Part of The One and Only, book 4
First published 2024
Ivan the silverback gorilla has found contentment at his wildlife sanctuary home. His elephant friend Ruby lives in the neighboring enclosure, his dog companion Bob visits regularly, and his mate Kinyani stays close by his side. Now Ivan faces his greatest joy and challenge yet: he and Kinyani have become parents to twin baby gorillas. Ivan embraces his role as a father, though parenting proves more difficult than he expected. As he watches over his babies and guides them through their early days, memories surface from his own past. He remembers his life before the mall circus, his childhood in the wild jungle, and most powerfully, his own twin sibling. These recollections shape how Ivan approaches fatherhood and help him understand what his children need from him. This final chapter in Ivan's story explores how becoming a parent transforms him while connecting him to his deepest memories of family and belonging.
Genres: fiction, family, animals, literary-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, parenthood
Setting: Wildlife Sanctuary
272 pages · Hardcover · Storytide