Endangered | 
pickWhile visiting her mother‘s bonobo rescue center, the main character Sophie & the bonobo Otto she rescued herself become a victim of a violent civil war in #DRCongo. She grows up quickly to escape death and to protect her bonobo. This feels overwhelmingly like a dystopian YA novel; it is not for the weak at heart. Sophie, soon to be a high school freshman, is immature, impulsive, and emotional. It was hard to sympathize with her for much of ⬇️
Texreader book. However, I think the point was to demonstrate her growth, fortitude, and intelligence when put to the test. I find it highly unlikely a 14-year-old girl could survive in war-torn Congo, while caring for a young bonobo. But if you can suspend disbelief, it is an excellent story. I learned so much about bonobos, and their cruelly being subjected to illegal trade for meat & superstitious beliefs. Vast amount of trigger warnings: substantial ⬇️ (edited) 2y
Texreader amount of violence to people and animals. This book is very well-written and I can understand why it was a National Book Award finalist. I‘m now reading (listening to) book 2 in the series and I am impressed how the author has put together another original story, this time about chimpanzees in #Gabon. But it does appear it will be as violent as the first book. I forgot to mention, I cried at the end. #readingAfrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB (edited) 2y
BarbaraBB National Book Award, YA, violence, monkeys: so many things come together here that not often do so. You make me intrigued! 2y
Texreader @BarbaraBB And I cried at the end. That‘s quite an achievement—rarely does a book bring me to tears. 2y
Librarybelle It sounds like a very eye opening read 2y
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