The One and Only Ivan (2013)

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. The One and Only Ivan is based on the true story of a gorilla named Ivan, who was captured from the Democratic Republic of Congo and spent 27 years living in a cage in a mall before he was moved to Zoo Atlanta in 1994. Applegate transforms Ivan into a fictional gorilla who can understand and speak human language, and who tells his story through a series of short, poetic vignettes. Ivan lives with his animal companions Stella, and elderly elephant who was once part of a famous circus, and Bob, a stray dog who sleeps on Ivan's chest at night. He is also friends with the 10-year-old human Julia, daughter of the mall janitor George. When Ivan meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, she makes Ivan see their home and his own art through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal