Ruby Holler

by Sharon Creech

Grades 6-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL V ; AR pts: 6.0

"Trouble Twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first linger in the Holler to prepare for their adventures, and the magic of the place takes over. Two pairs of lives grow closer, and are changed forever.

Vocabulary Words- Ruby Holler

Comprehension Questions

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. What did the silver bird that Dallas saw out the window represent? A good luck charm p.1

Chapter 2

1. Tell me about the city of Boxton.   Tired town; neglected; old homes and shacks clustered around stores and buildings p.4
2. Describe Dallas and Florida. They’re twins; oldest children in the children’s home; tall; dark haired; dark-eyed; sturdy frames and looked rough and unkempt  p. 5
3. Find a simile in this chapter.  Mr. and Mrs. Trepid were middle-aged, cranky and tired, and growing stiff and cold as winter-bound trees p. 5; Mr. Putrid walks like a crab scuttling across the ocean floor; the main building pgs.4-11
4. What was the Boxton Creek Home for Children? An orphanage p. 8
5. What did Dallas and Florida plan to do one night to escape? Jump on a freight train and ride out of town p.11

Chapter 3

1. What do you think of the small gray bird that landed on the railing listening to the couple talk about moving?  It looked as if it were listening; it was the same silver bird Dallas saw out the window p.13

Chapter 4

1. Why was Florida getting in trouble while eating dinner? She was talking; waving; being sassy p.15
2. Why does Florida get upset when she thinks about the Hoppers? She felt that she and Dallas had been very bad at their home and would never be in a real family p.19
3. How did Dallas comfort Florida from her bad dreams? Talked to her about the beautiful place they would go. P.20

Chapter 5

1. Why did Dallas dream of beautiful green and sunny places? To comfort himself from bad memories p.22
2. Why did Florida call the woman walking by the children’s home, “mother”? the woman had hair like Florida’s p.23

Chapter 6

1. Why didn’t Florida want to go to a “foster place”? because they’d had bad experiences and were always brought back p.26
2. What’s the opportunity Mr. and Mrs. T want to give the twins? One would go to Kangadoon and one would go to Rutabago and split up for three months to be a companion for an older couple p.29

Chapter 7

1. Why was Florida hesitant to go on vacation to Rutabago? She felt like this couple would be just like every other couple and she didn’t want to be separated from Dallas p.33

Chapter 8

1. How did Dallas feel about Ruby Holler? So excited; thought it was amazing p.36
2. Why was Sairy apologetic about the sleeping arrangements? Because Dallas and Florida would have to sleep in the same room/loft p.37
3. Tell me about Florida’s reaction to the Morey’s and her experience so far at their home? She keeps expecting the worst; being locked in a cupboard, having to dig a well, etc.  p.39

Chapter 9

1. Why did Tiller want to send the twins back to the children’s home? Because he thought Sairy and he should go on each other’s vacations instead of have the kids go with them p.42

Chapter 10

1. Why did Florida feel uneasy when Dallas asked her questions about who they were or about their future? She felt as if they had no control over who they were or their future p.44
2. What happened to the tiny blue egg Florida found outside? She held it too tight and it cracked p.45

Chapter 11

1. Why was Sairy so full of energy? She was happy to have the kids around p. 49
2. Why was Tiller grumpy? He hadn’t found a way to tell Sairy he wanted her to come on the trip with him p. 49

Chapter 12

1. Why was Florida ready to work on the boat day and night to fix it? Tiller was going to pay her $5 an hour p.52
2. What was Dallas so excited about when he and Sairy started to plan their trip? They were going to buy new stuff p.53

Chapter 13

1. How did Tiller help Florida feel better about the mistakes she’d made the day before with the varnish? He told her about the day he got red paint on the cat, chicken and pig p.59
2. How did Florida continue to make Tiller think he’d been tricked? She made him talk about old stuff p.61
3. Name some of the creative meals the Morey’s made to help them get used to their kids being gone. Getting-over-kid -stew; beat-the-blues broccoli; anti cranky crumpets p.66

Chapter 14

1. How did Sairy react when Dallas and Florida broke the wooden bird and wooden boat? She said they would fix them later p.70
2. What does Sairy mean, when said, “we find those just about everywhere. We pick the ones that speak to us”? She and Tiller choose to whittle something out of a stick by just knowing something can be made with it p.71

Chapter 15

1. Who do you think the man with the gold tooth is that met another man behind the Boxton Creek Home?  Whatever ideas your child comes up with P.74
2. Who told Sairy that the Trepids call Dallas and Florida trouble twins? A lady named Grace p.76
3. Why is the valley they’re in called Ruby Holler? In the fall the maple tree leaves turn a scarlet red p.78

Chapter 16

1. What does it mean to “lose your marbles”? not be thinking straight; going crazy p.81
2. What two things did Dallas and Florida do that tested Sairy and Tiller’s patience? Chopped down Tiller’s favorite maple tree and chopped a hole in the barn wall p.83
3. How did Sairy respond to Florida when she said she and Dallas were going to go?  She said they were just surprised and that it had been a long time since someone had done something so thoughtful p.85

Chapter 17

1. What piece of furniture had Florida never seen before? A rocking chair p.87

Chapter 18

1. How did the baby respond to Mrs. Trepid? The baby stiffened and stared wide eyed at her p.92
2. What did Dallas do for Joey when he was sick? Put a cool clothe on his forehead; watched over him; spoke to him; breathed into Joey’s mouth p.94
3. What had happened to Joey? He died  p.94

Chapter 19

1. Where do Sairy and Tiller keep their money? They’ve buried them in holes in the ground p.98
2. After Tiller and Sairy leave to go to their “private banks”, what do Florida and Dallas want to do? Follow them p.100

Chapter 20

1. When had Tiller and Sairy finally shared with each other where their hiding places for their “banks” were? on their 60^th birthdays. P.102

Chapter 21

1. What did Tiller and Sairy do while they waited for Dallas and Florida to come back? Whittled p. 103
2. Why didn’t Tiller want Sairy talking about their understone funds? It was too much temptation for kids who had so little p.109
3. Why did Florida change her mind and not want to know where the money is? She remembered her experience at the Hoppers and that money is trouble p.110
4. What did Dallas want to do with their money? Bury it as well p.111

Chapter 22

1. How did the twins feel when Sairy said she needed to go to the children’s home to talk to the Trepids? they didn’t want to go back and were worried about getting thrown into a cobwebby room p.114
2. What did Dallas and Florida tell Mr. Trepid that they probably should have? They told him about the understone funds p.116
3. What is a passport? A document that lets you travel out of your country p.118

Chapter 23

1. When Dallas and Florida were getting ready to catch the train, why did they want to leave money for the Morey’s? because they bought them new things p.121
2. Why was Sairy concerned about the passport? The birthday didn’t match the day Dallas said his birthday was p.123
3. What do you think “hit the grit” means? Left them; hit the road p.125

Chapter 24

1. Where did Sairy go to college? New York City p.130
2. What made Sairy move back to Ruby Holler when she was in New York City? Tiller wrote a postcard to her every week about the holler and she missed it p. 131
3. What does Sairy wonder as she looks at a photo of her younger self? Who are you? p.132

Chapter 25

1. Why do you think the holler felt so dark to Dallas and Florida? They had never been in the holler at night before alone; they also had only been in the city with lights around them at night p.133
2. Why did Florida and Dallas decide to stop and pull out their sleeping bags and sleep for a few hours? They wanted to wait until there was a tiny bit of light from the sun to help them know where they were. P.138
3. What nickname does Florida call Dallas all of the time?  Mr. Boss p.142
4. Why did Dallas and Florida put ants, snakes, spiders and a frog into the Burgerton boys’ beds? Because they were getting blamed for things they hadn’t done and they might as well do something to get blamed p.144

Chapter 26

1. Who is Z? Someone who worked for Mr. Trepid wanted p.145
2. What’s the first part of the project Mr. Trepid needed Z to do in the holler? Find out when the Morey’s are leaving p.146

Chapter 27

1. When Florida and Dallas climbed out of the sleeping bags, what did they smell? Bacon p.149
2. Why do you think Sairy and Tiller were out cooking bacon over a fire in the morning? They found Florida and Dallas sleeping out trying to run away and came to them with the compliment of what a good idea it was to try out the equipment before their trips. P.151
3. What was Tiller worried the kids had snuck out to get? Their money p.155

Chapter 28

1. When the twins were babies, why were they never placed in a home? Mrs. Trepid would always keep them hidden and when someone saw them, she told them they were already taken, because she wanted them for herself p.158
2. What made Mrs. Trepid change her mind about the twins? They would howl and squirm; she didn’t have patience for them p. 159
3. How was Mrs. Trepid feeling about children now? She didn’t know she could live through more children p.160

Chapter 29

1. What’s the promise Dallas and Florida made to each other? To never split up p.163

Chapter 30

1. What was this chapter about? The nightmares Dallas, Florida, Tiller and Sairy had about their trips p.168

Chapter 31

1. What was Sairy’s bad-dream medicine? Homemade peach ice cream on waffles p.169
2. What is a rehearsal? To practice something to make sure you get it right p.170

Chapter 32

1. Why is the river called Hidden River? It’s not on any maps p.173
2. Why are there no mosquitos in the holler? The bats eat them p.175
3. Did Dallas or Sairy know if they were different without Florida or Tiller? Not yet p.178

Chapter 33

1. What does Mr. Trepid want Z to find? Any special stones p.180
2. Why was Mrs. Trepid so happy to get away from children’s home? She’s tired of children p.183

Chapter 34

1. How did Sairy respond to the way Mr. Dreep treated Dallas and Florida? She said it was criminal p.185

Chapter 35

1. How is Tiller different from Dallas? Tiller complains a lot like Florida p.189
2. What were Tiller and Sairy both starting to talk to the kids about as they were on their trips? The different families they were with and how they treated them. P.191

Chapter 36

1. What do you think, would it be harder to miss a mother you had loved, or miss a mother you had never known? Listen to your child’s ideas P.194

Chapter 37

1. Why do you think it is good that Dallas is dreamy? He can dream up a really nice future for them and helps make things positive when they’re scary and dark p.196

Chapter 38

1. Why do you think Z wanted to stall Trepid? He didn’t want to hurt the Morey’s p.197

Chapter 39

1. Tell me the times Dallas had cried. After Joey died; sometimes at night at the home p.200
2. Tell me the story of the piece of wood that Sairy and Tiller both grabbed at the same time. Sairy wanted it but let Tiller have it. He put it on their dresser since he couldn’t decide what to make with it.  He gave her permission to use it but couldn’t get herself to whittle with it. It’s still there now P.201
3. Why did Sairy and Dallas call themselves worrywarts? They were worrying Tiller and Florida miss them p.205

Chapter 40

1. How did Florida and Dallas get their names? The box they were in on the porch of the orphanage had travel pamphlets in it and Florida was on one that said “Fly to Florida” and Dallas was on the one that said “Destination: Dallas” p.210
2. What helped Florida be able to whittle? Not paying any attention to what she was whittling p.211

Chapter 41

1. Explain what putting something on layaway means. Have the store hold it for you, then you pay a little each month until it’s all paid for, then you get to take it home. P.214
2. Why do you think Mr. Trepid was in the dealership looking at cars? He wanted to buy one  P.217
3. What was this chapter about? Mr. and  Mrs. Trepid thinking about the investments Mr. Trepid was going to receive and what they could do with the money. P.217

Chapter 42

1. Why was Dallas mad if the Trepids didn’t tell him when his real birthday was? A person should know when their birthday was p.219

Chapter 43

1. Why doesn’t Tiller get mad when Florida goofs up? He’s too old to get mad or what she considers goofs aren’t what he considers goofs p.222
2. What do you think Tiller meant when he said it was interesting having Dallas and Florida in Ruby Holler?  Good or bad- let your child give their opinion. P.223

Chapter 44

1. Was Mr. Trepid happy with the report Z gave him? No, because Z said he wasn’t done yet p.225

Chapter 45

1. Tell me what happened when the boat hit the rock? It tipped over and Tiller and Florida went in the water and got pushed under. P.228

Chapter 46

1. What did Z put into his sack? Sairy’s bank box p.230
2. If he can also find Tiller’s box, what do you think he’s going to do with them? Listen to your child’s ideas P.230

Chapter 47

1. How did Dallas know that Florida was in trouble? He had a bad feeling inside p.231

Chapter 48

1. What were the Trepids doing in the jewelry store? Looking at a necklace and watch they would like p.232

Chapter 49

1. Why was Tiller regretting that he and Florida weren’t wearing their life jackets? She couldn’t swim and they would have been keeping them afloat at that time instead of being pushed under the water. P.239

Chapter 50

1. Who helped Sairy and Dallas find their way out of the woods? Two boys hunting a deer p.245
2. Do you think it was a good idea for Sairy and Dallas to leave their backpacks with the two boys? No, they might steal their stuff p.246

Chapter 51

1. Who lived in the cabin at the far side of the holler? Z p.247
2. What two confessions did he need to make to Sairy? He was the one who got Dallas’s passport & that the twins could be his kids p.249
3. What was the form Z read that told him the twins could be his? Hospital record p.249

Chapter 52

1. What happened to Florida in this chapter? She found a log and was able to stay afloat as she called out for Tiller p.252

Chapter 53

1. When Sairy and Dallas couldn’t find the diner the boys pointed them to, what did they realize and do? They realized the boys lied and stole their packs and decided to keep hiking to find a town p.253
2. What did Dallas finally spot? A farm p.256

Chapter 54

1. Why was Tiller holding his chest? It felt tight p.256
2. What did Tiller think about as he was underwater? Rose his daughter and Sairy p.258

Chapter 55

1. What did Z end up doing with the understone funds? He kept them for safe keeping p.261
2. What did the person who went to Kangadoon get? Malaria p.263

Chapter 56

1. Why do you think Florida was mad at Tiller for not saving her from the river? Because he was supposed to protect her and keep her safe p.265
2. How did Florida save Tiller? Tied a rope to a tree and held on to it as she walked out to where he was p.265
3. What does Florida mean instead of “artificial perspiration”? Artificial Respiration p.266
4. What do you think Tiller means when he says he has a “soggy heart”? He’s having a heart attack p.267

Chapter 57

1. Why did Z feel when Dallas asked him when the doctors were going to tell them about Tiller? Responsible, important p.269

Chapter 58

1. Who do you think the be-nice-to-orphans brownies are for? Mr. Trepid p.272
2. What was Mr. Trepid going to do with the Ruby Holler treasure map? Try and find Sairy and Tiller’s understone funds p.274

Chapter 59

1. How did Mrs. Trepid feel about Mr. Trepid leaving her alone with the kids for the day?  Unhappy; mad; p.275

Chapter 60

1. What did Sairy and Tiller discuss in this chapter? Boxton Creek Home; all of the families Dallas and Florida went to; what Z wanted to talk to Tiller about; the Trepid’s coming p.278

Chapter 61

1. What did Mr. Trepid take with him to Ruby Holler? Shovel, trowel, sack, map p.283
2. What are some things Mr. Trepid found while digging? Brownies; lizards; mash blackberries; stinging nettles; mousetrap; leaves & berries; etc. p.284

Chapter 62

1. Where was Mr. Trepid going to take the gems to be appraised? The jeweler he went to look at the watch p.289

Chapter 63

1. What does it mean to get pictures developed? Get them printed so you have the actual picture p.292
2. How much did the jewels cost that Mr. Trepid found? $1.99 p.292
3. What was Florida worried about at the end of the chapter? That Sairy and Tiller were going to get rid of them p.293

Chapter 64

1. Where did Mr. Trepid test drive the new Cadillac to? The jewelry store p.295
2. How did the salesman react toward Mr. Trepid when he saw the fake gems on the counter? Polite; stared at them and cleared his throat; asked if he could talk to his manager; chewed on his lip p.297

Chapter 65

1. Why did Dallas begin packing up his things? He thought Sairy and Tiller were going to take them back to the home p.300
2. How did Florida feel about leaving now? She didn’t want to; she wanted to say good-bye p.301
3. Why was Sairy hesitant to keep the twins? She didn’t know if staying in the holler was the best thing for them p.303

Chapter 66

1. Why didn’t Florida want to leave Ruby Holler? She liked it there; The Morey’s were the nicest couple so far; who would help out with things around the farm while Tiller was getting back his strength. P.307
2. What were Dallas and Florida hoping would happen when they fell asleep in the fort made by trees? That Sairy and Tiller would find them like last time. P.309
3. How did Dallas and Florida know that Sairy and Tiller found them? When they woke up, they smelled bacon p.310