”Maybe it’s easier to forgive others once you’ve learned to forgive yourself.”
Not gonna lie here, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Katherine Applegate’s
The One and Only Bob since the end of 2019; but I didn’t purchase a copy
until now because I was
terrified that it wouldn’t live up to the
utter amazingness that is
The One and Only Ivan. After watching the
Disney+ film of Ivan’s installment, however {
if you haven’t seen it yet, stop what you’re doing and go watch. it. now.}, I
knew that I needed more Bob in my life, and
here we are.
Broken out into four parts,
The One and Only Bob gives us the perspective of Bob, the
tiny albeit feisty terrier who once shared a cage with the
infamous Ivan. Today, Bob has left behind the
Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade and taken up residence with Julia and George, who dote on him and take him on frequent trips to visit
Ivan and Ruby at their new home at a local zoo. Which is where Bob is when a
life-changing hurricane-meets-tornado hits, forcing every animal,
friend or foe, to put their differences aside and band together to survive.
In all truth, Parts 1 and 2,
while enjoyable, were not the standouts for
The One and Only Bob; serving mainly as an update on the characters we grew to love in its predecessor, and giving only the
slimmest glimpse into Bob’s past. The past that, even now, he has been
unable to put behind him enough to fully trust humans. The true story begins within the pages of
Parts 3 and 4, when Bob finally feels confident enough to show his
vulnerable side, revealing chunks of his
puppyhood and subsequent mistreatment by the hands of humans to reflect on how those incidences shaped him into the
dynamite dog he is today; and allowing him the chance to break down the barriers that were making him incapable of full love.
What’s
remarkable about Katherine Applegate is her ability to present
truly heavy topics in a format that is accessible, understandable, and virtually considered
light reading for even the tiniest of readers. She introduces the concept of
animal rights and kindness in a way that leaves
such an impression on you – whether you are 4 or 94; and that,
my friends, is talent.
Yes, this is labeled as a
middle grade book, but
I cannot recommend it enough. The reading is quick {I finished it in its entirety in less than 2 hours}; but the characters live on in your mind {
and heart!}
long after the last page is turned. While you will find
no spoilers here, I will say that the ending put the
biggest smile on my face, and that smile appears
time and time again whenever I think of this book.
Please don’t miss this one.
Star Rating: *****
xx
