by J.A. Watson ; illustrated by Arpad Olbey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2019
Sweet, optimistic, and engaging.
Science and story blend in this earnest series entry.
Middle schooler Brubeck “Bru” Ferrell wants two things this summer: for her mom to marry her longtime girlfriend, Ginger, and for her school’s Science Squad team to purchase new, sophisticated acoustic monitoring equipment to study local bats. The former seems as though it should be simple: Despite her mom’s reluctance to commit to marriage, Bru is positive that Ginger is the perfect fit for their family. The latter presents more of a challenge: Bru’s two best friends, Laura and TaKwon, are the only other people equally invested in their Science Squad’s project, which involves recording bat calls to contribute to a bat-conservation organization, so the chance of raising enough money for a quality ultrasonic recording device seems increasingly slim. On top of this, navigation of the trio’s friendship is getting steadily more complicated and confusing, causing additional tensions. While the book’s resolution is a deus ex machina, readers invested in Bru’s story will likely be happy with it. Told in journal entries that intersperse sidebars of bat facts, the narrative is friendly, accessible, and informative. The black-and-white digital illustrations are contemporary and appealing. Bru is white, and her community is multiethnic: Ginger is of Kenyan descent, TaKwon is brown, both Laura and the Science Squad’s teacher are Asian, and there are other secondary characters of color.
Sweet, optimistic, and engaging. (additional facts, glossary, index) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-63163-300-3
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
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by J.A. Watson ; illustrated by Arpad Olbey
BOOK REVIEW
by J.A. Watson ; illustrated by Arpad Olbey
by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Patricia Castelao ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 17, 2012
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new...
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New York Times Bestseller
Newbery Medal Winner
How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.
Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human—except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery. His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers’ passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout.
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-06-199225-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
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More In The Series
by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao
by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao
by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao
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BOOK REVIEW
by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko ; illustrated by Wallace West
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by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao
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by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Charles Santoso
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BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2023
Certain to steal hearts.
In this follow-up to 2020’s The One and Only Bob, Ruby the elephant is still living at Wildworld Zoological Park and Sanctuary.
She’s apprehensive about her Tuskday, a rite of passage for young elephants when she’ll give a speech in front of the rest of the herd. Luckily, she can confide in her Uncle Ivan, who is next door in Gorilla World, and Uncle Bob, the dog who lives nearby with human friend Julia. Ruby was born in an unspecified part of Africa, later ending up on display in the mall, where she met Ivan, Bob, and Julia. The unexpected arrival of someone from Ruby’s past life on the savanna revives memories both warmly nostalgic and deeply traumatic. An elephant glossary and Castelao’s charming, illustrated guide to elephant body language help immerse readers in Ruby’s world. Goofy, playful, and mischievous Ruby is fully dimensional, as she has shown her bravery during the many hardships of her young life. Applegate deftly tempers themes of grief and loss with compassion and humor as Ruby finds her place in the herd. The author’s note touches on climate change, the illegal ivory trade, and conservation efforts, but the highly emotive framing of the story through the memories of a bewildered baby elephant emphasizes the impact of lines such as “ ‘in Africa,’ I say softly, ‘there were bad people,’ ” without offering readers a nuanced understanding of the broader context that drives poaching.
Certain to steal hearts. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780063080089
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
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More In The Series
by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao
by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Patricia Castelao
More by Katherine Applegate
BOOK REVIEW
by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko ; illustrated by Wallace West
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by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Charles Santoso
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by Katherine Applegate ; illustrated by Charlie Alder
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