In 1996 13-year-old Ruthy Ramirez, the middle of three sisters, never returns home from track practice. Her Puerto Rican Staten Island family never found out what happened and understandably never moved past the loss.
12 years later, in 2008, Ruthy’s now adult sisters, Jessica and Nina, think a contestant on a reality television show called Catfight might be their long lost sister, renewing their hope she’s still alive.
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez {#gifted @grandcentralpub} is really a character study of a family of women living in the specter of loss. The story bounces between 1996 and 2008, both periods far enough in the past to be recognizably nostalgic. The characters feel very alive and the mystery at the center of the story keeps the plot moving, it’s really quite well crafted and very readable if a little light on overall impact.
That Bookish Life 