First published 2000
Ruby Genie lives as an orphan in the shadow of her famous magical parents. Everyone waits for her to display the same extraordinary powers her mother and father once possessed. Ruby tries again and again to cast spells or conjure magic, but nothing works. She feels like a complete disappointment until something unexpected begins happening to her body. She starts shrinking. Each day she grows tinier and tinier until she becomes so small she can fit inside a handbag. Ruby meets peculiar characters during her strange transformation, including the pompous Great Alfonso who believes himself a master magician and Aunt Hat, a gentle conjuror whose tricks never quite work as planned. As Ruby navigates her miniature world, she discovers that being the smallest person around doesn't make her powerless. Her tiny size leads to big adventures where she must use her wit and courage to survive. Through her journey, Ruby learns that magic comes in many forms and that being different doesn't mean being worthless. She finds people who see her true value.
Genres: fiction, fantasy, magical-realism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, underdog
128 pages · Paperback · Orion