REVIEW: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Published by HarperCollins Childrens, 2012. Hardcover, 304 pages

SUMMARY: One of the cutest books on earth. If you don't find it so you might not have a soul. Too strong? That might not be the best summary. I suppose I'll continue. This beautiful story of friendship follows a Gorilla named Ivan and his friends- Stella the elephant and Bob the dog at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. The story follows Ivan's musings on human behavior, his past life in the jungle with his family, and the ways in which he entertains himself to pass the monotonous days. Ivan's life changes with the arrival of Ruby, a baby elephant who is meant to be a new revenue source  for Mack's dying enterprise. Ivan is determined to make a better life for this little one and begins to use his "art" as way to improve their circumstances. Applegate based this novel on a true story of a gorilla named Ivan who was kept alone in a mall cage in Washington for almost three decades before increased pressure finally forced him to be relocated to Zoo Atlanta.

WRITING: There are often very few words per page, even though they pack an emotional punch. This sparse style is effective, especially when describing strong emotions like love, grief, boredom, and hopelessness. While I love this style in books, I was a greedy reader and wanted the story to be longer. I can see how this might dilute the content, but it would have made me happy to spend just a little longer with them.

PACING: The pacing is exactly as it should be. I immediately understood the sadness and acceptance of Ivan's living situation, even while chuckling at his confusion over "Human face licking" on TV.

PLOT: Applegate focuses heavily on the ethical treatment of animals, especially those who are kept in tight, unnatural environments. It raised the question of what our moral obligation is to wild animals.

CHARACTERS: There are two elephants, a witty gorilla, a little nut-brown stray dog named Bob, an evil animal trainer, a down-on-his-luck custodian (George), and Ivan's artistic human friend Julia. A full cast of cuteness. It's hard not to repeat how CUTE this book is. 

FINAL RATING: 5 STARS
I wouldn't change a thing. While the book was terribly sad in many parts, it was pure joy in showing that animals are far more capable of forming non-judgmental, innocent friendships. They are also intelligent beings that need the proper environment to thrive. Their young age (like little kids) allows them a wonderful freedom from preconceived notions and prejudices. They just want to play and talk, with no regard to socioeconomic status, race, or religion. What would the world look like if this continued to adulthood?

Ivan talking about Stella the Elephant "We don't have much in common, but we have enough. We are huge and alone, and we both love yogurt raisins." 

However, like all youngsters, these precious creatures aren't immune to jealousy and silly fights.

I want a sequel. I want to stay with these animals. I hope to get to Applegate's author booth at BookExpoAmerica and beg for more (while getting my book signed). The story is totally adorable from beginning to end. I occasionally find this expression annoying but feel it adequately describes The One and Only Ivan- "It gives you all the feels."