The+One+and+Only+Ivan

Nina Iagrossi “The One and Only Ivan” By Katherine Applegate __Analysis: Plot__ The plot of this story, “The One and Only Ivan”, stems from animal cruelty and the rights that animals in captivity should be given. Ivan a silver back gorilla that lives in a rundown mall that has gone bankrupt. When he has to take on the care of a baby elephant, Ruby, he realizes he hates the mall and how they cruelly teach Ruby circus tricks. The abuse that Ruby has to undergo is the driving force behind Ivan’s determination to set the animals of the mall free. The plot peaks when Ivan creates a master piece of a picture a zoo which a little girl hangs on a billboard. The plot in this story is interesting and creative. It was interesting to read and I thought Applegate did a great job creating a rising plot. The book’s plot is created at a central point where it is clear we are rising in action. __Bibliographic data:__ Author- Katherine Applegate Illustrator- Patricia Castelao Publisher- HarperCollins Children's Books Published- February 2, 2012 Was given the 2013 Newbery Medal award __Summary:__ The setting of this book is in a beat down mall that once was thriving and popular due to its animal attractions. These main attractions being Ivan the silver back gorilla, the main character, kept in a glass cage and a grown female elephant that performed many tricks until she sustained a foot injury. Ivan and Stella, the adult elephant, have been in captivity so long they have come accustom to their lives and Ivan is even content and satisfied with watching TV and eating bananas every day in his cage. At first Ivan sees his cage as not something containing him but as his domain. This all changes when an orphaned baby elephant named Ruby joins the mall crew. Stella takes Ruby on as her own child and becomes a mom figure in Ruby life as she takes care of her and teaches her some tricks. Stella has an old injury to her foot and this starts to make her ill and eventually Stella passes away. Before she does she asks Ivan to watch over Ruby and try to find her a better place than this mall. Ivan agrees to watch over Ruby and one day witnesses the abuse that the manager of the mall, Mack, subjects Ruby to in trying to teach her tricks. Ivan realizes that the lives him and Ruby are living are anything but satisfactory and wants to change this. He pulls an extreme stunt by creating a painting of a zoo to try to convince the public that the animals understand their condition and want it changed. A young girl who is the custodian’s daughter wants to help the animals and hangs the large moral on a billboard which attracts the attention of the public. Ivan ultimately gets all the animals sent to zoos where they aren’t given complete freedom but it is better than live they are living now. Both Ivan and Ruby go to the same zoo and are placed in beautiful enclosures with other animals of their kind. Review: I think this book should be read by every elementary student because it is a powerful story about animal rights and freedom. It has such a heartwarming message and is an interesting and inspiring story. It is based off a real story about a silver back gorilla and that almost makes it even more of a heartwarming story. It is not a hard read by any means and a fourth, fifth or sixth grade class could easily read this story. It teaches kids to no matter the species or no matter who you are you can always help. Also that everyone and everything deserves the best and is a true message about freedom and rights. Author Bio: Katherine Alice Applegate was born July 19, 1956 in Michigan and since has lived in and traveled all over America. She is clearly an American writer that has been quite successful. She is married with one daughter. She is best known for her children’s series Animorphs, Remnants and Everworld which are science fiction stories, that I personally remember form elementary school. She won the 2013 Newbery Medal for her children's novel “The One and Only Ivan”. Applegate’s is currently living and working on more children’s stories.