Part of The One and Only, book 1
First published 2012
Ivan the gorilla lives behind glass walls at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He watches TV shows and creates art with crayons, trying to capture mangoes and rustling leaves in his drawings. His closest friends are Stella, an old elephant, and Bob, a stray dog who sleeps on his chest. Ivan has made peace with his captivity and barely remembers the jungle anymore. Then Ruby arrives. She is a baby elephant, torn from her family and thrust into this concrete world of performance and spectacle. Ruby's presence changes everything for Ivan. Through her young eyes, he begins to see their situation differently. He starts to understand what his art might accomplish beyond personal expression. Ivan must find a way to use his creativity and his voice to help Ruby and create meaningful change in their confined world.
Genres: fiction, animals, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade
304 pages · Hardcover · Storytide