Reviews

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

brinastewart's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

3.0

Read this for a tween book club I run. It was really cute and a very quick read for higher reading levels and adults. I honestly think the way the book is set up and the big font used would be better suited for ages 6-8 years while a bit of an easy read for tweens which are 9-12 years range.

bexellency's review against another edition

2.5

I had to check this out as it kept being referenced in other books I read, although I’m not the target audience for a middle reader book.  It’s a low level middle reader to me; more basic language than I expected.  The story is okay, but not amazing.  I guess I already had my gorillas are amazing story having grown up when Koko was making the news for learning sign language.  I’ve read Jane Goodall and Biruté Galdikas on their work with great apes.  This book just didn’t tug my heart strings and make me fall in love with the animal characters in the way I imagine it must for many, given the references it gets in other literary works.

thealexarachelle's review against another edition

5.0

Sobbed. This was great and I’m sad it’s based on real Ivan. I read it for research and now I’m about to read the sequel and have the 3rd book preordered. No way can I watch this movie with the way this book made me cry

kotashomelibrary's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Animal cruelty

heyhank's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

leafblade's review against another edition

5.0

Me lo puse a leer porque se cortó la luz, y me leí la mitad con una lamparita de emergencia un poco deprimente. Un par de horas después volvió la luz y me lo terminé. Y pensaba que hoy no iba a empezar otro libro porque terminé blackbird. Vivan los fines de semana largos.

En realidad iba a ponerle 4/5, pero no creo que le haya faltado nada. Hay que verla como lo que es: un middle grade. Aunque hace bastante que pasé la edad de middle grade y acá estoy a punto de llorar porque fue todo muy hermoso.

Los personajes son increíblemente profundos, con sus diferencias muy marcadas entre sí. Voy a decir que mi favorito fue Bob, porque es tan salvaje y tan él que lo amé.

La historia no está "atenuada" para que los más chicos no se impresionen. Nos habla de muerte, de injusticia, de crueldad, de maldad y de desesperación. Pero también transmite un montón de amor, compañerismo, perseverancia y confianza en sí mismo. Realmente un libro muy completo, y que estoy segura que voy a releer varias veces cuando esté en algún reading slump y quiera algo rápido. Completamente recomendado.

ava_xoxo4's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

juneberry0123's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad

• Loveable characters? Yes

2.5

dre_'s review against another edition

5.0

I nearly lost my voice...from reading this to my son (6) in two (long) sittings, and crying every few chapters.

lillyvannilly's review against another edition

5.0

My school is bringing back the Battle of the Books contest and I am on our teacher team. This was one of the books for this years contest. This book was cute, happy, and sad. I haven’t read a heartfelt children’s book in a while.