New ArrivalsEasterClothing, Shoes & AccessoriesHomeKitchen & DiningOutdoor Living & GardenFurnitureGroceryHousehold EssentialsBabyBeautyPersonal CareHealthWellnessBackpacks & LuggageSports & OutdoorsToysElectronicsVideo GamesMovies, Music & BooksSchool & Office SuppliesParty SuppliesGift IdeasGift CardsPetsUlta Beauty at TargetShop by CommunityTarget OpticalDealsClearanceTarget New ArrivalsRoller Rabbit x TargetEasterHome Decor Ideas & TrendsTop DealsTarget Circle DealsWeekly AdShop Order PickupShop Same Day DeliveryRegistryRedCardTarget CircleFind Stores
Mama Ruby - (Mama Ruby Novel) by  Mary Monroe (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Mama Ruby - (Mama Ruby Novel) by Mary Monroe (Paperback)

$12.59Save $4.36 (26% off)See 1 deal for this item

In Stock

Free & easy returns

Free & easy returns

Return this item by mail or in store within 90 days for a full refund.
Eligible for registries and wish lists
Available deals

Target Circle Deal: Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

Eligible with Target Circle membership ∙ Expires Mar 27 ∙ Details

About this item

Highlights

  • The new edition of a modern classic by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Mary Monroe!
  • About the Author: Mary Monroe is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels and six novellas.
  • 432 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres, African American
  • Series Name: Mama Ruby Novel

Description



Book Synopsis



The new edition of a modern classic by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Mary Monroe!

An enduring tale of the rebellious early years of Mama Ruby in 1930s Louisiana - the bold, brassy, indomitable heroine of Mary Monroe's acclaimed debut, The Upper Room.

Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruby Jean Upshaw is the kind of girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. By the time she's fifteen, Ruby has a taste for fast men and cheap liquor, and not even her preacher daddy can set her straight. Only Othella Mae Cartier, daughter of the town tramp, understands what makes Ruby tick.

When Ruby discovers she's in the family way, she's scared for the first time in her life. After hiding her growing belly, Ruby secretly gives birth to a baby girl at Othella's house. Othella talks Ruby into giving the child away--and with the help of a shocking revelation, convinces Ruby to run off with her to New Orleans.

But nothing can erase Ruby's memories of her child--or quell her simmering rage at Othella for persuading her to let her precious baby go. Someday there will be a reckoning. And Othella will learn that no one exacts revenge quite like Ruby Jean Upshaw . . .



Review Quotes




Praise for Mary Monroe's Mama Ruby Trilogy:

"Engaging ...the dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston, but the story has a bizarre, violent edge ... la Stephen King. Fantastic and exaggerated, the novel may seem dated in its descriptions of race and sex, but it is a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby." --Publishers Weekly on The Upper Room

"Monroe keeps the suspense high, and readers will draw a bated breath with the turn of each page." --Booklist on Mama Ruby

"A spicy mixture of family scandal, mother-daughter betrayal, and good-for-nothing men." --Publishers Weekly on Lost Daughters

"Monroe is a masterful storyteller." --Philadelphia Inquirer

"Mary Monroe's prequel to The Upper Room reintroduces readers to Mama Ruby, a fierce and indomitable woman... Though readers new to the series will have to accept the dialect, ever-present threat of violence, and explicit sex scenes, they'll appreciate the compelling period and the unapologetic characters. Familiarity with The Upper Room smooths the way." --Publishers Weekly on Mama Ruby



About the Author



Mary Monroe is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels and six novellas. She is a three-time AALBC bestseller and winner of the AAMBC Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, and the J. California Cooper Memorial Award. The daughter of Alabama sharecroppers, she taught herself how to write before going on to become the first and only member of her family to finish high school. She lives in Oakland, California, and loves to hear from her readers via e-mail at Authorauthor5409@aol.com. Visit Mary's website at MaryMonroe.org.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.1 Inches (H) x 5.4 Inches (W) x 1.3 Inches (D)
Weight: .85 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 432
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: African American
Series Title: Mama Ruby Novel
Publisher: Dafina Books
Theme: Women
Format: Paperback
Author: Mary Monroe
Language: English
Street Date: July 25, 2023
TCIN: 94327314
UPC: 9781496739179
Item Number (DPCI): 247-51-0029
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.3 inches length x 5.4 inches width x 8.1 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.85 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska, Hawaii

Return details

This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, delivered to the guest, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or picked up by the guest.
See the return policy for complete information.

Q: What is the setting of the Mama Ruby novel?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
  • A: The story is set in Shreveport, Louisiana, during the 1930s, showcasing the cultural and social dynamics of the time.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: Who is the protagonist in this story?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
  • A: The protagonist is Ruby Jean Upshaw, a strong-willed young woman navigating life in 1930s Louisiana.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: How many pages is the Mama Ruby novel?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
  • A: Mama Ruby contains a total of 432 pages, providing an in-depth narrative of Ruby's life.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What themes are explored in the Mama Ruby novel?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
  • A: The novel explores themes of motherhood, betrayal, revenge, and the complexities of women's lives in historical contexts.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What genre does the Mama Ruby novel belong to?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
  • A: The novel belongs to the Fiction and Literature genres, specifically focusing on African American narratives.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 7 days ago
    Ai generated

Additional product information and recommendations

Discover more options

Lost Daughters - (Mama Ruby Novel) by  Mary Monroe (Paperback)

$12.72
MSRP $16.95
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

Mama's Amazing Cover Cloth - by  Ruby Yayra Goka (Paperback)

$16.00
MSRP $20.79
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

Right Beside You - by  Mary Monroe (Paperback)

$6.79
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

God Ain't Blind - by  Mary Monroe (Paperback)

$18.02
MSRP $18.95
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

Frequently bought together

The Scammer - by  Tiffany D Jackson (Hardcover)

$15.99
MSRP $19.99
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music
4 out of 5 stars with 5 ratings

Coworker - by Freida Mcfadden

$9.46
was $9.98 New lower price
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music
4.6 out of 5 stars with 101 ratings

Matriarch - by  Tina Knowles (Hardcover)

$21.62
MSRP $35.00
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music
4.5 out of 5 stars with 10 ratings

Guests also viewed

Lost Daughters - (Mama Ruby Novel) by  Mary Monroe (Paperback)

$12.72
MSRP $16.95
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

Remembrance -  by Mary Monroe

$10.43
MSRP $12.95
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

After I Do - by  Taylor Jenkins Reid (Paperback)

$9.47
MSRP $18.00
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music
4.4 out of 5 stars with 53 ratings

The Stolen Daughter - by Reshonda Tate Billingsley (Paperback)

$10.39
MSRP $15.95
Buy 2, get 1 free select books, movies & music

Get top deals, latest trends, and more.

Privacy policy

Footer

About Us

About TargetCareersNews & BlogTarget BrandsBullseye ShopSustainability & GovernancePress CenterAdvertise with UsInvestorsAffiliates & PartnersSuppliersTargetPlus

Help

Target HelpReturnsTrack OrdersRecallsContact UsFeedbackAccessibilitySecurity & FraudTeam Member ServicesLegal & Privacy

Stores

Find a StoreClinicPharmacyTarget OpticalMore In-Store Services

Services

Target Circle™Target Circle™ CardTarget Circle 360™Target AppRegistrySame Day DeliveryOrder PickupDrive UpFree 2-Day ShippingShipping & DeliveryMore Services
PinterestFacebookInstagramXYoutubeTiktokTermsCA Supply ChainPrivacy PolicyCA Privacy RightsYour Privacy ChoicesInterest Based AdsHealth Privacy Policy