The One and Only Family
Katherine Applegate, Author
HarperCollins, Fiction, May 7, 2024
Suitable for ages 9-12
Themes: Willdlife sanctuaries, Gorillas, Twins. Courage, Hope, Family and Friendship
Book Jacket Synopsis:
When time tells a story, surprises are the one thing you can count on.
Ivan is the resident silverback gorilla in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side.
Ivan has also just become a dad — to twins!
Even though it can be hard sometimes, Ivan loves being a papa. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus — his own childhood in the jungle and his own twin.
Katherine Applegate returns to the world of her award-winning and bestselling One and Only series for one last unforgettable adventure with the world’s favorite silverback.
Why I like The One and Only Family:
I love that Applegate returns with this heartwarming and satisfying story that brings closure to this endearing series that began with The One and Only Ivan. All eyes are once again focused on Ivan as he embraces a happy ending in his life with Kinyani and the arrival of twins — a boy and girl. His family has grown and his friends Bob and Ruby are there to celebrate.
A novel in verse, Applegate’s language is warm, friendly, funny and inspiring. It is a page turner packed with so much appeal for the entire family. This final book is one big hug! It is about courage, hope, true friendship and the challenges of some fun toddler mischief. Will Ivan be a good papa to the twins?
And Applegate doesn’t shy away from including the important issues of the well-being of animals in sanctuaries, the dangers of living in the wild and the environmental changes that have threatened their natural habitat. And the risks for humans, when a child falls into the gorilla enclosure.
Make sure you read the Author’s Note at the end. The story is “loosely based” on the a real western lowland gorilla named Ivan who was captured as an infant by poachers in Africa. I was thrilled to learn that Kinyani and Ivan were together for years, and that Kinyani now resides at the Columbus Zoo, which I have visited often over the years. I have always loved gorillas.
Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob, and The One and Only Ruby, Crenshaw, Wishtree, Odder, the Endling series, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter book series and the Animorphs series. She lives with her husband, who writes as the author Michael Grant, in Nevada. Visit her at katherineapplegate.com.
Greg Pattridge hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.
*Reviewed from a library copy.