JUNE 2018 - AudioFile
In alternating chapters, narrators Nora Hunter and Rob Dircks share the mysterious relationship between a girl and her once-upon-a-time zombie-like playmate. Livy has returned to visit her grandmother in Australia, her first visit having been as a 5-year-old. Bob has been waiting for her in the closet, having entertained himself over the years with Legos and a dictionary. Strange, one might say. Hunter and Dircks captivate listeners with youthful straightforwardness and wonder, bluntness and zaniness, all the while piecing the relationship together. Swirling around this mystery is another—the mysterious letters that all the neighbors receive—and a terrible drought. Could one mystery lead to the solution of another? A.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
The New York Times Book Review - Karen Valby
The heart of this wistful book comes from the loss of memories: Livy's of their younger friendship, and Bob's of his former life. How does one hang on to the innocence and wonder of childhood when the world conspires to drum it out of us?…The ending is pure enchantment. It's the type of satisfying closure that makes a reader want to turn right back to Page 1 now that she knows how the whole puzzle fits together.
Publishers Weekly
★ 03/05/2018
Ten-year-old Livy, who lives in Massachusetts, hasn’t visited her Gran Nicholas’s house in Australia for five years. When she returns for a visit, Livy is struck by the feeling that something very important is waiting for her. Sure enough, a peek inside her closet reveals “a small zombie wearing a chicken suit,” perched atop a dictionary. “You’re back. Took you long enough,” the creature says to the girl. Once upon a time, it seems, five-year-old Livy discovered this strange being, who goes by the comically understated name of Bob, and the two formed a secret bond. Picking up where they left off, Livy keeps Bob hidden while they hunt for clues about what he is, where he came from, and how to get him home. Authors Mass (the Willow Falls series) and Stead (Goodbye Stranger) team up for this irresistible tale of magic, mystery, and friendship that poses timeless questions about identity and belonging. Ultimately, the answers Livy and Bob seek are waiting in the pages of a cherished book—a tribute to the power of storytelling, which draws readers into the imaginative investigation. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Authors’ agents: (for Stead) Faye Bender, the Book Group; (for Mass) Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown Ltd. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May)
From the Publisher
"Pure enchantment" —The New York Times
"MAGICAL." —The Wall Street Journal
"Perfect for reading aloud or independent reading, this comfortably old-fashioned tale refreshes age-old themes of belonging, friendship, family and the power of story."—San Francisco Chronicle
"A delightfully whimsical tale that begs to be read with a friend. Don't miss Bob." —The Christian Science Monitor
"This is a welcome addition to the middle-grade canon and will likely become a classic. Bob deserves readership beyond middle grade."—San Francisco Book Review
A Chicago Tribute Best Children's Book of the Year
2018 Booklist Youth Editors' Choice
New York City Public Library Notable 100 Best Books for Kids
"Authors Mass and Stead team up for this irresistible tale of magic, mystery, and friendship that poses timeless questions about identity and belonging...a tribute to the power of storytelling.."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"An unusual fantasy with simplicity, immediacy, and wit."—Booklist, starred review
"Five years ago, Livy left her friend Bob, who she describes as a zombielike creature, in the closet of her grandmother’s house in Australia without saying goodbye. Bob has loyally awaited Livy’s return, dressed in the chicken suit she made to disguise him, and hopeful about the promise she made to help him find his way home, wherever that may be. ... A perfectly paced plot, supported by secondary characters to whom readers will relate and luminous artwork by Gannon, fill out a story that readers will eagerly embrace."—School Library Journal, starred review
"Offer[s] just the right blend of mystery and cozy magic in a rewarding story about how friendships—and people—evolve over time."—Bookpage
"Perfect for a family read-aloud, this has short chapters, occasional illustrations and a heartwarming conclusion."—Providence Journal
School Library Journal
★ 04/01/2018
Gr 3–6—Five years ago, Livy left her friend Bob, who she describes as a zombielike creature, in the closet of her grandmother's house in Australia without saying goodbye. Bob has loyally awaited Livy's return, dressed in the chicken suit she made to disguise him, and hopeful about the promise she made to help him find his way home, wherever that may be. As Livy gradually eases back into the rekindled friendship, vague memories return to her that could lead to the discovery of Bob's home. Livy's separation anxiety about her mother's upcoming trip with friends and the drought in her grandmother's town round out the story for a full plot line. Mass and Stead's brilliant collaboration has produced a beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the magic of childhood. Livy and Bob's points of view alternate chapters, and each character's personality is wonderfully realized with subtle nuances of emotion and humor. A perfectly paced plot, supported by secondary characters to whom readers will relate and luminous artwork by Gannon, fill out a story that readers will eagerly embrace. VERDICT A must-have for libraries serving middle grade readers, this novel delights.—Amy McInerney, Falmouth Elementary School, ME
JUNE 2018 - AudioFile
In alternating chapters, narrators Nora Hunter and Rob Dircks share the mysterious relationship between a girl and her once-upon-a-time zombie-like playmate. Livy has returned to visit her grandmother in Australia, her first visit having been as a 5-year-old. Bob has been waiting for her in the closet, having entertained himself over the years with Legos and a dictionary. Strange, one might say. Hunter and Dircks captivate listeners with youthful straightforwardness and wonder, bluntness and zaniness, all the while piecing the relationship together. Swirling around this mystery is another—the mysterious letters that all the neighbors receive—and a terrible drought. Could one mystery lead to the solution of another? A.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
