The One and Only Ivan (2012) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

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• Ivan: A lonely gorilla who lives in the mall, which is like a prison to him. That all changes when Stella dies, and Ruby arrives. He is also a artist.
• Stella: An elephant that is part of the circus act at the mall. She has some injuries that flare up from time to time.
• Bob: A stray dog of undetermined heritage that talks to Ivan and sleeps on his belly at night. Bob doesn't feel like he needs others, but still enjoys the company of other animals.
• Mack: Owns the Big-Top mall. He has owned Ivan since the gorilla was very young. Mack is running low on money and not providing his animals with the treatment that he should.
• George: The night custodian at the mall. He needs to keep his dismal job to help pay for the bills being accrued due to his wife's battle with an illness. Father to Julia.
• Julia: George's daughter. She sits in front of Ivan's enclosure on a nightly basis while her father cleans. Julia has bonded with Ivan and will give him materials to use for creating drawings. She is a caring person who wants the best for the animals but she does not have the resources to give it to them.
• Ruby: A young elephant that joins the animals at the mall. She is brought in from a circus that went bankrupt and Ivan feels that he must protect her. Ruby accepts life at the mall and doesn't think things will get any better.
• Thelma: A macaw.
• ruby: Baby elephant that is new to the mall.
• Maya: A zoo worker who helps Ivan adjust to zoo life.
• Jambo: A zoo gorilla who kept his family away from a boy who fell into the area.
• Helen: Mack's wife who helped raise Ivan and later divorced Mack.
• Tag: Ivan's twin sister who died en route to America.
• Bob: A tiny stray dog that takes up residence in the corner of Ivan's cell. He loves to sleep on Ivan's stomach. He is clever and sarcastic but has a tender spot in his heart for one little girl.
• Snickers: The spoiled poodle that performs tricks with Stella the elephant
• Not-Tag: Ivan's stuffed gorilla.
• Kinyani: Add a description of this character.
• Picasso

Quotes edit see section history

• “I always tell the truth, although I sometimes confuse the facts.”

  Stella

• “"I've heard rescue stories like that before." It's Stella's voice. She sounds weary. Slowly she makes her way over to Ruby. "Humans can surprise you sometimes. An unpredictable species, Homo sapiens."”

  Stella and Ruby

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade
• Zoo Atlanta

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Silverback: An adult male gorilla with silver on his back. Protector of family.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Art: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

List the series to which this book belongs.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. K. A. Applegate (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Patricia Castelao (Illustrator)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Newbery Medal (2013)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Animals › Zoos
• Books › Children's Books › Animals › Apes & Monkeys
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Humorous

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Ivan the Gorilla
• Ivan's Facebook Page

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history