The One and Only Ivan: A Reader Response

     The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is the story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla and feature attraction of the Exit 8 Big Top Mall & Video Arcade.  From  the beginning Ivan is developed as intelligent and observant, although his years in captivity have developed a complacency with life.  The One and Only Ivan opens our eyes to animal captivity, its cruel aspects and the consequences for the victims of it.  This novel develops the story of a great silverback gorilla, who ironically is nothing to fear or respect, and how a tragic loss and consequent promise spur him on to become the leader necessary to ensure a better future for a helpless baby elephant.

     The story is set at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall & Video Arcade, a sad highway attraction with a handful of animals to attract passersby.  The choice of the setting fits along with the character of its owner and contributes to the seediness the animals live in as a consequence of greed.  The peculiar combination of shops, aracade, and animal show attractions strengthen the disgrace of the animals captivity.  

     The plot of the novel unfolds a series of believable events though wrapped in fantasy.  We are introduced to the animals who have grown accustomed to their lives of performing.  Ivan's drawing develops into painting, a natural seeming thing considering his thoughtful and introspective nature.  It is with the introduction of a new animal and the death of his closest friend that Ivan for the first time in years begins to question animal captivity, thoughts he had long put out of his mind in order to survive.  

     The characters develop in a consistent direction throughout the story to support the plot.  Ivan's character, however, is the only one to grow.  While we were initially introduced to a silverback gorilla that showed none of the fierceness of his kind, and in fact demonstrated quite the opposite, at the end we are relieved and excited that he has returned to his roots.  Ivan's memories consist of those with Mac and his friends at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall & Video.  He purposefully does not think about memories of home because they are painful and he associates them with the death of his sister, Tag, who was unable to survive being captured.  Through Ivan's promise to Stella and conversations with Ruby, he starts to retrieve these memories.  He struggles with his captive self and the majestic gorilla he's supposed to be.

     Katherine Applegate does an excellent job of developing the plot and her characters with simple words that pack strong images.  The book is very easy to read and it's easy to find yourself moving through the pages quickly.  She doesn't waste any words and every paragraph contributes to moving the story along, drawing sympathy and anger from us, until finally we feel a sense of happiness and comfort that the victims in the story have all found their havens.

     The One and Only Ivan is a strong statement against animal captivity and cruelty.  It is also the story of finding the courage to do something right for someone else, even if you can't do it for yourself.