Book Review: Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, with illustrations by Nicholas Gannon

Bob
by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, with illustrations by Nicholas Gannon (j Mass)

 

Livy is a ten year old girl from Massachusetts who travels with her mother and baby sister to visit her grandmother, whom she hasn’t seen in five years. When she arrives and opens the door of the closet in her bedroom, she is greeted by a small, green creature in a chicken costume who says, “You’re back. Took you long enough.”

 

This is Bob, who has been waiting for five years for Livy to come back and fulfill her promise to help him discover who he is and where he came from — but Livy has no memory of Bob. Together, Livy and Bob piece together clues to these mysteries, find out why Bob wears a chicken costume, and the connection between Bob and the drought that the area has been suffering from.

 

The story is told in chapters that alternate between Bob’s and Livy’s perspectives. This is an engaging, heart-warming fantasy, that stands out for its unusual storyline and narrative structure. Highly recommended for upper grade school kids.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Borrowers series by Mary Norton or The Spiderwick Chronicles series by Tony DiTerlizzi.)

 

( publisher’s official Bob web site ) | ( official Wendy Mass web site ) | ( official Rebecca Stead web site ) | ( official Nicholas Gannon web site )

 

Recommended by Peter J.
Virtual Services Department

 

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