Point of View

"The One and Only Ivan" is written in the first person point of view. The main character, a gorilla named Ivan, is the narrator. Ivan tells his story in narration, his thoughts a touch scattered but clear and intelligent. Ivan is a gorilla who has been separated from his kind and struggles to understand who and what he is. This comes across clearly in his unique voice.

The point of view of this novel allows a close relationship to develop very quickly between reader and main character. This relationship makes the reader care about what happens to Ivan. The reader is rooting for Ivan throughout the novel and happy when Ivan finds happiness. For this reason, this point of view works well with the novel.

Setting

The novel is set in a circus in an unnamed town off a local highway. The circus is part of...