Relativity by Cristin Bishara - ADVISABLE

Bishara, Cristin Relativity, 272 p. Walker (Bloomsbury), 2014.  $18.  

Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (stepsister swiftly beats her).  

There is not a single thing for Ruby to like about her new home in Ohio.  The old, creaky house is nothing compared to her old home in California.  Her new stepsister is a psychopath who seems intent on killing Ruby for living.  Her dad is never home and he won’t listen to Ruby anyway.  There is, however, a huge, ancient tree visible in the corn fields that surround the house and Ruby is drawn to it.  When she escapes to the tree after her stepsister beats her, she finds a way inside and a great mystery.  The tree is actually a time travel device.  Could Ruby possibly find a way to another, better dimension?  Maybe one where her mother is alive and she is back home with her best friend, George, who Ruby is just realizing that she really, really likes.  

Bishara does a great job of handling the different dimensions – sketching out their differences and making Ruby’s journey exciting, but dangerous.  I actually wish there were about 50 more pages to the book.  Ruby meets up with one specific character (no, I’m not telling you) and I wish their part of the story didn’t rush its way through to the conclusion so quickly.  I like this very much.  

MS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher