"The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate

Citation:
Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. New York, New York: Harper Collins, 2012.
ISBN: 9780061992254

Plot Summary:
Ivan is a Silverback Gorilla who lives complacently in Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  He enjoys creating art and watching TV.  His domain is changed when a baby elephant named Ruby comes to live at the Mall too.  Ruby's arrival begins a big series of changes for Ivan as he realizes that the Mall is not where Ruby should spend the rest of her life.  Ivan uses his art to reimagine a life for Ruby and rescue them both.

Critical Analysis:
The One and Only Ivan is characterized as a verse novel.  However, it does not meet the criteria of such as outlined by Syliva Vardell in Children's Literature in Action.  Vardell discusses a verse novel as being "built on poems that are often lovely stand-alone works of poetry".  With a narrative of "multiple points of view" (116).  The One and Only Ivan is written solely from Ivan's perspective.  He is the narrator of the entire story.  While each of poem builds the narrative, not each could stand alone on its own.  Many of the poems could only be understood within the story because of the personal pronouns and topical references.  For example in "More About Romance", it is written "I wish Bob were here".  An outside reader wouldn't understand who Bob is and why Ivan would wish for him when he's talking about 'romance'.

Applegate takes the reader inside the mind of Ivan the gorilla.  She imagines a wonderful character who is trying to figure himself and his situation out.  Ivan creates his art but no one understands his paintings.  He paints many bananas which are only understood as squiggles by Mack, the mall operator.  His large piece of art which  becomes the billboard is only truly interpreted by Julia and her father when Ivan has mastered creating letters which spell "H-O-M-E".

The poems do not rhyme.  They are all varying in length and complexity.  Some of the poems include dialogue between Ivan and others.  They are all free verse type poems which are intended to communicate the idea of the titles.  For example, "Introductions", is all about when Ivan meets Ruby, the baby elephant, for the first time.

Vardell, Sylvia. Children's Literature in Action. Westport, Connecticut: Library Unlimited, 2008.

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: "The text, written in first person from Ivan’s point of view, does a good job of vividly conveying his personality, emotions, and intelligence as well as creating a sense of otherness in his point of view."
School Library Journal: "The character of Ivan, as explained in an author's note, is inspired by a real gorilla that lived through similar conditions before being adopted by Zoo Atlanta. Applegate makes a powerful statement about the treatment of animals—especially those living in captivity—and reminds readers that all creatures deserve a safe place to call home. Castelao's delightful illustrations enhance this lovely story, and the characters will capture readers' hearts and never let go. A must-have."

Connections:
*2013 Newbery Award Winner; Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2013
*Young readers of this book could get poetry writing experience by mimicking the free verse style of the novel.  Ask readers to identify an experience, moment, person, or thing that he/she wished to encapsulate in a poem.  This is their title.  After this point, everything is up to the writer's mind!