94 pages • 3 hours read
The One And Only Ivan
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of animal cruelty and emotional abuse.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How did your perception of Ivan change from the beginning to the end of the novel? What moment marked the biggest shift in how you viewed this character?
2. The novel has been compared to E. B. White’s Charlotte's Web in its exploration of unlikely animal friendships and the power of words. How do these two classic children’s novels approach similar themes differently?
3. What effect does Applegate’s choice to tell the story through short, poetic vignettes have on your reading experience? How might the story feel different if told through traditional chapters?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Ivan learns to see his cage as a prison rather than a domain. Have you ever experienced a shift in perspective that changed how you viewed a familiar situation? What prompted that change?
2. The novel explores the transformational power of friendship. Which relationship in the story most resonated with you the most, and why? What friendships from your past transformed you in some way?
3. Ivan and Julia connect through their shared love of art. How have your own creative pursuits helped you build connections with others?
4. Throughout the story, characters must adapt to significant changes in their lives. How do their different coping mechanisms reflect ways you’ve handled major life transitions?
5. Ivan struggles with memories of his past until Ruby helps him confront them. How do you think sharing difficult experiences with others can aid in healing?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book's relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.
1. How does the novel address society’s treatment of animals in captivity? What questions does it raise about the ethics of zoos and animal entertainment?
2. The story is based on a real gorilla who lived in a mall. How does knowing this affect your interpretation of the larger messages about human responsibility toward animals?
3. What commentary does the novel make about the relationship between commerce and animal welfare through Mack’s character and the mall setting?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book's structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.
1. How does Applegate use the symbolism of cages and walls to explore both literal and metaphorical imprisonment?
2. Analyze how the author develops Ivan’s identity as both an artist and a silverback. How do these two aspects of his character interact and evolve?
3. Consider the role of memory in the novel. How do different characters’ relationships with their past shape their present actions?
4. How does the author use the contrast between Ivan’s sparse language and humans’ “waste[d] words” to develop themes about communication?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book's content and themes.
1. If you could design an ideal habitat for Ivan and his friends, what elements would you include to balance their need for safety with their desire for freedom?
2. Create a scene from Julia’s perspective describing her first realization that Ivan was trying to communicate through his art. What might she have been thinking and feeling?
3. Imagine designing an advocacy campaign to help animals in situations similar to Ivan’s. What message and approach would you use to create meaningful change?
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