about editing, and about constructive criticism. While at Hallmark, I met so many talented artists and was introduced to my now literary agent, Ms. Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency. Within a month, we had a two-book deal signed with Scholastic. My wife and I also welcomed our first son into the world, Ezra.
My family and I moved to New Orleans, LA so that my wife could complete her medical residency in 2003. While there we had our second son, Solomon, and I landed a deal with Simon Pulse for my first novel, “The Making of Dr. Truelove”. We lived there for two and a half years until we were chased back to Kansas City by the most disastrous force of nature in US history, Hurricane Katrina.
We returned to KC safe and sound. My wife officially finished medical residency and became a full fledged doctor. We had our third son, Silas, and I landed a four-book deal with Scholastic for the ultra popular hit series, “Ruby and the Booker Boys”.
Some days, when I read to my sons or go to schools and read to kids, I can still see that little boy reading encyclopedias by flashlight. Hopefully, a child will meet me and say to themselves, “You know what, it’s possible. I can become an author! I’ve met, and have seen with my very own eyes, a living, breathing author. It’s definitely possible for me.”
It most certainly is.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 13, 2017
11/12/2017 ** Ruby wants to form a drill team so she can wear cute clothes and be popular like her teen cousin. As the story progresses, she learns that being popular isn't as important as helping others.
This is a solid, though uninspiring early chapter book. I felt that the early parts of the book had too much explanation about the characters and not enough action in Ruby's life. I do think that many girls who are just transitioning into chapter books will enjoy Ruby's descriptions of her interactions with other girls.
This is a solid, though uninspiring early chapter book. I felt that the early parts of the book had too much explanation about the characters and not enough action in Ruby's life. I do think that many girls who are just transitioning into chapter books will enjoy Ruby's descriptions of her interactions with other girls.
October 19, 2019
I liked this book because Ruby Booker was really trying to be a great cheer leader. When Ruby was trying to do a cartwheel [she was so excited that she accidently broke her arm. Ruby was also so thoughtful that she helped her neighbor with her groceries. A trait that I would describe is kind and helpful.
November 18, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought there were many funny parts to this book. It also teaches you lessons on what’s important in life. The things that you think are important aren’t always as important as others! I recommend reading this book!
June 6, 2020
2/3 grade book. Chapters are little long for an early reader. Would strongly recommend though given the message of the text (helping community, giving back, is more important than looks or popularity)
June 6, 2011
This is an adorable early chapter book with a young African-American protagonist. Ruby is the younger sister of the more famous Booker Boys--three older brothers who have a series of books all their own--but Ruby is quite a captivating character on her own. In this book, she learns a valuable lesson about motivation. She initially decides to start her own step squad because her she hears the crowd cheering for older cousin at a performance. She wants that fame and acclaim for herself, and on her journey to achieve it, she finally realizes that "there are things a lot more important than being cute, getting a lot of attention, and having a fan club. Maybe being helpful and caring about people are ways to make a better you..." (125). She's a great role model for young girls and the cute illustrations make this an easy read even with very young children. (I do wonder why there's a blonde white girl peaking out from behind Ruby on the cover though; she's nowhere to be found in the text.)
November 29, 2009
Ruby wants to start a drill team and be important like her cousin Kee-Kee. She wants to hear people shout her name like they do her cousin. Ruby doesn't understand what Kee-Kee's drill team is all about. She is impatient and learns the hard way that you can't try something dangerous like flipping without the possibility of injury. When she gets her older brother to help her he tries to teach her how to do things slowly and safely. Her impatience causes an injury and makes her brother feel really bad. It isn't until her mother takes her to visit her cousin during a practice that she learns what her cousin's drill team is all about. This sets Ruby on the path toward the reputation she really wants. This was a great book. The message of doing for others was one that all kids need to see. Often times they see the glitz and glitter of their favorite star but don't know about the behind the scene things the stars do. I know a lot of kids that would be interested in this book.
April 2, 2019
I read Ruby Booker by: Derrick Barnes. Ruby Booker one day went to her cousins gymnastics show\competition. After the show Ruby picked up her cousin Kiki and went home. So Ruby went to play outside. Outside Ruby was thinking... she wanted to be a good flipper and dancer just like her cousin Kiki. So one day after school she called all of her friends over so she make her own star team. Ruby told all her friends what they were all doing that fine afternoon. They were practicing flips and dances
October 7, 2009
Inspired by her cousin's all-star cheerleading team, Ruby is determined to put together her own team. But things get in the way, like the fact that she doesn't know how to do gymnastics or dance.
I got to page 54 and just couldn't go any further. Cheerleading books are popular with girls, but I couldn't get past the stilted dialogue and lack of plot.
I got to page 54 and just couldn't go any further. Cheerleading books are popular with girls, but I couldn't get past the stilted dialogue and lack of plot.
Want to read
January 13, 2013The writing is not as good as I expected, but the book is worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews