In Ruby Winters' world, colour opens some doors and slams others shut. Her opulent Johannesburg neighbourhood is a far cry from the streets of Soweto where anger and hatred simmer under the surface.

Ruby can't resist the blue-eyed Afrikaans boy who brings her the exciting rush of first love, but whose presence brings hushed whispers and disapproving glances. She might not see race, colour or creed - but it seems everybody else does . . .

This dazzling novel will entrance teenage and adult readers alike.

This book was recognised by the Carnegie Award. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by childrens librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people.

There are 224 pages in this book. This book was published 2008 by Penguin Books Ltd .

Linzi Glass was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to the United States as a young adult. She has published articles, and written plays, screenplays, short stories and two novels - The Year the Gypsies Came and Ruby Red. She lives in Santa Monica with her teenage daughter, Jordan.