by Katherine Applegate
5/5 stars
Reviewer: Dawn
Summary:
Ivan is a silverback gorilla who has lived in a cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall
and Video Arcade for the past 27 years. He has not had any contact with other
gorillas during this time. He is lonely. He spends his days watching TV (when
someone turns it on), eating, and sometimes drawing. He has a few friends- a
dog named Bob and an elephant named Stella who lives in the domain next to his.
But then one day, a baby elephant named Ruth comes to the mall and everything
changes.
Review:
This is an amazing, eye-opening book. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful all
in the same story. The text is sparse, almost verse-like, but it’s the perfect
way to tell this story- from the eyes and mind of Ivan the gorilla. The themes
that this book deals with, like mortality and captivity, would make me hesitate
to give it to young, sensitive readers, but it is a wonderful book for animal
lovers and middle grade children. This book is not just a great story; it’s inspired by a TRUE
story, which readers will find out about at the end of the book. I would
recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The
Underneath by Kathi Appelt. 
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