Newbery Medal Winner
The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate
Summary
Katherine Applegate narrates in the voice of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who has spent years living in a glass enclosure at a shopping mall. When a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, Ivan begins to remember his past and dreams of a better life for her. Told in spare, poetic prose, the novel explores captivity, friendship, and hope through the eyes of its animal narrator.
”
Historical Context & Significance
The story was inspired by a real gorilla named Ivan who lived for decades in a Washington state mall before moving to a zoo.