The One and Only Ivan Review

[Caroline]

Out of all the children’s book I’ve read, this one is my absolute favorite. The message is powerful and heart-wrenching and I believe all people need to hear it. The book, written by Katherine Applegate, is narrated by Ivan, a gorilla, who lives in a circus-themed mall. The book centers on the conversations between Ivan and the other animals that live in the small confinements at the mall. Stella, an older elephant, and Bob, a stray dog, are Ivan’s friends. As the three reminiscence about better days, a baby elephant, Ruby, arrives and when Ivan sees her being mistreated, he is determined to save her from the life he has had; being confined in a small cage for the purpose of human entertainment.
This book brought out all my emotions! I laughed at the words spoken between Ivan, Stella, and Bob and definitely cried when Ivan recalls his family being brutally killed in the jungle he was born in. I think it is really significant how Katherine Applegate gives human-like characteristics to these animals. I believe she is trying to show that animals are not objects and they have feelings, thoughts, and desires. The author portrays them in a way that really shows that animals deserve to be treated right and not simply used for our pleasure. How is fair that we take these precious animals and stick them in a place they don’t belong and mistreat them so we can eat our cotton candy and entertain ourselves using them? I think Applegate gets the reader to really think about questions such as that as they read her book. She gets children, and hopefully adults too, to think on a deeper level in an honest, compelling, but yet light-hearted way.
What I loved also about this novel is that it is based on a true story and it’s a wonderful ending (almost- I wanted Ivan to be in a luscious jungle!). Ivan is a real gorilla that after a really long time in stuck in a cage for tourists was finally rescued from that and now lives happily in a spacious habitat in Zoo Atlanta. I recommend this book to all children but really all people. Katherine Applegate delivers a message everyone should hear and this is a must read!