Applegate, Katherine. One and Only Bob. Fiction. HarperCollins, 05/2020. 340pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-299131-7. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 3-7.
In this sequel to the Newbery winner The One and Only Ivan (2012), Bob the dog describes the hurricane that damages the zoo where Ivan the gorilla and Ruby the elephant live. After helping to rescue them, he seeks out his sister, whom he believes is nearby, even though he hasn’t seen her for years. The first-person narrative uses short, brief passages, similar to the style used in the first book, which will be engaging for reluctant readers and others. Although the story is a little slow at the beginning, the last half involving the hurricane is action-packed. There is more humor than in the original book, and the main human character, Julia, and her family are Latinx. There is an animated film version of The One and Only Ivan due in theaters later this year, which will compel demand for this excellent sequel.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool