The One and Only Ivan

I read a monkey book...

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. New York : Harper, 2012.

Plot: Ivan the gorilla lives in a shopping mall with a group of other broken, forgotten animals. He seems content with his life, though, until Ruby arrives. Her presence forces him to slowly realize the domain he calls home is a cage, and a small one at that. Determined to spare her the life of an enclosed performer, Ivan sets off a quest to get Ruby into the zoo, where she can live happily. His efforts bring changes not only to her, but to him as well. It is not easy to make such a change, though. Nor is it easy to face the truth of his own life.

Genre: Animals, Historical Fiction

Reading Level: Grades 4-9; be aware, it is a Newbery Award winner, so nice things die. Warn sensitive readers appropriately.

Similar Titles: The Underneath, Chained

Personal Thoughts: The story offers an ideal introduction for stream-of-consciousness narration and animal welfare issues. However, it uses real characters and situations in a manner which diminishes actual events.

Caution: Incoming soapbox 

Ivan was a former pet kept in a small cage in a mall. However, his owners were not the cruel, alcoholic, negligent people the title implies. In Ivan's early life, it was perfectly acceptable to keep a wild-caught animal in such conditions. This does  not make it right, but it was legal and does explain why he lived in such a situation. Additionally,  his owners did not likely work their animals to exhaustion like Ruby was. It makes no sense to do so, since the animals were their main source of income. Why knowingly put such a valuable commodity in danger? An interview with Ivan's owner also implies more concern than stubbornness, since Ivan's health could easily have suffered through a tough move. Many exotic animals have died in transit to new habitats, so the worry, though ultimately unproven, was valid. Additionally, he and his family requested Ivan's ashes after the gorilla died in the zoo they donated him to. They cared enough to ultimately let a zoo have a multi-thousand dollar animal for free and still wished to remember him after his death, unlike Mac from the text. Readers should be encouraged to improve the living situation of animals in their community, but not by demonizing owners for not impulsively changing without concern for the animals involved.

Soapbox ending. Resume writing blog.

Overall, the story is interesting, but not entirely accurate to real events.

Odd and the Frost Giants

A big guy, a little guy, and a bird

Gaiman, Neil. Odd and the Frost Giants. New York : Harper, 2009.

Plot: Odd, a strong-willed but crippled boy, always finds joy in the spring. As the winter lingers to obscene lengths, he runs away to his father's old hut, only to discover a strangely determined fox. The vulpine interloper introduces him to a bear and eagle. The three are the Norse gods Loki, Thor, and Odin. Odd must break their curse to summon spring, but he may find more than a change in weather during his quest.

Genre: Fantasy, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Loki's Wolves, Book of Three, The Raiders

Personal Thoughts: A light story by Neil Gaiman. The story focuses mostly on Odd, rather than his larger-than-life companions, but it also shows him his mother's fairly tragic past. Much like mythology in general, his story is an attempt to explain the unexplainable situations guiding his past, present, and future.

However, the title does not have quite the impact of some of Gaiman's other works, such as Coraline, which seems strange. Both heroes find themselves in strange situations. Both must accomplish seemingly impossible goals to save themselves and others. Both learn to appreciate their parents, especially their mothers, through their adventures. Coraline, ultimately, seems bettered developed, perhaps due to the presence of unsympathetic faults, such as stubbornness and selfishness.  The many unknowns surrounding her antagonist makes the heroine more intriguing as well. Unfamiliarity, after all, requires the readers to invest themselves in an attempt to understand the text. Ultimately, Odd is an interesting character, but not as interesting as some others popular heroes.

Side Note: I wonder how new readers will view the story in a post-Avengers movie society.