The One and Only Bob

Katherine Applegate’s books are a treasure. Recently, I reread The One and Only Bob, a lovely book featuring an unforgettable character.

About a month ago, I reviewed Odder, and I wrote about how authentic the voice is. And with The One and Only Bob, that’s the first thing that comes to mind. It is a story about cruelty, loneliness, courage and love, and yet, what makes the book sparkle is Bob’s voice. If you’ve read any of the other books in the series, you know exactly what Bob is like, a street-smart, wisecracking dog who refuses to take anything seriously. He moves with a swagger, makes himself out to be a lazy good-for-nothing, and pretends there’s no softness to him.

And yet, as we read The One and Only Bob, we see again that his attitude is nothing but a mask. He can’t afford to show weakness, and he has made himself believe that he is selfish and looks out only for himself. His actions, however, tell another story.

The One and Only Bob is a lovely book about a character who is too scared to love, but loves anyway. A character who believes he isn’t brave, but acts courageously anyway. A character who hides everything, but emerges crystal clear anyway. It’s so difficult to write a story that lives up to the wonder of The One and Only Ivan, but Katherine Applegate does it with ease, not once but many times over with this series of books. Brief chapters and a humorous, easy style keep you reading one chapter after another until you finish this rollercoaster of a book with a smile.