This was probably my least favorite "One and Only" book so far, but I still enjoyed my time listening. The story just didn't stick with me as much as the first two did. However, the writing style was entertaining, the plot was unique, and the message was sweet and well-written.

In "One and Only Ruby" by Katherine Applegate, the third book in the series, readers are treated to another fantastic adventure. This time, the spotlight is on Ruby as she recounts her life before she found herself at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall. Throughout the book, readers get to know Ruby on a deeper level as she shares her experiences and the events that shaped her. As the story unfolds, Ruby's journey is both captivating and heartwarming, offering readers a glimpse into her past and the challenges she faced. Applegate's storytelling is as engaging as ever, and fans of the series will not be disappointed with this latest installment. "One and Only Ruby" is a must-read for anyone who loves stories filled with adventure, heart, and unforgettable characters.

Katherine Applegate's series that began with One and Only Ivan and Bob finally gives us Ruby's story. It is nice companion to the other stories. The story of Ruby's struggles with the ceremony and becoming more grown up in an elephant herd she hasn't known before rang with many elements of love and family that I can see kids really connecting to.

I love this series even though it’s not all about Ivan. I grew up with Ivan and remember so clearly how he was alone for most of his life.

Ruby tells her story and it helps the younger generation see what elephants lives are about.

A great series you won’t want to put down.

A wonderful addition to previous two books by Katherine Applegate. I would have loved this as kid, and still really enjoyed it as an adult. I appreciate how it brings awareness to poaching, poorly run zoos and circuses, and how animals are affected by these issues. I loved the continuation of Ruby’s character. I highly recommend this book!

I picked this one up after my daughter read the first two in school and loved them. Having never read those myself and not knowing what to expect, we read this together and loved it!

We loved meeting Ruby and learning about how elephants care for one another. They also are respectful of the elephants that have come before them!

This book was so sweet and fun to read and I want to go back and read the other two now!

Oh Ruby! I love you!
Another great book by Katherine Applegate. This one continues the story of Ruby, the elephant, who now lives in a wildlife sanctuary. Thanks #NetGalley for the ARC! I truly enjoyed this one!

A worthy addition to the Ivan series. Ruby is an interesting character with the children that I service absolutely loving her. I keep having requests for this book and cannot keep it on the shelves.

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it! I am giving this book three stars, as I don't want to give it a good or bad rating, since I did not get to it and we have to leave a star rating.

Another delightful book in the series. This book dives into the story of Ruby as she grows and faces her tusk day celebration. We learn about Ruby's history and the difficult experiences she has gone through in her short life. Readers will enjoy the return of Ivan and Bob in this book, along with the introduction of new friends in her elephant family. My 11 year old daughter and I both enjoyed reading this book together.

I just LOVE this series! I read One and Only Ivan with my 4th grade students, and then went on to read Bob and Ruby on my own. I devoured One and Only Ruby in just a few sittings. It was beautiful. Ruby is such a courageous and powerful character, even when she doesn't know it. This series shines a spotlight on the harsh realities for many captive animals (and wild animals). It has a place on every middle grade classroom shelf.

Another lovely book in this series, ideal for upper elementary/middle grade students. Ruby is an elephant and we hear about how she has found her family within the circle of friends that includes Ivan and Bob.

My kids and I love Ruby’s character in the previous two novels in this series (The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob) so we were really excited to read Ruby’s story. I have to say that I definitely enjoyed this more than my kids did as the story dragged on quite a bit and didn’t contain the levity of “Bob.” Ruby is adorable but her preciousness didn’t shine as much in her story as it does in the others. The subject matter is quite serious like the other novels and I think it teaches kids very valuable lessons about animal cruelty. Ruby doesn’t want to celebrate her newly grown tusks as she knows from experience that tusks are coveted by humans and therefore the reason many of her family members were killed. Ruby painfully recounts the story of her mother’s death and her subsequent captivity and loneliness. As is typical of these books, the end is uplifting yet contains echoes of bittersweetness. I think the main difference between this book and the others was that the moments of lightness were fewer and far between, perhaps because Ruby is often the one who provides the lightness and she was the sad narrator. Bob and Ivan are merely listeners so there aren’t many moments when Bob can add levity either. For this reason, I think this story might be a bit harder for younger readers but I think older children will stay engaged and learn valuable lessons along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The One and Only Ruby is the third in a series featuring "The One and Only Ivan" and "The One and Only Bob". In the same vein as the first two, Ruby is written through the point of view of the titular character, who is an animal, in this case an elephant. Now that it's been a couple months since what happened in "Bob", Ruby and her friends are now living in a wildlife sanctuary rather than a mall window. When someone from Ruby's past in Africa comes to visit, it reminds her of all the memories she has of that place. This story is essentially Ruby telling her friends Ivan and Bob about Africa and about the caretaker that is visiting.

The One and Only Ruby is a cute novel that definitely lives up to its previous works. It's not every day that you feel you can relate to an elephant, but Katherine Applegate creates Ruby and her pals so vividly, that it's easy to forget we are not the same.

Katherine Applegate is a master storyteller. The story of Ruby, the baby elephant in The One and Only Ivan, is devastating, yet filled with hope. Ruby was once a wild elephant in Africa. She was born and raised with her mother's herd. But tragedy hit and Ruby and her mom were starving and dehydrated due to dwindling resources and human encroachment. Ruby is orphaned and it starts a series of interventions and heists (not the good ones) to save her life or control her life. Her story is both tragic and inspired as she navigates Tuskday with her new family at a wildlife preserve: she has to celebrate the one thing that was directly linked to her mother's death: her tusks. Told with honesty and tears, Ruby shares her past to her Uncle Ivan and her Uncle Bob after she meets a kind soul from her past.

Have tissues ready!

This novel would pair perfectly with the picture book: Mother of Elephants!

I have been a fan of this series for years and I was very happy to see this title. I think fans of the series will enjoy it.

The One and Only series continues this time through the perspective of Ruby. Bob and Ivan are still present as well as Ruby's friends at the zoo she now lives at. Ruby's back story is uncovered through this novel in verse. Recommended for grades 4-7

Cute, part of the one and only Bob line that my girls both enjoyed.
Similar feel and writing style which made it an easy read.

Nobody tells stories better than Katherine Applegate. The LOVE I have for these characters is deep. She knocked it out of the park yet again with The One and Only Ruby, and it was simply delightful to be back in the world of Ivan, Bob, and Ruby.

I was so happy to see these characters in another adventure, and to learn all about Ruby's back story. While much of her story is very difficult and sad, Ruby maintains optimism and hope. This book explores her growth and the others that guided her along the way. Katherine Applegate once again examines animal rights and acknowledges that while animals living in their own natural habitats in the wild is always preferable, zoos are sometimes the best option in certain cases and that there is value in learning about wildlife in these ways. I have absolutely loved getting to know Ivan, Bob and Ruby and hope to see these friends again in the future.