The One and Only Ivan

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. HarperCollins, 2012.

Ivan is a gorilla who lives in a strip mall on a highway exit. His only companions are an elephant, a dog, and a young girl. One day, the owner brings in a new elephant, whom Ivan befriends. Ivan promises to take care of her and help her be free from this prison of a "circus." Ivan is able to work a little magic of his own and the animals eventually are placed in a zoo.

This book is a really fast read, but I enjoyed the fact that it was told from Ivan's perspective. I can see why it won the Newbery this year. This was not my usual type of book, and I probably wouldn't have picked it up had it not been in the running for the award, but I am glad I read it.