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The One and Only Ivan

Katherine Applegate

Ages 8–14 NYT Best Seller

Readers rate it 4.2 (155 on Hardcover)

336 pages · Released Jan 6, 2015

Content report card

What's inside

High confidence

Language

Sexual content

LGBTQ+ themes

Substance use

What it offers

A note for parents

The One and Only Ivan is a Newbery Medal–winning novel that uses an animal's perspective to explore friendship, empathy, and hope in a gentle, age-appropriate way. While the story touches on the sadness of captivity and loss, the tone remains hopeful and emotionally accessible for middle-grade readers. The book offers rich character development and positive messages about kindness and advocacy without graphic content.

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From the publisher

Soon to be a major motion picture! Winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told f... Soon to be a major motion picture! Winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself. Having spent twenty-seven 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. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope. The One and Only Ivan features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective). Plus don't miss Katherine Applegate's Endling series!

Shelved under

  • Juvenile Fiction
  • Loveable Characters
  • Strong Character Development
  • Character driven
  • Not Diverse Characters
  • Diverse Characters
  • A mix driven
  • emotional
  • hopeful
  • lighthearted
  • reflective
  • funny

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ISBN 9780061992278 · HarperCollins