The Steps

Ruby Voss appears to have a privileged existence, living on the grounds of her grandmother's estate with her father, stepmother Vivian, and stepsiblings Brielle and Liam. Under the surface, however, tensions roil. After the car accident death of her mother and aunt, her father and uncle had a tremendous falling out over the insurance payout, since the uncle maintained that Ruby's mother caused the accident, and therefore he should get some of the much larger insurance payout for Ruby's mother. Ruby is not supposed to talk to her cousin and best friend, Sterling, because of this, and the two girls even help out their grandmother, Oma, on separate shifts so they don't see each other. When Sterling shows up, knocking on Ruby's second floor window like she used to, Ruby is surprised. She follows her cousin to Oma's, where they find that their grandmother has been bound and gagged, and her pink diamond engagement ring has been stolen. Sterling helps her grandmother, but Ruby hides so that her presence isn't detected. Despite the drama that unfolds in the afftermath of the robbery, with her father and uncle renewing their fighting, Ruby still has to go to high school. Without Sterling, it's been hard, but she's made a a good friend in Izaan Ray. He invites her to join the chess team, and the advisor, Mr. Archambeau, tells her that he is tutoring Oma in French in exchange for being able to stay at the French chateau Ruby doesn't even know Oma owns. Back at home, her Aunt Katrina stops by, and provides some calm support for Ruby, who gets so little support from her father and Vivian that she's been living on coffee and Twinkies. Since Oma's ring is worth three million dollars, the police question everyone. When Ruby's room is ransacked, and some of the tools she keeps in her room to make herself feel safe (a hatchet, saw, and rope!) are taken, things look grim, but the police officer who is investigating is helpful. As Ruby and Sterling try to find out what really happened, and why Ruby seems to be targeted now, family secrets galore are revealed. I don't want to reveal any of the twists and turns that this action and suspense packed novel takes, but it's a good thing that Ruby has the support of her Aunt, as well as for the members of her school chess team, who help save the day!