Let me ask you this—when was the last time a gorilla made you cry?
No, not from fear or shock or some wildlife documentary voiceover that catches you off guard with a gut punch of “…and then, he died alone.” I mean really cry—over art, over injustice, over the quietly tragic beauty of being seen.
Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan might seem, at first glance, like another sentimental animal tale following in the pawprints of Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, or Black Beauty. But this? This one doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings—it sketches a delicate, trembling line right through them.
Enter Ivan: A Gorilla Who Paints (Sort Of)
Ivan lives in a glass domain inside a forgotten mall, a silverback gorilla surrounded by neon signs, popcorn tubs, and the slow decay of human attention. He watches TV. He eats bananas. He doodles. You know, just your average postmodern primate. But here’s the thing: Ivan is supposed to be an artist.
And yet—do we ever feel that he is?
We’re told he draws. That his art is abstract. That it surprises people. But like watching a mime describe a symphony, the connection between Ivan and his supposed artistic drive sometimes feels, well… underdeveloped. Do we see him fall in love with colour? Do we feel that rush of creation? Or are we meant to just nod along because we’re told to?
Real Ape or Poetic License?
You’d think this story of a painting gorilla would be pure fantasy—but it’s based on a real animal. Yes, Ivan the gorilla existed. He was kept as a pet for 27 years and eventually moved to a zoo. Applegate takes that spark of truth and runs it into the realm of magical realism, giving Ivan a human voice, literary thoughts, and emotional self-awareness that would rival some philosophers.
But is that where the magic starts or where it fractures?
For younger readers, the blurred lines between reality and fable might confuse more than enchant. Is this a metaphor? A morality play? Or a very elegant journal entry from the world’s most introspective gorilla? And do kids—those painfully honest creatures—ask, “Wait, but could a gorilla really think like that?”
The Real Strength? Relationships, Not Rhetoric
Despite any questions about believability or pacing, The One and Only Ivan finds its soul not in plot, but in relationships. Ivan and Ruby, the baby elephant he vows to protect, echo Charlotte and Wilbur, or even Mufasa and Simba—a mentor-protégé bond wrapped in both tenderness and tragedy.
And Bob the stray dog? A scrappy philosopher in fur. These interactions are where Applegate doesn’t just shine—she glows. The dialogue here is stripped of excess, sincere in tone, and just sharp enough to cut into you unexpectedly.
Because this is what it means to be family, right? To find connection in unlikely places. To risk everything not for escape, but for someone else’s freedom.
Big Questions, Brief Glimpses
Animal rights. Captivity. Commercial exploitation. Compassion. All of these ideas are present… but more like shadows on the wall than stories on the page. The book hints at the ethical messiness of Ivan’s world, but never lingers long enough to confront it head-on.
Is that fair? Maybe. It is a middle-grade book, after all. But still, there’s a nagging sense that something deeper was just beneath the surface—untouched, unexplored, waiting to be uncovered like one of Ivan’s drawings left in the corner of his cage.
Free Verse or Forced Format?
Now, about that style. The One and Only Ivan is written in free verse. Depending on who you ask, that’s either a brave artistic choice or a confusing narrative constraint. For reluctant readers, the short poetic bursts may feel accessible—digestible. But for others, the format may feel disconnected from Ivan’s voice.
Does a gorilla really think in broken lines and lyrical fragments? Or is this just a literary flourish that benefits the reader more than the character?
At times, the poetic style elevates the story’s emotional reach. At others, it creates distance—form overshadowing function. It’s not a dealbreaker. But it might be a deal questioner.
Whispers of Wonder, Not Roars of Revelation
The One and Only Ivan doesn’t scream. It doesn’t rage. It doesn’t stand on a soapbox and lecture you about captivity or ethics or art. Instead, it whispers.
It whispers about friendship. About quiet acts of courage. About what it means to hope when the world forgets you exist.
So, is it perfect? No. But must it be?
If you’re looking for a sweeping, philosophical deep dive into the ethics of animal confinement or a gritty realism that stays true to an ape’s psyche, you may walk away wanting. But if what you’re after is a gentle, poetic fable about unlikely love, loyalty, and quiet rebellion, then Ivan—yes, Ivan—is your gorilla.
Not a roar. But a whisper. And sometimes, a whisper is the only thing that gets heard.
Book of Excellence Award
This book is a winner of the Book of Excellence Award.
The Book of Excellence title is a year-round recognition awarded to books that demonstrate exceptional quality, originality, and impact. These works set a high standard in storytelling, creativity, and contribution to culture or thought.
Voting for The World’s Best Book Awards Readers’ Book of the Year title is now closed. The results are below.
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