Dallas and Florida are called the “trouble twins” at the orphanage. When an elderly couple takes them in for the summer, they find a loving home where they are allowed to run and yell and play, unlike the abusive foster homes they have had in the past. The twins were planning to run away on the next freight train, but they gradually settle into the rhythm of life at the old cabin in Ruby Holler and discover that they are truly home.
The twins are hilarious! They are always making crazy mistakes and breaking things and getting into problems. I loved their silly antics and the way they stick together through thick and thin. Dallas is especially imaginative and dreamy, and Florida is sassy and bold. Their character development is really beautiful!
The poor children are terrified in the beginning, because they have been locked in cellars, forced to do hard work, and half-starved at their other foster homes and at the orphanage. They were slapped and pushed around and abused every time they made a mistake. But with the kind older couple in Ruby Holler, the twins find patience and understanding. It was really sweet to see how the children begin to relax and to trust their new foster parents. The story addresses these difficult topics with grace.
I enjoyed this book much more than some other books that I have read from this author recently. I really like the writing style and the characters!
Luminous Libro 