The One and Only Ivan: A Newbery Award Winner
The #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan is now a major motion picture streaming on Disney+
This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.
Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.
In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.
The One and Only Ivan features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).
This acclaimed middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.
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don't miss The One and Only Bob, Katherine Applegate's return
to the world of Ivan, Bob, and Ruby!
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Community Reviews
Short summary: Ivan is an easygoing gorilla who has grown up behind a glass enclosure watching and learning all about the humans who visit this mall and arcade. He lives there with many other animals but more specifically an elderly elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob. Ivan seems to like his life there where he can watch TV and work on his art. One of the workers' daughters brings him paper and supplies and he makes such wonderful art. But then comes Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family and Ivan begins to see his "home" through a new lens. Is this really home or is there another place they truly belong?
There is so much humor and beautiful character development sprinkled with sadness. Although this is not necessarily an entirely true story, there were parts that made me cry. No animal should be treated like the animals in this story but there are so many who actually are. Even though we don't necessarily know what animals are thinking or saying, it was an interesting take to think about how all of this is seen through the animal's perspective. We make animals into circus acts, many of us not thinking about how this feels to the animal themselves. My heart broke in so many scenes.
But I love all that Ivan did. He had to look deep within himself and ask some tough questions of himself in order to save/help Ruby. And the creative ways he did so was so beautiful. I definitely do not want this series turned into a movie but I did try to imagine what that movie would look like for many of the scenes in this book. Even though this book is written for younger readers, I believe anyone would enjoy reading this book. So beautifully written, a quick easy read but one that will definitely stay with you days after. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and see the world from Bob and Ruby's perspectives!
“I’ve learned to understand human words over the years, but understanding human speech is not the same as understanding humans. Humans speak too much. They chatter like chimps, crowding the world with their noise even when they have nothing to say, Patient is a useful way to be when you’re an ape. Gorillas are a patient as stones. Humans, not so much” pg. 3
“But even though I draw the same thing over and over again, I never get bored with my art. When I’m drawing, that’s all I think about. I don’t think about where I am, about yesterday or tomorrow. I just move my crayons across the paper. Humans don’t always seem to recognize what I’ve drawn. That’s all right. I’m not drawing for them. I’m drawing for me” pg. 17
“‘Why would they do that?’ ‘To break her spirit. So she could learn to balance on a pedestal. So she could stand on her hind legs. So a dog could jump on her back while she walked in mindless circles’” pg. 78
“Bad humans killed my family and bad humans sent me here. But that day in the hole, it was humans who saved me. Those humans were good.” pg. 105
“I told you Dad! There it is: H-O-M-E. Home. She’s just a baby, Dad. Don’t you want to help her?” pg. 215
“In the morning, several people gather in the parking lot. They’re carrying signs on sticks. The signs have words and pictures on them. One has a drawing of a gorilla cradling a baby elephant. I wish I could read” pg. 231
“Ruby. She is rolling in a lovely pool of mud with two other young elephants. Another elephant approaches. She towers over Ruby. She strokes Ruby, nudges her. She makes soft noises. They stand side by side, just the way Stella and Ruby used to do. Their trunks entwine. I see something new in Ruby’s eyes and I know what it is. It’s joy” pg. 283
I didn’t realize it’s based off a real gorilla.
Which makes this even sadder.
Humans are monsters.
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