49 pages • 1-hour read
Katherine ApplegateA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Bob is a mixed-breed mutt who was abandoned on a highway as a puppy. After surviving as a tough, self-sufficient stray living in a mall, he has recently been adopted by Julia and her family. While he enjoys the comforts of a warm bed and belly rubs, he worries that he has grown overly soft and cowardly. He hides his insecurities behind a rebellious, tough-guy facade and flatly refuses to learn basic obedience commands or ride in cars.
Julia is a kind, patient young girl and the daughter of the park's head groundskeeper. She is Bob's primary owner and is deeply attentive to his needs, frequently taking him to visit his animal friends. She remains relentless in her efforts to train the stubborn mutt, responding to his deliberate disobedience with exasperated affection.
Ivan is a steady and thoughtful gorilla who now lives in a spacious enclosure at the wildlife sanctuary known as the park. Having endured years in a cramped mall enclosure, he serves as a calming and perceptive presence for his friends. He intuitively understands when Bob is struggling with internal fears.
Best Friend of Bob
Companion to Ruby
Boss is Bob's long-lost sister, a street-toughened stray who has lived a harsh life without a permanent human home. Described as being tough as old jerky, she carries battle scars and has had to scavenge constantly to survive. Despite her difficult circumstances, she maintains a sage outlook on life.
Sister of Bob
Mother of Rowdy
Kimu is a captive wolf who represents the archetype of the untamed wild beast. With massive paws and a chilling stare, he is the complete antithesis to pampered domestic dogs. His presence forces other animals to confront their own instincts and the wildness they have lost or forgotten.
Fearsome Presence to Bob
Ruby is a young, rambunctious elephant living in the Elephant Odyssey section of the park. Childlike and playful, she enjoys telling riddles to her visitors. Despite her traumatic past, she possesses an innocent spirit and a capacity for quick thinking in high-pressure situations.
Snickers is a pampered white poodle with a wardrobe of matching outfits and bows. She represents the epitome of human coddling, which deeply irritates the street-conscious Bob. Despite his constant teasing, she harbors an enthusiastic and slightly overwhelming affection for him.
Nutwit is a neighborhood squirrel who enjoys pointing out the hypocrisies of domestic pets. Observant and quick-tongued, he takes pleasure in reminding Bob that his comfortable new life is just one step away from wearing pink rain boots.
Neighborhood Acquaintance of Bob
Droolius is a neglected dog kept chained in a backyard with a frequently empty water bowl. Despite enduring verbal and physical abuse from his indifferent owner, he remains heartbreakingly submissive and dedicated.
Observed by Bob
Minnie is a neighborhood hamster who observes the daily routines of the local pets. Along with her companion Moo, she notes how comfortably Bob lives, pointing out the gap between his tough-guy persona and his actual pampered existence.
Companion of Moo
Acquaintance of Bob
Moo is a hamster who watches the neighborhood dynamics unfold alongside Minnie. Quick to point out hypocrisy, Moo helps remind Bob that he is no longer the hardened street stray he pretends to be.
Companion of Minnie
Acquaintance of Bob