Katherine Applegate, The one and only Ruby, HarperCollins Publishers, June 2023, 240 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780008470746
This book had me at ‘elephant body language’ on the opening pages – the oh-so-adorable illustrations of an elephant’s many moods.
And who is that elephant? It’s Ruby, the baby pachyderm from the Newbery Medal-winning The One and Only Ivan. Initially overjoyed to be reunited with her caretaker, Ruby experiences a flood of dark, long-buried memories – of her mother and original family, her mother’s death and the abuse that Ruby endured afterwards.
Applegate’s distinctive verse-prose narrative, framed emotively by Ruby’s emerging memories, deftly explores the lingering effects of grief and trauma with a lightness of touch (‘In Africa’, I say softly, ‘there were bad people.’). Ruby’s voice shines, a mix of playfulness, wisdom, compassion, joy and humour that offers safe passage for navigating the story’s heavy themes (animal cruelty, poaching and climate change, to name just a few). Patricia Castelao’s charming illustrations add immeasurable depth, meaning and beauty to this powerful tale of adversity, friendship, resilience and hope.
The One and Only Ruby is an extraordinary read for ages 8+ though I defy anyone to escape Ruby’s mischievous charm.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Maura Pierlot