The Town That Drowned
Ruby is the main character of this novel and the story is told entirely from her point of view. She is a 14‑year-old girl. Near the beginning of the book she has a vision of some of the townspeople swimming around her and one person happens to be someone she had never seen before. Ruby gets bullied at school (mainly by June Crouse) as a result of this incident. To make things worse, she has a unique brother who is seen as a freak by others. She receives suspicion after the townspeople learn that her house would be saved from being flooded (Later on, it is revealed that Ruby had to move anyway since the water went further than expected). Her best friend and cousin is Sarah Carson who was always there for Ruby. However, in that year, Sarah moved to another town and leaving Ruby to face her troubles on her own. Later on in the story Ruby falls in love with Troy Rutherford, who happens to be her first love.
2016 Bihar school examination scandal
Many argued that Ruby Rai was unfairly targeted as she is a minor (17), as she was born on 15 November 1998 and the real kingpins of the crime and pathetic education level of Bihar Board have not yet been caught. Education Minister Upendra Kushwaha said that Ruby Rai's father, Avadesh Rai, was complicit in the conspiracy forged by Bacha Rai. Referring to the specifically targeted media coverage of Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha, columnist Shivanshu K. Srivastava wrote, "At least the news presenters should have shown some sensitivity towards these misguided children. In context of another news wherein a girl misbehaved in a police station, the girl’s face was blurred even when she was adult, but these children are openly humiliated." Ruby Rai was said to be under utter stress and finding herself utterly hopeless after deserted by family within few days of her arrest. On 13 July, Ruby broke down in tears in juvenile justice board office after seeing her grandfather Munshi Prasad Rai. Later on, Ruby Rai was able to adjust and adapt herself inside the Juvenile Home. Her bail petition was heard in Juvenile court on 1 August. Ruby studied in the juvenile home to reappear in the 2017 exams. Ruby was released from jail on 1 August after court agreed to her bail plea.