The One and Only Ivan (Newbery Medal Winner)

by Katherine Applegate

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Told from the perspective of a captive gorilla, this is a heartfelt, humorous story of friendship, no matter the partipants. It’s a modern addition to the upper echelon of animal-driven stories for young readers that make us reflect on our own humanity in the best ways possible.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781432864033
Publisher:	Gale, A Cengage Company
Publication date:	03/13/2019
Series:	The One and Only Series , #1
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	340
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal–winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including the One and Only series, the Endling series, Crenshaw, Wishtree, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series. She lives with her family in Nevada.

What People are Saying About This

Patricia MacLachlan

A beautifully written, intelligent and brave book. You will never look at the relationship of humans and animals in the same way again. Quite simply, this story is life changing.

Editorial Reviews

★ “Will capture readers’ hearts and never let go. A must have.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

★ “Animal-loving youngsters and their adults will find plenty of food for thought in Ivan’s extraordinary story.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

★ “Exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Discover an animal hero that will take his place with other courageous and beloved animals such as Babe, Mrs. Frisby, Charlotte and Wilbur. Adults reading this aloud with children will find it just as rewarding.” — Shelf Awareness

“Important.” — The Horn Book

“The One and Only Ivan will break your heart—and then, against all odds, mend it again. In cheering for Ivan and his friends, we cheer for our own humanity and our own possibilities. Read this.” — Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor author of The Wednesday Wars

“A beautifully written, intelligent and brave book. You will never look at the relationship of humans and animals in the same way again. Quite simply, this story is life changing.” — Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery Medal-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall

“Katherine Applegate’s beautiful, life-affirming story will soar directly from Ivan’s heart into your own. Read it out loud. Read it alone. Read it.” — Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor author of The Underneath

From the Publisher

Important.

The Horn Book

The One and Only Ivan will break your heart—and then, against all odds, mend it again. In cheering for Ivan and his friends, we cheer for our own humanity and our own possibilities. Read this.

Gary D. Schmidt

Katherine Applegate’s beautiful, life-affirming story will soar directly from Ivan’s heart into your own. Read it out loud. Read it alone. Read it.

Kathi Appelt

★ “Animal-loving youngsters and their adults will find plenty of food for thought in Ivan’s extraordinary story.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Discover an animal hero that will take his place with other courageous and beloved animals such as Babe, Mrs. Frisby, Charlotte and Wilbur. Adults reading this aloud with children will find it just as rewarding.

Shelf Awareness

A beautifully written, intelligent and brave book. You will never look at the relationship of humans and animals in the same way again. Quite simply, this story is life changing.

Patricia MacLachlan

★ “Animal-loving youngsters and their adults will find plenty of food for thought in Ivan’s extraordinary story.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

★ “Animal-loving youngsters and their adults will find plenty of food for thought in Ivan’s extraordinary story.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Extraordinary.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

Extraordinary.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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)

Kirkus Reviews