Applegate, Katherine.
The Only and Ivan. NY:HarperCollins,
2012. Recommended: Grades: 4-6
I confess I was reluctant to read this book primarily
because the protagonist was a silverback gorilla – I have vivid memories of
King Kong rushing through various cities of America leaving death and
destruction in his wake. However, Ivan is no King Kong … he is imprisoned in an
Arcade Mall that barely functions as a circus/zoo. He was once a main
attraction when he was young and cute. Now after 27 years, his claim to fame is
that he can draw. Although his works are unintelligible – they sell, but it’s
not enough. The bright spot of his days
are his conversations with Bob the stray dog, Stella the wise old elephant and
Julie the daughter of the maintenance man.
However, Stella is unwell – her feet are infected and Ivan is rightfully
worried. Then one day a baby elephant
named Ruby joins the team, but all is not well.
Stella dies, but in her passing she elicits a promise from Ivan that he
will rescue Ruby from the life she seems doomed to face. Ivan doggedly pursues
his promise, but at what price to himself?
This was actually an enjoyable read. I was expecting PETA-related propaganda, but really
found very little in the story line.
Instead, I discovered a story that bore the truths of friendship and
sacrificial love. Ivan is an enjoyable
even likable character. Stella is a wise
old elephant. Ruby is a guileless, but fearful baby looking for someone to
believe in. Julie is a crusader ready to
take up the cause. Bob is the dog who
has been beaten up life so much that he is afraid to trust. All of these characters together give a
different take in a different setting on the much loved Charlotte’s Web.
