Review by Booklist Review
This final book in Applegate's quartet finds beloved silverback gorilla Ivan faced with yet another life-changing challenge: parenthood. This unexpected (to Ivan) turn of events stirs up complicated memories of his birth family, causing him to wonder if he can be a good parent and troop leader. How much of this does Ivan want to remember and how much of his past should he share with his friends and present family? Following him and his anxieties is a filmmaker documenting every momentous juncture along the way, which serves only to amplify Ivan's worries. With the support of friends Bob and Ruby and his pragmatic partner, Kinyani, he accepts the mantel of fatherhood, navigating birth, babyhood, and even terrifying toddler tantrums! Additionally, at its core, this story continues to raise the question of how humans can preserve the natural world and be worthy conservators for the future. In this lovingly crafted finale, Applegate deftly delivers with spare, shining prose that juxtaposes playfulness with soul-stirring revelations, allowing the book to be accessible for young readers and a page-turner for all ages. This is a satisfying send off, and readers will want to reread the whole series to share the laughs and the tears surrounding this memorable band of buddies one more time. A must-read celebration of family, natural and found. High-Demand Backstory: Applegate's Newbery Medal--winning The One and Only Ivan (2012) is a kidlit classic, and fans of the titular gorilla will be eager for his story's conclusion.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
After Bob and Ruby have taken turns narrating the past couple of books, it's only fitting that Ivan (The One and Only Ivan, rev. 1/12) returns as the narrator for the fourth and final volume of the quartet. The gorilla protagonist now lives a good life in the wildlife park, far removed from his traumatic past filled with abuse and neglect at Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He is surrounded by close friends, both human and animal, who sustain him and understand him, many having gone through trauma themselves. Now Ivan and his mate are about to be parents and must grapple with what this means: "'But it's my job to protect them from the world,' I said. 'It's our job to prepare them for the world,' Kinyani responded, arms crossed over her chest." Offspring aren't the only means of extending Ivan's legacy: he is the subject of a forthcoming documentary. Tragedy almost strikes at the premiere when the filmmaker's son finds himself in the gorilla enclosure with an enraged silverback bearing down on him. Ivan rises to the challenge, both as a father and as a leader. This volume doesn't stand alone as well as the others, and that's okay. It's a wonderful farewell tour for these endearing characters and the themes that they have come to embody so well: adversity, resilience, and hope. Jonathan HuntJuly/August 2024 p.121 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Beloved gorilla Ivan becomes a father to rambunctious twins in this finale to a quartet that began with 2012's Newbery Award--winning The One and Only Ivan. Life hasn't always been easy for silverback gorilla Ivan, who's spent most of his life being mistreated in captivity. Now he's living in a wildlife sanctuary, but he still gets to see his two best friends. Young elephant Ruby lives in the grassy habitat next door, and former stray dog Bob has a home with one of the zookeepers. All three were rescued from the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Ivan's expanded world includes fellow gorilla Kinyani--the two are about to become parents, and Ivan is revisiting the traumas of his past in light of what he wants the twins to know. When the subject inevitably comes up, Applegate's trust and respect for readers is evident. She doesn't shy away from hard truths as Ivan wrestles with the fact that poachers killed his family. Readers will need the context provided by knowledge of the earlier books to feel the full emotional impact of this story. The rushed ending unfortunately falls flat, detracting from the central message that a complex life can still contain hope. Final art not seen. Not the most satisfying wrap-up, but it's always good to spend time in the world of this series. (gorilla games, glossary, author's note) (Verse fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
