Bob

Livy doesn’t remember anything from the last time she visited her grandmother in Australia — especially the weird green creature (chicken? zombie?) waiting for her in the bedroom closet. His name is Bob, and they were best friends when she was five. But what kind of creature is Bob, and where does he belong?

Ahh, this was so sweet! I loved the characters, especially Bob. Readers of middle-grade fantasy will enjoy this book.

10-year old Livy visits her Grandma in Australia. She hasn't been there for 5 years. Once she is there, she starts to remember something important. It's Bob! Bob is a magical-seeming, green creature who has been waiting for Livy in the closet for these 5 years. Livy had told him to wait and she'd be back, so Bob did just that. This is the story of finding out Bob's identity and where "home" is for Bob. Along the way are themes of friendship, loyalty, family, imagination, drought and community, and resilience. The story does explain Bob's identity and where he belongs. I did feel like the part where his identity is revealed is too rushed. After all the build-up to get to that point, it was disappointing to have it be so quickly revealed. show more I feel that more could have been built into that revelation. But the story does resolve in a way that will answer questions. I very much enjoyed the humor, mystery, and beautiful friendship in this book. show less

When Livy goes back to Australia to visit her Gran, something feels strange. She remembers a strange chicken, but doesn't remember anything else. It isn't until she goes up to her old room and discovers the mysterious green Bob dressed as a chicken that she remembers anything about the last time she visited. Together, she and Bob work together to figure out how to get him home...and just where his home might be.

This book is just the right amount of fantasy and mystery. Bob is so likeable, and Livy so real that you want them to figure everything out. The ending is satisfying but not too hokey.

what a fun little story about friendship and memory, with a little dabble into the fantastical. it's a really enjoyable read and a nice introduction for my kiddo into telling stories with multiple points of view. the writing is humorous and light, even when some heavier themes are addressed. i might have liked it even more if they'd gone just a little deeper into both the heavier and the lighter themes, but i really liked this and my kid thought it was great. i've already read a different rebecca stead, but hadn't read wendy mass before; i am sure i will be reading them both again soon.

Each of Rebecca Stead’s books differ from the other in all but their surprises she embeds in them. Bob, Stead’s latest, oozes charm — not in a cloying way, but in a way sure to enthrall children and their parents alike.

Bob has been waiting a long, long time — five long years, in fact — in Olivia’s grandmother’s closet. Livvy visited her grandmother’s Australian ranch five years ago, and she had completely forgotten the green and big-hearted creature she’d left, promising she’d be back soon. Now Livy is back, and she determines to make it up to Bob and keep her promise to reunite him with his family. But how can she do this when she doesn’t know where he came from — or even what Bob is. I won’t spoil this show more slender gem by giving away any more except to say that readers will love every minute.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley. Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review. show less

This book may be written for the middle grade level readers but I too enjoyed this book. In fact, you could say that I was absolutely over the moon in love with this book.

Bob is great. Everyone needs a Bob in their lives. I loved that while Livy was more grown than when she left Bob five years ago; she was not above playing with childish items including Bob. Although, Bob is not like a stuffed animal that a child plays with and forgets.

While there was no interaction between Livy's grandma and Bob; I kind of have a feeling that she was aware of him. The authors do a great job of telling this story. There are not a lot of huge words used; therefore, it makes it easy for the younger readers to read this book on their own with little show more intervention from adults. Bob will always hold a special place in my heart. This book is an absolute pure delightful read! show less

Bob" is "a small zombie wearing a chicken suit" who lives in a closet in Australia where human friend Livy left him when she returned five years ago to Massachusetts from visiting her Australian grandma. When Livy returns as a ten-year-old, she has surprising trouble remembering Bob, and has to relearn their relationship. This middle grade novel by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead is funny and fun and has a lot to say about friendship. Bob needs Livy's help to solve who and what he is, and where he comes from, as he has his own memory problems. Pursuing that mystery, and figuring out Livy's impediments, keep the pages flying.