A review by megmro
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This was wonderful. I'd avoided this book in the past because I was afraid it would be tragic. There are definitely sad parts, but overall it is a tale of triumph. I particularly liked how Ivan comes up with a plan and takes action, and is not just a sad captive to be pitied and acted upon by the humans around him. 

The story is told in first person, and much of Ivan's narrative is upbeat, funny, and content. He doesn't really know what he's missing, and just tries to be happy with what he's got, even though it's not much. It's Ruby who ignites in him the need to make a change. 

Overall, it's heartwarming. The sad parts teach the reader important lessons. I would say the happy definitely outweighs the sad. If you're concerned that it might be too much for your younger reader, I would recommend another book by Applegate: Odder. That one is a little gentler. 

I'd say Odder is grade 3+, and Ivan is maybe more like grade 5+.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

For sensitive readers (like ME!), there are a few descriptions of animal suffering that can be very upsetting.

Ivan is friends with another animal attraction: an elephant named Stella. She has a sore foot that really hurts her, but the owner keeps dismissing it and doesn't call a veterinarian to come take a look at it. The infection gets worse and worse because of his neglect, and she dies.

It made me SO sad, but it's not described in a super graphic way. Another upsetting part is when Ivan finally allows himself to fully remember what happened to his family.

Poachers trapped him and his twin sister, and killed his parents. The quote is brief, but very upsetting: “We were clinging to our mother, my sister and I, when the humans killed her. They shot my father next. Then they chopped off their hands, their feet, their heads.” He then says that the hands were used to make ashtrays, which are sold in gift shops.

A young elephant named Ruby arrives, and when she doesn't cooperate learning the tricks that the owner wants her to do, he brings out a painful tool called a claw hook and says he's going to use it on her.

Ivan decides to paint a beautiful picture to try to tell the humans that he wants Ruby to be sent to a responsible zoo. His actions gain the attention of the janitor's daughter, and then the press, and then animal rights groups, who eventually free all the animals. The end of the story is very happy.