When Ruby’s mother is murdered in their home on the South Side, Ruby is left alone with her father, a man prone to violence and rage. Layla, the pastor’s daughter and Ruby’s best friend, wants desperately to help Ruby find a way to get away, and in her search for answers, stumbles on some long held secrets that have bound the two families together tighter than blood.
Told from different perspectives (including the church building itself), not only is Saving Ruby King a compelling story, but it’s also an examination of how systemic racism and generational trauma has consequences for entire communities. This would be an excellent title for a book discussion – lots to talk about!