What books are similar to The One and Only Ivan?

The 10 closest matches to The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate on ReadingList include Wishtree, Wonder, Odder, The War That Saved My Life, and Front Desk. Each is scored on shared themes (animal welfare, captivity and freedom, and friendship across species), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The One and Only Ivan reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.

How does ReadingList choose similar books?

Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Books like The One and Only Ivan

If you liked The One and Only Ivan, read Wishtree, Wonder, or Odder — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

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Looking for books like The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Middle Grade Animal Fiction · 570L · grades 3–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of animal welfare, captivity and freedom, and friendship across species. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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Wishtree590L: Is by Katherine Applegate, the same author, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (590L vs 570L). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L: Shares themes of empathy, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+4 more shared lists), and a close reading level (790L vs 570L). Amazon → books like this →
Oddergrades 3–5: Is by Katherine Applegate, the same author, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
The War That Saved My Life580L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), a close reading level (580L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Front Desk640L: Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), a close reading level (640L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Shiloh890L: Shares themes of animal welfare, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Fish in a Tree550L: Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), a close reading level (550L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (610L vs 570L). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), a close reading level (700L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Roller Girl440L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), a close reading level (440L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The One and Only Ivan for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Is by Katherine Applegate, the same author, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (470L vs 570L).
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon by Marc Tyler Nobleman · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).

Books like The One and Only Ivan for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate · grades 4–5 — Is by Katherine Applegate, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–5).
El Deafo by Cece Bell · 420L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+3 more shared lists), a close reading level (420L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (660L vs 570L).
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls · 700L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and a close reading level (700L vs 570L).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of empathy, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (800L vs 570L).

Books like The One and Only Ivan for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

El Deafo by Cece Bell · 420L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+3 more shared lists), a close reading level (420L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (660L vs 570L).
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls · 700L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and a close reading level (700L vs 570L).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of empathy, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (800L vs 570L).
New Kid by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s).

Books like The One and Only Ivan for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of empathy, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (800L vs 570L).
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (590L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+3 more shared lists) and the same era (2010s).
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+2 more shared lists) and the same era (2010s).
Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to The One and Only Ivan?: The 10 closest matches to The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate on ReadingList include Wishtree, Wonder, Odder, The War That Saved My Life, and Front Desk. Each is scored on shared themes (animal welfare, captivity and freedom, and friendship across species), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The One and Only Ivan reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?: Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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