The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan is a novel about a silverback gorilla named Ivan who lives in a cage at a mall. The novel is written in first person from the point of view of Ivan. In the story, Ivan makes friends with the elephants in the mall, and he begins to remember his life in the wild and his desire to return there. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope. Ivan has spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, growing accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle, occupying 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.