The One and Only Ruby

Ruby the elephant stars in the third book of "The One and Only Ivan" series. Although I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, I did not read the sequel. This did not affect my experience with this book however and you could read this book as a stand-alone. 

Ruby is living at a well-kept zoo with her new herd of aunts and is preparing for her Tuskday. Tuskday is a special holiday for an elephant where they celebrate growing up and being a part of the herd. Ruby is very nervous for this celebration and confides in her friends Ivan the gorilla and Bob the dog about some trauma from her past that begins to come to the surface. 

The prose in this book was incredible, just as it was in the first installment. Applegate has a lyrical, almost poetic tone to her writing that packs a punch in so few words. The exploration of grief, trauma coming up, and the mystery of memory was so achingly beautiful that I found myself rereading many sections. 

While I would have liked a little bit more action in the present-day plot, I understand why the author chose to keep it calm and reflective in that setting. The past was so overwhelming that it may have been too much to have action in both timelines. 

I will definitely be reading more from this author because she has so much to say and says in such a memorable way! 

(Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.)