Mass and Stead have come together to create a beautifully crafted YA story about the power of true friendship.

Modern day fairytale telling at its finest! I loved the unforgettable friendship between Livy and Bob. Yes, this book is geared towards juvenile readers, but its message has meaning for all generations. Even without a pawn in my hand, I will remember this story and look forward to sharing it with my children when it comes out.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book online and I will definitely be buying a copy (or two) for my classroom. I loved this story!! A beautiful sweet story about friendship, magic, and a mystery. My 4th graders will love Bob. "Keep moving toward what makes you feel most alive...See you in 5 years..bring licorice." Will there be a Bob2?

Loved this story of Livy and her little green friend who waited in a closet for her for five years. Told in alternating POV by Livy and Bob we watch them solve the mystery of where Bob in the chicken suit came from and are reminded of the importance of a mother's love and family relationships. A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this middle grade novel.

A great story! Touching and magical! I loved the way the story was told. Bob and Livy were great characters.

An imaginative journey that takes a shy and timid girl, Livy, on an adventure to be reunited with a friend who lives in the space just at the fringe of her memory. This thoroughly enjoyable book will especially appeal to middle school aged children. This delightful tale is a true classic in the making.

In this intriguing story, 10 year old Livy, her mother, and sister are visiting Gran Nicholas who lives in Australia. Livy visited her grandmother before when she was 5, but doesn't remember much from that visit. When Livy opens the closet door in her bedroom at Gran's house, she finds Bob. Bob is what Livy calls a "small zombie in a chicken suit". As Livy tries to remember her first visit to Gran's house she is also trying to find Bob's family. She just knows that the two things are entwined but is not sure how. This is a wonderful mystery with a surprise ending.

10 year old Livy travels from the U.S. to Australia with her mother to visit her Gran. It has been five years since her last visit and Livy does not remember much about her last stay except a "strange chicken". When Livy goes to the her bedroom she opens the closet door only to find a strange green creature dressed in orange pajamas covered with chicken feathers. Livy discovers this is Bob and he has been waiting for her to come back so she can help him find his way back home.
This book is told by alternating narrators, Livy and Bob. It is a nicely paced read that would be enjoyed by children 7 to 11. It would be a great read aloud for this age group. A great collaboration by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead.

Such an adorable and sweet story! All the characters are likable and relatable. Livy is a sweet young girl trying to feel comfortable in a place she barely remembers, and all loyal and good-natured Bob wants is to find home again. I absolutely loved reading about their rekindling friendship.

The story flowed so well, which made this into a quick and enjoyable read. On the one hand, the tale is simple and easy-to-follow, but on the other, there are some little nuggets sprinkled throughout that makes the reader think about a few things – what really happened when Livy and Bob first met? Where is Bob from? Why can’t he remember? What is the significance of their relationship? All of these are answered in a fairly satisfying way. Its conclusion held a nice twist that I thought was very fitting.

Though this book is geared toward children, I did find some plot holes here. The story jumps right in without much background building of Livy and her family. There were a few chapters where I wondered if Livy’s parents were divorced, how long were they going to spend in Australia, and what were those bank statements Grandma was getting and were they resolved? I think we can all make the assumption what those bank statements entailed and perhaps the resolution, but it was never explicitly said and was barely discussed. Perhaps this was done on purpose to help children with their inferencing skills.

Overall, Bob was an adorable book and I’m so happy that I was given the opportunity to read this via NetGalley and the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group! I do want to mention that I commend the authors in being able to come together to write a cohesive and smooth story.

I would highly recommend Bob to children (and adults who are children at heart) who enjoy reading stories about sweet friendships and some magic.

Bob is an imaginative story about a girl named Olivia (Livy) who goes to Australia to visit her grandmother, and finds a friendly creature named Bob in the closet.  Bob knows Livy, but remembers her differently, having been friends with her 6 years prior when Livy was 5 years old.  Last they saw each other, Livy told Bob to wait in the closet, but never returned for her.  Now, Livy has to get to k now Bob all over again, and finds herself in the middle of mystery she can't quite wrap her head around since she forgets Bob when she leaves the farm.

What I liked about this book was that I didn't predict it.  Often with stories for younger readers or middle graders, I predict how the story will end, and I don't enjoy it quite as much since it doesn't challenge me.  This is a shorter story, but entertaining beginning to end.  I was interested in Bob's origin and circumstances, why Livy couldn't remember him, and how he related to the drought that was causing everyone to lose their farms.  I did not predict the ending.  It is an enjoyable story with mystery, humor, and imagination.  I found myself giggling at Bob's antics and the witty inner thoughts of Bob and Livy.

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 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.

A sweet, simple story. It was a quick read told in alternating viewpoints. There’s some magic and mystery and lots of friendship. It explores how friends change over time and has a bittersweet ending. There’s nothing really profound, but it tells what it is-a sweet, simple story- well.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute story of a girl named Livy and her forgotten friend, Bob. They were reunited after five years when Livy visits her grandmother in Australia. I would definitely recommend this book to ages 8-12.

This book was so adorable and sweet.  It tells the story of Livy who is 12 and hasn't been to her Grandma's house since she was five.  When she arrives, Livy starts remembering things from when she was there last time.  One of those things lives in her closet, a non-zombie chicken boy named, Bob.  He has been waiting there for her the whole time.  Livy wants to help Bob find out where he is from and help him to find his home.  An incredibly written book on friendship and family with a bit of magic mixed in.

This book did not disappoint! The authors collaborated to come up with a whimsical story with lots of heart. It's a great read! It's exactly what I expected from Mass and Stead.

BookFilter Review: With a well-earned nod to Edward Eager's classic "Half Magic" and other gentle tales of fantasy, acclaimed authors Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead team up for this middle-grade story. Eleven year old Livy was only five years old the last time she traveled from the US to visit her grandmother in Australia. So it's no surprise she doesn't seem to remember much of anything about the farm her Gran lives on or the girl she befriended from the local restaurant or the green zombie that has been waiting patiently in her guest room closet all this time because Livy said she'd be right back. What??!! Actually, this friendly -- if understandably miffed -- creature isn't a zombie though neither Bob (that's his name) or Livy is sure exactly what he might be. They piece the puzzle together thanks to a chipped pawn on a chess board, an abandoned well, a big book of fairy tales and a missing boy. The timeless banter of Livy and Bob might have been written one hundred years ago, surely this modest novel's strength. While there's not quite enough that's distinctive or new to turn "Bob" into a classic, it is appealingly low-key and aided by the appealing illustrations of Nicholas Gannon. -- Michael Giltz

I adored this book, as I assumed I would with anything written by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead. Absolutely fantastic and I finished it all too soon!!

I would recommend this book to my students- fans of Rebecca Stead already. I know they'll love the story and the style!

This story captured my attention in the first chapter. Bob and Livy are wonderful characters. This book wold be great for the school summer reading lists.

This is one of the sweetest, most imaginative book I've read in years. It could easily be used with younger children, as well as older ones to explore the themes of “real” family, self talk, and the value of imagination and hope.