Which Katherine Applegate novel won the 2013 Newbery Medal?

The Katherine Applegate novel that won the 2013 Newbery Medal is The One and Only Ivan.

Published in 2012, the novel is narrated by Ivan, a silverback gorilla who has spent years in a shopping-mall enclosure. Applegate drew on the real Ivan, who lived at the B&I Shopping Center in Tacoma, Washington, before moving to Zoo Atlanta in 1994. The fictional Ivan’s voice turns a story about captivity, friendship, and hope into an accessible animal perspective.

The Association for Library Service to Children announced the medal in January 2013, honoring Applegate for the book’s distinguished contribution to American children’s literature. Patricia Castelao illustrated the original edition. A common mix-up is treating the 2013 award as the publication year; the book itself appeared in 2012, and the medal recognized that publication.