47 pages 1 hour read

Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ruby

Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Middle Grade | Published in 2023

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Essay Topics

1.

Describe the actions of the poachers in the novel using textual evidence. Do you believe that these characters are evil? If not, what might motivate their decision to harvest ivory from wild elephants?

2.

Consider the varied humans Ruby meets throughout her life. Are humans depicted as mostly good or mostly bad, in terms of their effects on the lives of animals? Support your answer with textual evidence.

3.

How does the first-person narration of Ruby the baby elephant affect the way the story is received? Does it position readers to feel more strongly about the immorality of Animal Cruelty and Exploitation? Why or why not?