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Quick answer: If you loved Ruby Holler, read Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons, Love That Dog and Saving Winslow, then Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tiger Rising, then Louis Sachar's Holes, and Christopher Paul Curtis's Bud, Not Buddy and Katherine Applegate's Crenshaw, Wishtree and The One and Only Ivan. All are gentle adventures for middle-grade readers.
Sharon Creech's Ruby Holler (2002) follows two orphans who find an unusual home. These picks share its warmth.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk Two Moons | Sharon Creech | 10-14 | readers who like layered stories |
| Love That Dog | Sharon Creech | 8-12 | poems and pets |
| Saving Winslow | Sharon Creech | 8-11 | caring for animals |
| Bloomability | Sharon Creech | Ages 10-14 | growing up abroad |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | dog lovers |
| Holes | Louis Sachar | 10+ | readers ready for a longer book |
| Bud, Not Buddy | Christopher Paul Curtis | 9-13 | readers who like adventure |
| Crenshaw | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like imagination |
| Wishtree | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like animals and nature |
| The Tiger Rising | Kate DiCamillo | 9-12 | grief and friendship |
| Absolutely Almost | Lisa Graff | 9–12 | self-worth |
| Counting by 7s | Holly Goldberg Sloan | 10 and up | resilient young heroines |
| The Penderwicks | Jeanne Birdsall | Ages 8-12 | modern classic |
| Anna Hibiscus | Atinuke | Ages 5-8 | family warmth |
| The One and Only Ivan | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like animals |
1. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Sal tells the story of a road trip while she tells her friend's story. A Newbery winner.
Best for: readers who like layered stories.
2. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
A boy slowly learns to love poetry and shares his feelings about his dog. Short and moving, in verse.
Best for: poems and pets.
3. Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
A boy cares for a sick donkey and learns about love and loss. Short and tender.
Best for: caring for animals.
4. Bloomability by Sharon Creech
A girl moves to a Swiss boarding school. Warm and full of insight.
Best for: growing up abroad.
5. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
India Opal Buloni adopts a stray dog and makes friends in a small town. Warm and funny.
Best for: dog lovers.
6. Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats digs holes at a camp, and a hidden secret emerges. A funny Newbery winner.
Best for: readers ready for a longer book.
7. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten-year-old Bud runs away in Depression-era Michigan to find the man he thinks is his father. Funny and moving, and a Newbery winner.
Best for: readers who like adventure.
8. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
A boy and his imaginary giant cat face hard times. Tender and funny.
Best for: readers who like imagination.
9. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
A red oak tree called Red narrates the story of a Muslim family facing hate in the neighborhood. Gentle and lovely.
Best for: readers who like animals and nature.
10. The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
A boy finds a caged tiger behind a motel in Florida. Quiet and moving.
Best for: grief and friendship.
11. Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
A boy who feels he is not good at anything finds a caring nanny. Gentle and honest.
Best for: self-worth.
12. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
A gifted girl is left alone after a tragedy and slowly builds a new kind of family. Warm and hopeful.
Best for: resilient young heroines.
13. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Four sisters spend a summer at a cottage. Charming and old-fashioned in feel.
Best for: modern classic.
14. Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
Anna lives with her large family in Africa. Cheerful and gentle.
Best for: family warmth.
15. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
A silverback gorilla in a mall tries to save a baby elephant. Told in short, poetic chapters.
Best for: readers who like animals.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Ruby Holler: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Ruby Holler. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For Creech, read Walk Two Moons. For heart, try Because of Winn-Dixie. For adventure, pick Holes.
Related: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech: Summary and Key Takeaways · The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Ruby Holler?
Sharon Creech, in 2002.
What is it about?
Two orphans and an older couple.
What age is it for?
About 9 to 13.
Which book here is best for readers who like animals?
Try The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, which suits readers looking for readers who like animals.
Which book here is best for family warmth?
Try Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke, which suits readers looking for family warmth.
Which book here is best for modern classic?
Try The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, which suits readers looking for modern classic.
Which book here is best for resilient young heroines?
Try Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, which suits readers looking for resilient young heroines.
Which book here is best for self-worth?
Try Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff, which suits readers looking for self-worth.