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 Wonder, Refugee, The War That Saved My Life, Fish in a Tree, and Wishtree. 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 Wonder, Refugee, or The War That Saved My Life — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

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.

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Wonder790L: Shares themes of empathy, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+3 more shared lists), and a close reading level (790L vs 570L). Amazon →
Refugee800L: Shares themes of empathy, both on the North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (800L vs 570L). Amazon →
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 →
Fish in a Tree550L: Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), a close reading level (550L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Wishtree590L: Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (590L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (610L vs 570L). Amazon →
Front Desk640L: Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), a close reading level (640L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Out of My Mind700L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), a close reading level (700L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Shiloh890L: Shares themes of animal welfare, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Blended610L: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (610L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

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

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

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña · 610L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (610L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
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).
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, a close reading level (560L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows · 580L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (580L vs 570L).
Corduroy by Don Freeman · 600L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (600L vs 570L).

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.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña · 610L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (610L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon · 510L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (510L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (660L vs 570L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and a close reading level (670L vs 570L).
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).

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.

The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon · 510L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (510L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (660L vs 570L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and a close reading level (670L vs 570L).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (670L vs 570L).
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson · 440L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), a close reading level (440L vs 570L), 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.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (720L vs 570L), and the same era (2010s).
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie · 600L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (600L vs 570L).
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (810L vs 570L).
Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to The One and Only Ivan