The One and Only Family (Katherine Applegate)

 

I loved The One and Only Ivan and the following books have also been amazing. This one is #4 in the series. Katherine Applegate did a masterful job of sharing the feelings of becoming a parent. I happened to be reading this around Father's Day and it seemed particularly profound as I thought of my own dad and my own years growing up.

The view of a father in this story is heart warming: 

p. 113 The moon is pouring liquid light onto the floor of the villa.

Once again, I check on Kinyani. She's asleep, and the infants are barely visible next to her, though every now and then I see a tiny foot kick or a little hand make a fist.

Maya reaches out to close the window shade, and I leap to my feet. No, I want to say. I need to see them.

She seems to understand how agitated I am, because she reconsiders, leaving the shade where it is.

All night. I watch them.

It's my job.

His tender care of his babies:

p. 127 Look at a gorilla infant's hand. Or a human baby's hand, if you don't have access to a newborn gorilla.

Which I suppose is quite likely.

How could anything possibly be so small and so perfect?

Now extend a finger, the way I am doing, the way every father since the beginning of time has done, and watch the way that tiny hand grabs hold as if it means the difference between life and death. Because perhaps it does.

My son is holding on to me.

Even Bob, Ivan's best friend who likes to sleep on his belly, feels the love of a father:

p. 133 "Anyway," Bob says, "it's all gorilla, all the time at our house. No offense, but sometimes I could use a good cartoon. Or a show starring a dog, at least."

You're the starring dog at Julia's house," I point out.

"Nope," Bob says. "That's Rowdy's job these days. And I don't mind a bit. He is awfully adorable."

"I don't think I've ever heard you say the word 'adorable' before," I tease.

"Gotta admit, it did leave a funny taste in my mouth. That's what kids'll do to ya. Soften you up. Make you say things like 'cute' and 'sweet' and 'please, how many more times can I ask you to stop eating Julia's flip-flops?" Bob laughs. "What're you gonna do? You gotta love 'em"

"Yes," I say, "you do."

I love his honesty about the difficulties of parenthood:

p. 146 With each reunion, there's been much exploring of the new grounds and the gorilla villa. And plenty of cooing and carrying on about the twins.

For the most part, we're all getting along. I'm happy to say, and I've adapted well to my role as silverback. 

There are hiccups, to be sure. The blackbacks can get too rambunctious. And I referee occasional squabbles over ripe fruit or sunny rocks. 

But it's nothing I can't handle.

If anything, I find the role of silverback much easier than the role of dad.

Troops have rules.

Toddlers do not.

 The 'go ask your mom' is universal! The twins ask Ivan about growing....getting taller, do your insides keep growing...how does that work?

p. 150 I knew I was in trouble. But then I remembered the go-to answer that has saved countless dads since the beginning of time.

"Good question," I said. "Go ask your mommy."

Ivan really struggles with whether or not he needs to tell his children about his background. Kinyani thinks they should be honest. He isn't so sure. (tough questions)

p. 176 Maybe Kinyani is okay with sharing with her past. But why should Tuma and Raji know about mine?

About my family, killed by poachers?

About how Tag and I were thrown into a crate and sent across the world?

About how she died of pneumonia soon after we arrived at our destination?

About my endless, humiliating years at the mall circus?

How would knowing about those things possibly help the twins? 

The children, however, do find out about his past because of the movie made about him. Ivan is thrown back into those memories of being at a baseball game, wearing a cap, balloons tied to his wrist, eating birthday cake, the mall's giant billboard. My heart broke for him.

p. 227 I feel shame and I don't know why.

What happened to my wasn't my fault.

it was the fault of cruel humans.

It was, I think suddenly, my father's fault, too.

....My domain. Once upon a time, that's what I used to call my cage at the circus.

Once upon a time.

Some stories should never be told.

p. 231 Above me, like a nightmare, more images flash on-screen.

I am wearing a cowboy hat.

I am painting a picture.

I am so cute.

I am so deeply, terribly sad.

His father taught him some good things that he continues to use:

p. 244 I think of my father, and then I remember it. The third rule.

A silverback loves.

But Ivan recovers his strength:

p. 249 The story - my story - has taken flight, like all stories do. I know there's no turning back.

You can't exile stories.

You can't ban truth.

You can't cage hope.

I know that now.

And in the author's note at the end, I thought this was profound. She talks about the power of stories and why we should share them with our children, the next generation.

p. 258 How can we deal with real threats like climate change while staying honest, hopeful, and encouraging?

Well, stories are one way. Kinyani wisely points out that a parent's most important job is not to protect young ones from the world. It is to prepare them for it. 

Goodreads says:

For more than a decade, readers have been enchanted by the modern classic The One and Only Ivan , a Newbery Award winner and a #1 New York Times bestseller, and by its bestselling sequels, The One and Only Bob and The One and Only Ruby . Powerhouse author Katherine Applegate invites readers back into Ivan’s world for one last adventure—his most exciting yet. Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle—and his own twin. In the tradition of timeless classics like Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little , the one and only Katherine Applegate has crafted a poignant, delightful, heartbreaking, unforgettable final foray into the world of Ivan, the world’s favorite silverback.