“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” ~ George Elliot

This quote appears at the beginning and is a great introduction to a fantastic book.

Ivan, the book’s narrator, is a lowland gorilla who has been living in captivity in a mall-based circus for 27 years.  At 300 pounds, he is a male silverback, who would be fiercely protecting his family if he were still living in the wild.  But Ivan barely remembers what life in Africa was like.  He spends his days looking at the humans who visit him at the mall, watches TV and talks with his neighbor Stella, an older elephant, and to Bob, a tiny stray dog who sneaks into a hole in Ivan’s glass walls. Ivan’s boredom is spared by Julia, the daughter of the man who cleans the mall, when she notice’s Ivan’s apparent interest in her sketches and slips him crayons and pieces of paper.  Although at times, he eats the art supplies, Ivan begins to explore the world of color and lines and produces drawings that his enterprising owner sells at the gift shop. Then Ruby, a baby elephant is bought to increase attendance at the circus, and Ivan’s world begins to change.  He sees the world through Ruby’s questions and realizes that he must act to save her and himself.  The book is a wonderful tale of courage and hope, and its short chapters will make it a great read-aloud, even for younger readers. The author is well-known for her Animorphs series, and based her book on a
real gorilla who had been kept in captivity.

The book just won the Newbery medal, so I was curious to see what it was all about. I read it in one sitting, at times laughing, and at others, tearing up. Its message of kindness to others will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.  After Wonder, it is the best book for kids that I’ve read this year.