Friday, September 13, 2013

The One and Only Ivan

Written by: Katherine Applegate

First line: I am Ivan.

Why you should read this book: In this remarkable story, Ivan has come to terms with his status as a roadside attraction, a gorilla inhabiting an artificial domain in a circus-themed mall, whose best friends are an elderly elephant and a stray dog. But Stella, the elephant, has a chronic injury and the owner of the mall needs a new attraction, so he acquires Ruby, a baby elephant, who cannot accept her captivity as the other animals have, and whose future seems less certain and less comfortable. Ivan is determined to save Ruby, but if he is to have any hope of succeeding, he must find a way to communicate to humans the plight, and the needs, of wild animals living in captivity.


Why you shouldn’t read this book: It made me cry like crazy—way more of a tearjerker than Bridge to Terebithia—throughout the entire second half of the book.

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