The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan By: Katherine Applegate

Ivan is a caged animal at The Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  He spends his day watching and listening to the humans around him.  He is with many other animals, but is very close friends with an elephant named Stella and a a stray dog named Bob. The owner is trying to make ends meet and so he buys a baby elephant named Ruby and hopes that she will bring in more money.  But Stella passes away and her dying wish to Ivan is to make sure that Ruby gets to go free.  Ivan wants to make his promise come true so he comes up with a plan to set Ruby free, and he hopes he also can go free!

This book is an amazing story of love between animals that are not treated very well.  It was heartbreaking at times to read the sadness that they feel. The human qualities of Ivan and the other animals make this story one of a kind.  The way that they interact with each other and try so hard to make sense of what the humans are doing to them.  Although this is marketed for younger readers, I would say it would be better for eighth grade and up.

I borrowed this from a friend
ISBN: 978-0-06-199225-4