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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 Mall to the zoo—including Ivan, Ruby, and Thelma the macaw. She’s a kind woman and uses the clicker training method with animals, which means that both Ivan and Ruby get lots of treats. Maya makes Ivan feel seen and understood when, not long after Ivan has integrated into the gorilla family at the zoo, she shows him video of Ruby playing with other elephants at the zoo—she seems to recognize that this is what Ivan wanted, and that he’d appreciate seeing that his hard work paid off.
Maya/The Woman Quotes in The One and Only Ivan
The The One and Only Ivan quotes below are all either spoken by Maya/The Woman or refer to Maya/The Woman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
change—worry
Quotes
“A good zoo,” Stella says, “is a large domain. A wild cage. A safe place to be. It has room to roam and humans who don’t hurt.” She pauses, considering her words. “A good zoo is how humans make amends.”
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leaving—mighty silverback
Quotes
I move toward the young upstart, and he retreats.
Almost as if he believes I’m the silverback I’m pretending to be.
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They stand side by side, just the way Stella and Ruby used to. Their trunks entwine. I see something new in Ruby’s eyes, and I know what it is.
It’s joy.
I watch the whole thing, and then Maya plays it again for me, and again. At last she turns off the TV and carries it out of the cage.
I put my hand to the glass. Maya looks over.
Thank you, I try to say with my eyes. Thank you.
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Maya/The Woman Quotes in The One and Only Ivan
The The One and Only Ivan quotes below are all either spoken by Maya/The Woman or refer to Maya/The Woman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
change—worry
Quotes
“A good zoo,” Stella says, “is a large domain. A wild cage. A safe place to be. It has room to roam and humans who don’t hurt.” She pauses, considering her words. “A good zoo is how humans make amends.”
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
leaving—mighty silverback
Quotes
I move toward the young upstart, and he retreats.
Almost as if he believes I’m the silverback I’m pretending to be.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
They stand side by side, just the way Stella and Ruby used to. Their trunks entwine. I see something new in Ruby’s eyes, and I know what it is.
It’s joy.
I watch the whole thing, and then Maya plays it again for me, and again. At last she turns off the TV and carries it out of the cage.
I put my hand to the glass. Maya looks over.
Thank you, I try to say with my eyes. Thank you.
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