The One and Only Ivan Characters

The protagonist of the novel, Ivan is a silverback gorilla who’s about 30 years old. For the last 27 years, he’s lived in a glass and concrete cage (which he calls his “domain”) in a… read analysis of Ivan

Ruby is a baby elephant whom Mack purchases to try to reinvigorate the Big Top Mall’s daily shows. Ruby is inquisitive—she asks questions constantly—and very stubborn. She loves telling and listening to stories, and she… read analysis of Ruby

Stella is an old elephant who is one of Ivan’s closest friends at the Big Top Mall. She lives in the domain next to Ivan’s and performs in the mall’s thrice-daily shows. Ivan describes… read analysis of Stella

Bob is a tiny stray dog who lives at the Big Top Mall. While Bob is proud that he’s a stray and insists that he doesn’t actually have a home, he does spend nearly all… read analysis of Bob

Julia is George’s 10-year-old daughter. She accompanies him to the mall every night and either does homework or draws while he cleans. Her mother, Sara, is chronically ill. Julia has long dark hair… read analysis of Julia

George is the man who cleans the Big Top Mall every night. He always brings his 10-year-old daughter, Julia, to work with him and leaves her to draw while he cleans. George is a… read analysis of George

Maya is a woman who works with gorillas at the zoo. Until he learns her name, Ivan calls her “the woman” or “the zoo lady.” She coordinates transferring all the animals at the Big Top… read analysis of Maya/The Woman

Sara is George’s wife and Julia’s mother; she never appears in person in the novel. She’s been sick for several years with a chronic illness and, according to George, doesn’t seem to be… read analysis of Sara

Helen was Mack’s wife; she only appears in the novel in Ivan’s stories of his early life, as she left Mack about 27 years before the novel begins. Ivan describes her as kind… read analysis of Helen

Snickers is a poodle who performs in shows at the Big Top Mall. She stands and jumps on Stella’s back and, once Stella dies and Ruby takes over her performances, she rides Ruby, too… read analysis of Snickers

Ivan recalls his father fondly at various points throughout the novel. Ivan’s father was everything Ivan says a silverback should be: kind, generous, and protective. Ivan remembers his father putting up with infant Ivan and… read analysis of Ivan’s Father

Ivan remembers his mother as “a patient soul.” She put up with Ivan painting on her back with mud and, as all gorilla mothers do, carried Ivan and his twin Tag everywhere. Poachers murdered her… read analysis of Ivan’s Mother

Tag was Ivan’s twin sister. She died in the crate on the way to the United States, after poachers killed Ivan’s mother and father. Tag got her name because, as an infant, she… read analysis of Tag

Kinyani is a female gorilla who lives at the zoo where Ivan eventually ends up. She and Ivan are interested in each other romantically. Ivan thinks she’s beautiful—but she’s also terrifying in that she knows… read analysis of Kinyani