Nonfiction

Author: Kathrine Applegate

Review By: Tiernan DeFranco

Synopsis:

Ivan is a silver back gorilla who lives in a stationary circus. He is friends with Stella the elephant. When the owner of the circus, Mack, buys a new elephant named Ruby, Stella takes care of her. Stella has a foot that gets infected, but Mack doesn't call the vet because it is too expensive. Stella eventually dies and Ivan had made a promise to take care of Ruby. Ivan isn't really sure how to do this, but he knows he must protect her. Ivan has been given paints that he can use when he likes and one day he paints a picture of Ruby at the zoo. The painting is used to advertise the circus and soon reporters come in response, a cameraman catches a peak of a claw stick used to train Ruby and protesters come, outraged. A woman from the zoo begins visiting and wants to take Ivan and Ruby.

Review

I chose 5/5 stars because this was an all around great book and it's real too! This book was very emotional and keeps the reader engaged in it at all times.