The One and Only Ruby
Katherine Applegate, Author
Patricia Castelao, Illustrator
Harper Collins, Fiction, 2023
Suitable for ages 8 and up
Themes: Annimals, Elephant, Captivity, Sanctuary, Family, Friendship
Opening: “Nobody ever listens to the littlest elephant. And around here, the littlest elephant is me.”
Bookjacket Synopsis:
From beloved powerhouse author Katherine Applegate comes The One and Only Ruby, starring the adorable baby elephant from the Newbery Medal-winning modern classic The One and Only Ivan and its bestselling sequel, The One and Only Bob.
Ruby’s story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby’s caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.
In the timeless way that only Katherine Applegate could craft, this highly anticipated novel in verse is the perfect mix of heartfelt and humorous, poignant and sweet. Artist Patricia Castelao returns to the world of Ivan and his friends with gorgeous black-and-white interior illustrations to complete the story.
What I love about The One and Only Ruby:
Be ready to fall in love with the delightful elephant, Ruby. Katherine Applegate shines a spotlight on Ruby’s story from her birth in Africa where she is loved and protected by her herd, to her capture and journey to an animal sanctuary where she live with new best friends, Ivan and Bob, and a herd of rescued elephants. Ruby is a continuation of Ivan and Bob’s stories.
Applegate’s heartwarming novel in verse is bravely narrated by Ruby. Applegate introduces tough and important subjects like the impact of climate change on wildlife and the lack of water/food, animal cruelty, exploitation, and poaching for precious ivory tusks. It is a page turner for readers. Patricia Castelao’s black and white illustrations are endearing and expressive. They beautifully support Ruby’s story.
Ruby brings many special memories of life on the savannah, but also remembers many dark moments she shares with Uncle Ivan and Uncle Bob. But she is a youngster and she radiates that energy throughout the story. Life at the sanctuary has a lot of fun moments and readers will also learn a lot about elephant behavior and life at the sanctuary — dust bathing, mudfun, floppy running and games of oops-oopsie and pond-play. Make sure you read the Elephant Glossary and view the ‘Elephant Body Language” illustrations at the beginning of the novel.
Readers will enjoy learning about Ruby’s upcoming Tuskday, a traditional “rite of passage” that celebrates a young elephant’s first emerging tusks, the herd and the earth.” Ruby hates her tusks because they hurt and they are also a reminder of some very sad memories of the savannah.
Ruby’s story ends on a hopeful note for a happier future — even for Ivan and Bob. Applegate has also released her final novel, The One and Only Family, on May 7. Readers won’t want to miss this finale. Don’t miss the film adaptation of The One and Only Ivan, now streaming on Disney+
Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob, Crenshaw, Wishtree. The Roscoe Riley Rules chapter book series and the Animorphs series. She lives in California. Visit her at katherineapplegate.com.
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*Reviewed from a library copy.