Surely I could not have been the only one in the school cafeteria who noticed the bowed head of the young black girl, who must have been of school-going age, serving us steaming plates of hot bangers and mash. Did no other student notice the look of longing on her face as she took a furtive glance over at our glossy textbooks while she cleared away the plates? If there was such a student, he or she did not reveal themselves…’

The affluent neighbourhood of Johannesburg was a friendly, close-knit community. Kindness and selflessness were a few things that the people of the town showed; but only on the surface. If you were to dig deeper, you would find anger and hate among just a few. This town has been split by race: it is 1976 and South Africa is at the height of apartheid, where the laws of segregation have been strictly enforced.

Ruby has grown up to see past the colour of skin. She sees only the character behind the body. Ruby’s mother owns one of the best-known art galleries in Johannesburg. People of both races are free to express their emotions on paper. Any race is welcome to their door. Ruby Red is full of romance and intensity yet discusses the politics of race at the time. A captivating read.

Once she sets gaze upon a young Afrikaans boy, she finds herself under the spell of love. Quiet whispers and reproachful looks are shared among the community. Race in this town is clearly a problem. Can love and courage help her past these times? Or will she be forced into letting others go? She must find a way out …

With its captivating first-person narrative, I could not put the book down: a thrilling page-turner.

I would definitely recommend this: 10/10