Module 4: The One and Only Ivan

Summary: Ivan, the gorilla, is the king of a concrete jungle. Trapped inside the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he performs for customers while hoping for something more. Something he can't even express but he knows exists. When his friend, Stella the elderly elephant, passes away from neglect and abuse, Ivan decides that the new baby elephant, Ruby, deserves a better life than the one they have been leading. Through his art, he begins to achieve new fame and attract the attention of animal rights workers. With the help of Julia, the janitor's daughter and Bob, the stray dog, Ivan and Ruby finally find a new life at the zoo where they can live with animals like themselves.

Citation:

Applegate, K. (2012). The one and only Ivan. New York: Harper.

Impressions: This was another book that had my crying by the end. I love the fact that the book is told from Ivan's point of view. Since Ivan has a childlike naivete like the target audience for this book, you experience his awakening and realization that there is life beyond his concrete prison.

Reviews:

How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.

Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human--except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers' passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout.

Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author's note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates, (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)

The one and only Ivan. (2012, November 16). Kirkus Reviews, 45-46. Retrieved February 13, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). 

Library Use: This would definitely generate discussions about animal rights and would be appropriate for everything from a book group to a science class. The more we learn about animal intelligence, the more we feel the need to correct the way we have treated animals in the past. This book is a perfect springboard for that type of discussion.