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Summary
Summary
Cheerful Ruby and her shy friend Eleanor couldn't be more different. Ruby has lived her whole life in Paris, New Hampshire. Eleanor's family is from Sri Lanka. But these best friends share one thing: they both have impossible dreams.
Ruby and Eleanor live in the quaint town of Paris, New Hampshire, located at the base of Sugar Mountain, an exclusive ski resort in the White Mountains. Every winter, Paris comes alive with "Outers," wealthy families from out of town who own ski condos and wear designer clothes, luxuries that Ruby and Eleanor (and most of the year-round residents of Paris) cannot afford.
One December day, Ruby and Eleanor stumble across Madame Magnifique, the "World's Most Divine Psychic," who urges them to unlock their deepest dreams. Ruby's has always been to mingle with Outers, and now, more than ever, she is determined to make that dream come true.
As a chain of events unfolds over the winter months, both girls find themselves on a journey of self-discovery that starts with unlikely friendships, secret crushes, and newfound skills, and snowplows to an unexpected outcome.
A relevant story in today's world--exploring cross-cultural sensitivities and diversity within a classic New England microcosm--"The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball" questions the role of destiny and the ability we all have to achieve that which seems impossible.
Author Notes
Elizabeth Atkinson, an award-winning middle grade author, is best known for her tween novel, I, EMMA FREKE. While she loves living on the North Shore of Massachusetts, her real home is in the woods of western Maine where she enjoys hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, board games, kayaking, grilling, stargazing, ping-pong, snowshoeing, exploring, swimming, and lively discussions by the fire with her neighbors, friends, family, and doodle dog, Obadiah. Elizabeth visits schools all over the country, virtually and in person.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-Perky Ruby LaRue has lived her entire life in Paris, NH, at the foot of the ski resort Sugar Mountain. As a townie, she has never once been to the resort and doesn't even know how to ski. Her best friend is Eleanor Bandaranaike, an immigrant from Sri Lanka who leads a busy life, thanks to her mother's meddling. As different as the girls are, they share a deep friendship. When a mysterious fortune-teller encourages them to seek out their dreams, they each set out on a path toward their destiny. Ruby wants to learn to ski and attend Sugar Mountain's annual ball with her sixth-grade crush. Eleanor wants to buy a super fancy sewing machine so she can become a famous clothing designer. Together they create a method to earn money so they can realize their ambitions. Along the way, they learn a lot about each other, their families, and the value of attaining one's dreams. A feel-good story that has it all, this work touches upon topics such as blended families, cultural diversity, economics, and even physical well-being without an ounce of moralization. This delightful tale with a hint of mystery will engross readers from the first page. Realistic characters in contemporary situations add to the narrative, and a satisfying ending will charm even the most selective tweens. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers who enjoy well-paced, gentle tales.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Even when dreams do come true, they might not look exactly as imagined. When narrator and native New Hampshirite narrator Ruby and Eleanor, whose family has emigrated from Sri Lanka, visit a fortuneteller for a free reading, they are thrilled with the very nonspecific fortunes they hear and immediately embark on a plan to make those fortunes come true. Ruby's greatest wish is to go to the Snow Ball Dance with her crush, JB Knox, and Eleanor would do anything for a sewing machine. What they don't foresee, however, is how their lives will change in other ways beyond the fulfillment of their dreams. Even when their dreams look like they're never going to be realized, their close friendship saves them from hopelessness. Atkinson offers two adorable characters who are as different as they are brave and builds a sweet tale of inspiration and triumph over factors usually far beyond kids' control. The author tackles multiculturalism, socioeconomic disparity, disabilities, and healthy eating in one book, which sometimes feels like a mouthful, but Ruby is engaging enough that it's hard to be distracted from her glass-half-full enthusiasm for life. Sometimes the life lessons found here are too glaring though far from invalid: "I understood now that different families and cultures have different ways of doing things, but that didn't make one way better than the other." A pleasant romp through a winter of contentment. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
