The One and Only Ivan

Beautifully crafted story that regardless of your circumstances, you can use your talents and perseverance to prevail. And, that is exactly what the main character does. Ivan is a Silverback Gorilla who has been "caged" up in a mall zoo for years and years. He lost his entire family and was resigned to live out his existence in a small cage. But then he met Ruby, a baby elephant who did not deserve to live the life he has led. He makes a promise to save Ruby and that is exactly what he does.

Two things really stood out for me while reading this novel. First, regardless of your current situation, anyone can begin to move forward and produce change. Will it be easy? No! But as the old saying goes, "where there is a will there is a way." Second, the entire book was based on a true story.

This is the novel that has been chosen for World Read Aloud which begins on October 1, 2012.

Enjoy!

It's Monday... What Are You Reading?

As always, I am reading too many titles at the same time. Always have to match the book to my mood. The title I am going to finish (hopefully tomorrow) is THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN. This is the book chosen for World Read Aloud on October 1. A lovely story, but geared for younger students (certainly not my 10th graders).

Beautiful Disaster

Strategy is necessary to win a game and to write a novel. For the first half of this book, I believed there was a strategy and then it vanished. POOF!  The relationship between Abby and Travis was unconventional from the very beginning and yet still contained valid conversations and believable interactions. Predictability became apparent upon their arrival in Benny's office in Vegas and then it was all downhill for the last 40% of the novel.

My biggest concerns with the novel were 1. the disregard for safe sex (even after that had been discussed by the characters because of its importance to their future) 2. the BRUTAL FIGHTING! The fights that Travis engaged in were unrealistic and I wonder how he remained free to walk around in society. I am not referring to the "paid fights" but to the brutal and unnecessary beating he gave to others in the cafeteria, the parking lot, wherever he felt necessary to assert his manhood and defend Abby's honor. Abby should have honored herself and gotten out of the relationship (and stayed out) when it began to spiral.

There was a point near the end of the novel where the suspense grew and I was engaged in the novel in a new way. This was when Travis believed that his brother was trapped and killed in the campus fire. What was most disappointing was that the suspense happened so late in the novel.

With the fact that Benny and Mick never reappeared in the novel makes me wonder if the author is gearing up for a follow-up novel. I have to say, I sure hope not. [book:Beautiful Disaster|11505797]