“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”—St. Francis of Assissi
The One and Only Ivan is a story of loneliness and redemption that is uniquely told through the thoughts of a silverback gorilla named Ivan. Having been raised by people in an urban setting his entire life, he remembers little of his childhood in the jungle of Africa. Now, Ivan is in a circus-themed mall where he is kept in his very small domain for visitors to come and witness his boring life. He has his friends around him (a small stray dog, a female elephant, the custodian and his daughter), yet still Ivan is lonely. As a silverback gorilla, he should be the head of a family, and since he has seen no other gorillas, he wonders if he is the last one on earth.
Katherine Applegate’s storytelling, through the eyes of Ivan, is perfect. The story is told through simple sentences focused on short subjects that last for a page or two, yet they come together to paint a picture of a gorilla who has been stuck in a mall for so long, he’s forgotten that a real world exists outside. The story progresses and a baby elephant comes to live next to him. He watches as her innocence and excitement for life are threatened and he swears to protect her by finding a zoo that will take her and give her a better life. He takes this mission very seriously and Applegate does a great job of bringing the story to a climactic point as we find out the fates of Ivan and his friend.
This novel won the Newberry Award in 2012 and deserves it for the inventive way the story is told. The perspective of Ivan allows us to see life through the eyes of a wild animal, but one who also sees a connection with humans and other monkeys. He is proud of who he is and he points out the beauty of gorillas. At one point in the novel he says, “gorillas are not complainers. We are dreamers poets, philosophers, nap-takers.” His thoughts are much deeper than we would assume.
One of the greatest aspects of the novel is that it teaches us to look at ourselves. We are allowed to see the best and worst in humanity. We see the beauty in Julia, the custodian’s daughter, since she is the only one who truly connects to the animals. She is the one who stands up for the animals and ultimately helps save them. Even Mack, the sometimes awful owner, has beauty in him. His intentions for Ivan seemingly started innocently enough before pain and loss entered his life. Unfortunately, we also see the evil in people. For the majority of the novel, Mack is a flawed character who makes poor decisions and treats his animals horribly. At another time, young children come to see him and one spits at him and another throws rocks. Perhaps one of the worst points of all is when we find out how Stella is treated after her death. These are simple enough examples for young adult readers to begin to look at human behavior, a necessary practice for future literary analysis and for the formation of one’s own conscience.
This contemporary classic is one that will touch any reader’s heart regardless of age. Though it is recommended for grades 3-5, it is on the Common Core reading list for middle school. I believe this is a book that is easy enough for an elementary student to read, however, some of the deeper moments of humanity may be better analyzed by a more mature audience.
This novel is one that will touch any reader. The connection between the animals is special and beautiful and it spreads to the innocent and beautiful people of the novel. Its a perfect novel for any reader, especially animal lovers, and the ending of the novel is one that will restore hope for the world.
Possible Issues
- At times, humans look terrible in the novel. Mack, the gorilla owner, treats Ivan , Stella, and Ruby very poorly at times. Another time, young kids throw rocks and spit at Ivan. Ivan often wonders how humans can be so good and so evil at the same time. This is a great opportunity to talk to kids about how people have the ability to good and evil, and it’s a daily decision.
- When Stella dies, they throw her body in the garbage. This might be difficult for a young, sensitive child.
Further Discussion
Catholic Resources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415-2418
- Read about the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assissi.
- Read about the Catholic teaching on treatment of animals.
- Say a prayer to Saint Francis for your pet or a friend’s pet or a pet who might be sick. You can also say a prayer for animals who may be mistreated. (See Below.)
Prayer for the Animals (Mistreated)
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends, the animals.
Especially for animals who are suffering; for any that are
hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them, we ask a
a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
and so to share the blessings of the merciful.
by Albert Schweitzer
General Teaching Resources
- Discussion questions and extension activities from Harper Collins.
- Standards and plans to go along with the novel.
- A great lesson plan including worksheets can be found here.
- An instructional book for the novel.
- Watch the preview for the book below.