This book revolves around hope. At first, Ivan had little hope left, and had decided that the hope would only kill him. Then he had received someone to fight for, a purpose for his being. The simple, sad language causes readers to ache at his misfortune and cry at his success. It's heartbreaking to hear the story of a gorilla in such hostile conditions. Applegate shows the dreadful life of creatures who are forced to consider little patches of hell as home. Ivan is not even a gorilla anymore after being imprisoned, and is very reluctant to become one. He has accepted his fate of misery, and so is not used to fair treatment at all. The short sentences have powerful connotations and complex meanings, allowing the true wonder of words to explode in a cascade of emotion. Ivan will never be a true gorilla, never be a real silverback, and will live his life inside Atlanta Zoo, which has good living qualities, but Ivan has experienced hardship and the evil of the world. He has come close, but he will never receive the wild home or the wild true heart of a gorilla that he deserves, which brings out the immense sorrow and the spark of hope of it all.
The One and Only Ivan
By Katherine Applegate
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 2 - 5 | T | 3.6 | 26263 |
Winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller!
This stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself.
Having spent 27 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.
The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional story and true events.
Book Reviews (446)
i love this book because me and my class mate are reading it
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this book is so good that i want to read it to everyone its kinda sad but i luv it but i can never find it in styore thats sad :(
This book is heart-warming and also super sad. Its a true story about a gorilla named Ivan who lives in a shopping mall.he has friends like stella and ruby, but he also loves to paint. thats why he was so famous!!! Its a really sad book and I only gave it 4 stars because its not my favorite, but I still recommend it!!!
This book sort of reminds me of we have to help people no matter where we are. Ivan was inside a cage but still manage to help Ruby. I would definitely recommend it.👍
This book is a sad but amazing story of a gorilla and his friends finding a life in the world. A purpose in life.💕💕 It is a loving story.
I know this sounds blunt, but BUY THIS BOOK!!!! You are guaranteed to like this heart warming true story of a gorrila named Ivan, and his lovable friends.
this is a book about a gorilla who is friends with an elephant and who is injury and dies when a baby elephant comes and the big elephants last wish is for the gorilla named ivan to take care of the baby.
This book was SUPER good and it's about a gorilla who lives in a shopping mall and some parts of the book were really sad. I would definitely recommend this.
OMG! This book is amazing so. If you want a book to make you laugh, this is the one. It is hilarious, Ivan is a very funny character and entertaining as well. I really recommend reading this book if you are looking for a book to make you laugh.