This book revolves around hope. At first, Ivan had little hope left, and had decided that the hope would only kill him. Then he had received someone to fight for, a purpose for his being. The simple, sad language causes readers to ache at his misfortune and cry at his success. It's heartbreaking to hear the story of a gorilla in such hostile conditions. Applegate shows the dreadful life of creatures who are forced to consider little patches of hell as home. Ivan is not even a gorilla anymore after being imprisoned, and is very reluctant to become one. He has accepted his fate of misery, and so is not used to fair treatment at all. The short sentences have powerful connotations and complex meanings, allowing the true wonder of words to explode in a cascade of emotion. Ivan will never be a true gorilla, never be a real silverback, and will live his life inside Atlanta Zoo, which has good living qualities, but Ivan has experienced hardship and the evil of the world. He has come close, but he will never receive the wild home or the wild true heart of a gorilla that he deserves, which brings out the immense sorrow and the spark of hope of it all.

Ivan is a gorilla. He is calm and peaceful but has spent years in a tiny cage in a mall. He doesn’t really care but then a new baby elephant, Ruby comes and changes everything. Ivan realizes that maybe this isn’t supposed to be the life for them. In this heart breaking book, Katherine Applegate shows that animals have life’s just as important as humans.

Ivan is living inside his domain. It is not a cage to him, simply his home. He has forgotten about his life in the jungle with his real family. Now, everyday goes by being Ivan the mighty silverback gorilla. He drinks pepsi and eats bananas. Stella a elephant living “next door” has a personality of a kind but fierce grandma. Bob, a dog sleeps on his belly everyday. Julia a girl cares for Ivan by giving him crayons, of course Ivan loves to draw. One day a young elephant Ruby comes to live in their domain. She tells Ivan about the life in the wild and how her parents were brutally treated and how she misses the wild. Ivan begins to realize his past...and then Stella goes up to the stars with her dying wish remaining with Ivan, “If she could have a life that’s...different from mine. She needs a safe place Ivan, not-”...

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is a charming story about a silverback gorilla named that was stolen from his home and taken to a bigtop mall and arcade in Florida. He is known as the "mighty silverback" and the owner of the mall gets money from the people who come to see Ivan. The gorilla spends day after day, enjoying the company of his friends, Bob the mutt and Stella the elephant. One day, Ivan meets the new elephant that has come to the mall, Ruby and they imediately become good friends. Sadly though, Ivan is devastated when Stella, his friend dies and Ruby is left as Ivan's responsibility. Ivan promises that he will get Ruby free and so, he begins to work and fight to be free, forever.

I really enjoy reading this book. Because it has unique phrases to describes a character. Ivan is the main character of this book. He have a deep thoughts and feelings. Being a silverback gorilla who stuck in a cage is not easy thing to do for him. I love the different point of view how we see gorilla and how they see the world and humans. Humans can be advantageous or disadvantageous to the animals. Because Ivan and baby elephant Ruby has a different memories about humans. Ivan lost his family because of humans violence but for Ruby human helped to save from the danger.

I really loved the book. I highly recommend this book.

I loved it and my teacher loanded it to me so I could read it whithout having to buy it.

I recommend it to people who like animals. It was a really good book that inspired me to take more care of my animals.

I heard that this book is really good bye some of of my friends so I thought I would give it a chance so I will check it out now 😁😁😁

omg! you need to read this book now. it makes you happy, sad, scared. its about Ivan, a gorilla who is trapped at a carnival in a mall. he's trying to get out. he try to tell other in a interesting way , through art. Ivan is an artist. he can draw pictures . when a new elephant comes in, Ivan worries he won't be the center of attention anymore. read the book to find out what happens! I think that this book is amazing. I really recommend it. you should check it out at your library or buy it at a bookstore or online!