Katherine Applegate continues to prove why she won the Newbery Medal with this emotionally sophisticated third installment in the Ivan universe. Ruby's story doesn't pull punches—her mother was killed by poachers, climate change is real and affecting wildlife, and grief is complicated—but Applegate handles it all with the kind of grace that makes kids feel respected, not lectured.
The novel-in-verse format is a smart choice here, giving readers breathing room between heavy moments and making a 200+ page book feel approachable. Some kids will devour it in an afternoon; others might need to take it slower, and that's fine.
This isn't escapist entertainment—it's the kind of book that builds empathy and makes kids think about their place in the world. The #1 bestseller status and 4.8 Amazon rating suggest Applegate has threaded the needle of making important topics genuinely engaging. If your kid loved Ivan and Bob, this is a no-brainer. If they haven't read those yet, start there—Ruby's story will hit harder with the full context.






