Book Review: Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

This book was a very unique sort of middle grade fantasy book. I found the characters to be quirky and likable and the story to be similar to a fairytale. However, there were a couple of huge flaws in the book that kept it from that revered five-star rating. Let’s get into the details as to how this book got its rating:

Likes:

I really enjoyed the theme of friendship that was present in this story. The connection between Livy and Bob was very endearing and so much like how a child can connect with their imaginary friend. I loved how they knew each other so well after so much time apart and how they helped each other grow throughout the book.

The unusual setting of this novel is also something that I enjoyed. It took place in Australia, which is something that I don’t normally come across in my reading. Unless I’m specifically looking for it that is. Having the book take place in Australia just added a bit of much needed displacement from the usual fantasy settings. It was a most welcomed change.

Speaking of Bob and Livy, both characters were very charming and likeable in their own way. We have Livy, who is the girl trying to out grow her long childhood playmate and grow up herself. Then we have Bob, a little green boy who is determined to bring “the real” Livy back. He’s so loyal to her, even after she left for so long. Livy and Bob are such a perfect pair of friends and I love watching it develop as the story unfolds.

Finally, I loved how this story read like a fairytale. A very unusual one, but it still features tropes that can be found in fairytales and the happily ever after that we get at the end is something that I was very much looking forward to.

Dislikes:

There were a couple of things that were added to this story that were very obviously for plot convenience and in one case, there was no foreshadowing to this event happening. That event would be Danny’s disappearance. This character was only seen one other time that I can recall in the text and then all of a sudden he disappears. If one of the other characters had disappeared then I think that would have been better but this character is not a prominent one and his disappearance felt like its only purpose was to move the plot forward.

There were a couple of other little things that I didn’t like about the book either, but none were as prominent as the event placed in for plot convenience.

All in all, this was a very sweet little book to read. The theme of friendship is heavily weighed upon in this story and the fairytale style it is told in helps drive the point home in my opinion. I would recommend this to anyone who wanted something fun and light-hearted to read.