The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is another Newbery Honor book for 2013.  It is Ivan's story--Ivan is a gorilla living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall off of I-95 where humans come to watch him in his "domain."  Ivan spends his time with his friends Stella (an elephant) and Bob (a dog) and doesn't think much about life outside the mall until a new, young elephant named Ruby joins them there.  Ivan begins to think that perhaps Ruby deserves a better life than the one they have.

This is a sweet book and a very quick read.  It was a pretty average book at first, but as the book went on, the characters became more endearing, and the book became a little bit of a tear-jerker.  I especially loved Julia (the custodian's daughter) and her relationship to Ivan.  I found out at the end of the book that although this book is fiction, it is based on a real-life gorilla named Ivan who did live at a circus-themed mall for twenty-seven years.  The book is a great reminder of the humane treatment that all animals deserve.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)