Ruby Red is a novel written to a high standard about a girl named Ruby and how the laws of segregation make her life completely different to the average girl her age.

She is a well-liked girl in her social and school life she stands out from the crowd in a good way. Ruby lives in the ‘Golden City’ – which is quite a wealthy suburb – of Johannesburg. The neighbouring city, Soweto, is full of racism and segregation while their streets are full hatred.

Ruby has good honest parents who have brought her up to look at the personality and character of a person before their looks and skin colour. Her mother owns an art gallery which shows talented artwork from the best artists in Soweto. Most of their neighbours have black servants doing all their jobs but Ruby’s family treats them like any other and as a friend, not just as people to do the work no-one else will.

Ruby lives a double life: while at school she is a popular and well-known girl but at home her life is kept behind her closed gates and a secret to the outside world.

This is a book full of drama and emotion; although it has severe racism, it can teach a good lesson.