The One and Only Ruby
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!
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.
The One and Only Ruby features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).
This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.
Don’t miss the film adaptation of The One and Only Ivan, now streaming on Disney+!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lovable baby elephant Ruby is the delightful narrator of this follow-up to The One and Only Bob, which further chronicles the animal's difficult journey to the wildlife park and sanctuary where she now lives. As the story picks up, Ruby laments that "nobody ever listens to the littlest elephant," especially concerning her dreaded upcoming Tuskday celebration, a rite of passage that she has no interest in recognizing. Doted on by her adopted elephant "aunts," and counseled by gorilla Ivan, who lives in a nearby enclosure, and dog Bob, who visits regularly, Ruby is safe and surrounded by loved ones. But an unexpected visit awakens memories both welcome and harrowing, including those making her reluctant to celebrate her tusks. Ruby's playful yet sage voice traces the events that brought her from her unspecified African savanna home to the mall where she and Ivan previously lived, and, at last, to the sanctuary. With her trademark blend of frankness and hope, Applegate details dire circumstances facing elephants in the wild, including climate change and poaching, while elucidating their fierce loyalty and highlighting, via the three protagonists' unforgettable bond, myriad interspecies relationships. A concluding author's note offers further context. Ages 8–12.
