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Ape Quartet #2
Threatened
Into the jungle. Into the wild. Into harm’s way.
When he was a boy, Luc’s mother would warn him about the “mock men” living in the trees by their home—chimpanzees whose cries would fill the night.
Luc is older now, his mother gone. He lives in a house of mistreated orphans, barely getting by. Then a man calling himself Prof comes to town with a mysterious mission. When Luc tries to rob him, the man isn’t angry. Instead, he offers Luc a job.
Together, Luc and Prof head into the rough, dangerous jungle in order to study the elusive chimpanzees. There, Luc finally finds a new family—and must act when that family comes under attack.
When he was a boy, Luc’s mother would warn him about the “mock men” living in the trees by their home—chimpanzees whose cries would fill the night.
Luc is older now, his mother gone. He lives in a house of mistreated orphans, barely getting by. Then a man calling himself Prof comes to town with a mysterious mission. When Luc tries to rob him, the man isn’t angry. Instead, he offers Luc a job.
Together, Luc and Prof head into the rough, dangerous jungle in order to study the elusive chimpanzees. There, Luc finally finds a new family—and must act when that family comes under attack.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2014
About the author
Eliot Schrefer
38 books1,337 followersELIOT SCHREFER is a New York Times-bestselling author, and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. In naming him an Editor’s Choice, the New York Times has called his work “dazzling… big-hearted.” He is also the author of two novels for adults and four other novels for children and young adults. His books have been named to the NPR “best of the year” list, the ALA best fiction list for young adults, and the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best.” His work has also been selected to the Amelia Bloomer List, recognizing best feminist books for young readers, and he has been a finalist for the Walden Award and won the Green Earth Book Award and Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. He lives in New York City, where he reviews books for USAToday.
Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.
Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
November 19, 2023
I want to crawl into this book and live forever with Luc and “his” chimpanzees. Mr. Schrefer’s adoration and admiration of these astounding creatures is obvious and contagious. His complete understanding of the logistics as to why the chimpanzees must be wild animals is as evident as the tug of emotion that wishes it wasn’t so.
Threatened isn’t a glossy, glowing fantasy of strolling under canopies of trees, munching fresh fruit, arms happily swinging without a care in the world. Luc’s story is tragic and not unique. This is real. It is raw. And brutal. Harsh and stunning. This tiny tome is heart-breaking, soul wringing and world-shattering. But, most importantly, it is hopeful.
Our street-boy-turned-scientist-narrator, Luc is tough, courageous, bold and tenacious. He is sneaky, suspicious, starving, alone and abused. But kind. And emphatic. And hopeful, loving, open and intelligent. Uncannily, it seems the Professor gleans this as he sips mint tea and watches the scrawny boy wipe down tables in the seedy dive on Gabon’s main street in Africa.
The Prof is delightful, compassionate, sly, clever, brilliant and also…..sad at his core. The Egyptian Arab proudly proclaims to be embarking on an adventure to become Africa’s very own Jane Goodall. Of course, an assistant is required for his stay in the jungle. With slightly less than half of the population being under 15 years of age due to the AIDS epidemic (The Worm), the Professor hopes to employ a local boy.
Mr. Schrefer’s tale of two lost souls together in the jungle observing chimp behavior is breathtakingly beautiful. He perfectly captures Luc’s gradual, 180-degree change of heart and mind towards the chimpanzees in general, and one very captivating chimpanzee: Drummer, specifically. This author’s prose is thoughtful and thought-provoking. As if by magic, he combines infuriating, depressing facts with optimism, ambition and sweetly simple dreams.
While Threatened is indeed appropriate for Middle-Grade readers; this narrative, in Mr. Scherer’s words, transcends age. It should not be overlooked or dismissed by the Young Adult, New Adult, or even the Older-Than-Dirt Readers, like me.
This is not the time for self-limiting. Missing out would be catastrophic.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Threatened isn’t a glossy, glowing fantasy of strolling under canopies of trees, munching fresh fruit, arms happily swinging without a care in the world. Luc’s story is tragic and not unique. This is real. It is raw. And brutal. Harsh and stunning. This tiny tome is heart-breaking, soul wringing and world-shattering. But, most importantly, it is hopeful.
Our street-boy-turned-scientist-narrator, Luc is tough, courageous, bold and tenacious. He is sneaky, suspicious, starving, alone and abused. But kind. And emphatic. And hopeful, loving, open and intelligent. Uncannily, it seems the Professor gleans this as he sips mint tea and watches the scrawny boy wipe down tables in the seedy dive on Gabon’s main street in Africa.
The Prof is delightful, compassionate, sly, clever, brilliant and also…..sad at his core. The Egyptian Arab proudly proclaims to be embarking on an adventure to become Africa’s very own Jane Goodall. Of course, an assistant is required for his stay in the jungle. With slightly less than half of the population being under 15 years of age due to the AIDS epidemic (The Worm), the Professor hopes to employ a local boy.
Mr. Schrefer’s tale of two lost souls together in the jungle observing chimp behavior is breathtakingly beautiful. He perfectly captures Luc’s gradual, 180-degree change of heart and mind towards the chimpanzees in general, and one very captivating chimpanzee: Drummer, specifically. This author’s prose is thoughtful and thought-provoking. As if by magic, he combines infuriating, depressing facts with optimism, ambition and sweetly simple dreams.
While Threatened is indeed appropriate for Middle-Grade readers; this narrative, in Mr. Scherer’s words, transcends age. It should not be overlooked or dismissed by the Young Adult, New Adult, or even the Older-Than-Dirt Readers, like me.
This is not the time for self-limiting. Missing out would be catastrophic.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
February 1, 2014
As with ENDANGERED, I think this is a teen book that will resonate best with teens — I liked this one even better. Teachers/ librarians: plenty of stuff to talk about with your readers with these books.
April 17, 2014
With a title like “THREATENED” you would expect a book that is suspenseful, and then you see a cute little chimp hanging from a tree and your next thought is “awwww, poor chimp. This must be an ecological novel.” It is, in part, but it is also so much more than that. It is a novel about running from and confronting your fears, it is about making a family and a home, and it is about saving Chimpanzees.
Luc has always been afraid of the chimpanzees that lived in the jungle near his home. Their yells, shrieks, and cries would terrify him and he would huddle up with his mother who would warn him, “‘this is why you must always be home before dark, Luc. If you’re not, you’ll become one of the kivili-chimpenze.’ The Mock Men.” Though he still fears the chimpanzee, Luc has more pressing fears now, like finding enough to eat and avoiding Monsieur Tatagani’s beatings. Monsieur Tatagani is a money lender who takes advantage of indebted orphans. Soon Luc will have to deal with both fears, when a kindly “professor” trick’s Tatagani and takes Luc into the jungle with him to study the chimpanzees.
Our protagonist, Luc, is threatened with imminent harm from people and the jungle, the Chimpanzees are threatened with loss of home and extinction, and the professor is threatened by his past catching up to him. This novel lives up to its title, but underneath all the threats lies hope. How do you keep hope when you’ve lost everything, when you are beaten, and when you are afraid. By finding something new to care about, and Luc finds that in the Jungles of Gabon.
I really appreciated the realism with which the author portrays Chimps in this novel. While they are simpler than humans, they are still quite complex animals with varying personalities. Our experience with them in books, on television, and from a distance at zoos, along with that all too human face, make them seem docile and kind, but in truth Chimpanzees can be very aggressive and dangerous. That danger is in part because they are 4 times stronger than a comparable human. Knowing these things about the Chimpanzee makes this book even more suspenseful. While reading this I imagined myself sitting in a canvas tent in the middle of the jungle, hearing the chimpanzees in the treetops above, and wondering if one of these unpredictable creatures would tear through my flimsy shelter. There really are some terrifying moments in this book that are terrifying because they are based in reality.
But again this book goes beyond the fear factor and it shows you the human factor, which is really interesting in comparison to the Chimpanzees which it is set against. This is one of those books that make you consider man’s place in nature. It makes you consider man’s inability to be peaceful. But it also gives the reader hope because it reminds us that there are people out there who overcome adversity, and there are people who make a difference.
Threatened is one of those great stories that make you want to know what would have happened to the main character had the story continued. I think about it every time I share this book with someone. What if Luc had… I don’t want to give away the ending, but just know that this is a story that will stick with you.
Luc has always been afraid of the chimpanzees that lived in the jungle near his home. Their yells, shrieks, and cries would terrify him and he would huddle up with his mother who would warn him, “‘this is why you must always be home before dark, Luc. If you’re not, you’ll become one of the kivili-chimpenze.’ The Mock Men.” Though he still fears the chimpanzee, Luc has more pressing fears now, like finding enough to eat and avoiding Monsieur Tatagani’s beatings. Monsieur Tatagani is a money lender who takes advantage of indebted orphans. Soon Luc will have to deal with both fears, when a kindly “professor” trick’s Tatagani and takes Luc into the jungle with him to study the chimpanzees.
Our protagonist, Luc, is threatened with imminent harm from people and the jungle, the Chimpanzees are threatened with loss of home and extinction, and the professor is threatened by his past catching up to him. This novel lives up to its title, but underneath all the threats lies hope. How do you keep hope when you’ve lost everything, when you are beaten, and when you are afraid. By finding something new to care about, and Luc finds that in the Jungles of Gabon.
I really appreciated the realism with which the author portrays Chimps in this novel. While they are simpler than humans, they are still quite complex animals with varying personalities. Our experience with them in books, on television, and from a distance at zoos, along with that all too human face, make them seem docile and kind, but in truth Chimpanzees can be very aggressive and dangerous. That danger is in part because they are 4 times stronger than a comparable human. Knowing these things about the Chimpanzee makes this book even more suspenseful. While reading this I imagined myself sitting in a canvas tent in the middle of the jungle, hearing the chimpanzees in the treetops above, and wondering if one of these unpredictable creatures would tear through my flimsy shelter. There really are some terrifying moments in this book that are terrifying because they are based in reality.
But again this book goes beyond the fear factor and it shows you the human factor, which is really interesting in comparison to the Chimpanzees which it is set against. This is one of those books that make you consider man’s place in nature. It makes you consider man’s inability to be peaceful. But it also gives the reader hope because it reminds us that there are people out there who overcome adversity, and there are people who make a difference.
Threatened is one of those great stories that make you want to know what would have happened to the main character had the story continued. I think about it every time I share this book with someone. What if Luc had… I don’t want to give away the ending, but just know that this is a story that will stick with you.
March 19, 2014
‘Threatened by Eliot Schrefer.’
Read March 15th 2014
I had no idea that this would be a book aimed at young people. To me it was a book aimed directly at myself – all of 70 years old! As a retired teacher, I felt that this book would make a wonderful discussion for High School or Middle School Students. There is so much going on. Basically it is a survivalism story.It begins in a poor town in Gabon; the protagonist is Luc, an AIDS orphan making a living on the streets and being exploited by a real Fagan type character called Monsieur Tatagani. This same person makes a living by taking on the debts of others and then pretending to look after them with very poor room and board.; basically they are beggars and have to hand in their earnings each day. When a Professor and research person turns up in town, Luc steals his case but repents. He does not give it to Tatagani. In return the Prof hires Luc for his adventure upriver to study chimpanzees. The Prof explains his study by saying he is an African Jane Goodall working for National Geographic. Luc, very much on the look out for a chance to steal, whatever he can, is a reluctant companion.
In this book you experience the jungle through Luc’s eyes. It is a gripping tale of jungle adventure and I was reminded of Mowglai. The reader grows with Luc as they witness human predators and the destruction of chimpanzee babies, mothers and males. Luc forges a friendship/relationship with a particularly dangerous chimpanzee – the animal Luc frees from a trap. There are dangers in the jungle -- animal and human, that they don’t anticipate. The setting is exquisite and feels like a character on its own. The imagery generated by the writing is strong; the descriptions are rich and vivid; the jungle, the muddy river, the noises and the hooting wildlife. I found the story became more interesting in the last one-third of the book.
I loved reading this book.I highly recommends it for Middle school and High School. There is a magnificent ‘Author’s note’ with so much information and further reading about chimpanzees, Jane Goodall’s work and the Aids crisis in Africa. Thank you to Net galley for allowing me to read the advance copy. I would recommend this book for children from ages 12 upwards.
I give these book 5 stars.
Read March 15th 2014
I had no idea that this would be a book aimed at young people. To me it was a book aimed directly at myself – all of 70 years old! As a retired teacher, I felt that this book would make a wonderful discussion for High School or Middle School Students. There is so much going on. Basically it is a survivalism story.It begins in a poor town in Gabon; the protagonist is Luc, an AIDS orphan making a living on the streets and being exploited by a real Fagan type character called Monsieur Tatagani. This same person makes a living by taking on the debts of others and then pretending to look after them with very poor room and board.; basically they are beggars and have to hand in their earnings each day. When a Professor and research person turns up in town, Luc steals his case but repents. He does not give it to Tatagani. In return the Prof hires Luc for his adventure upriver to study chimpanzees. The Prof explains his study by saying he is an African Jane Goodall working for National Geographic. Luc, very much on the look out for a chance to steal, whatever he can, is a reluctant companion.
In this book you experience the jungle through Luc’s eyes. It is a gripping tale of jungle adventure and I was reminded of Mowglai. The reader grows with Luc as they witness human predators and the destruction of chimpanzee babies, mothers and males. Luc forges a friendship/relationship with a particularly dangerous chimpanzee – the animal Luc frees from a trap. There are dangers in the jungle -- animal and human, that they don’t anticipate. The setting is exquisite and feels like a character on its own. The imagery generated by the writing is strong; the descriptions are rich and vivid; the jungle, the muddy river, the noises and the hooting wildlife. I found the story became more interesting in the last one-third of the book.
I loved reading this book.I highly recommends it for Middle school and High School. There is a magnificent ‘Author’s note’ with so much information and further reading about chimpanzees, Jane Goodall’s work and the Aids crisis in Africa. Thank you to Net galley for allowing me to read the advance copy. I would recommend this book for children from ages 12 upwards.
I give these book 5 stars.
March 24, 2014
Schrefer is an incredibly talented writer; his settings feel authentic in that he makes far away places seem very close to home. I develop a strong kinship with his characters---animal or human.
I expected Threatened to be very similar to Endangered, but I was wrong. Endangered is about an American girl visiting her mother in a Congolese bonobo sanctuary when a civil war breaks out. Threatened, on the other hand, is about an orphan boy from Gabon who goes into the wild with a professor in order to learn more about chimpanzees. But these books are more than their settings and the animals. They teach us about what it means to be human. Threatened, in particular, made me think about humanity's evolution and the difficulties that come from living in the wild. I couldn't help but think about how far humanity has strayed from nature. Even when Luc feels that he wants for nothing, he is ashamed that he still holds material desires. This book makes readers think critically, and it would be a great book to use in the classroom.
I expected Threatened to be very similar to Endangered, but I was wrong. Endangered is about an American girl visiting her mother in a Congolese bonobo sanctuary when a civil war breaks out. Threatened, on the other hand, is about an orphan boy from Gabon who goes into the wild with a professor in order to learn more about chimpanzees. But these books are more than their settings and the animals. They teach us about what it means to be human. Threatened, in particular, made me think about humanity's evolution and the difficulties that come from living in the wild. I couldn't help but think about how far humanity has strayed from nature. Even when Luc feels that he wants for nothing, he is ashamed that he still holds material desires. This book makes readers think critically, and it would be a great book to use in the classroom.
August 26, 2015
I really felt plunged into a different world, not only of chimpanzees in the jungle, but of being an AIDs orphan in the West African country of Gabon. Some initial details were horrifying--child thieves being threatened with having their hands cut off. I was glad that most of the story deals not with human brutalities but with the matter-of-fact realities of nonhuman nature--how leopards kill chimps, how chimps kill each other, how one animal eats another. The world of chimpanzees is also full of family attachments and friendships and complex relationships, and this story is really about that--a boy among chimpanzees. It made sense to me. The details felt real. I was taken there.
April 7, 2015
Fantastic story of survival, will, and empathy. I loved Endangered, but I think I liked this one even more! I found my next 6th grade read aloud.
March 7, 2023
I loved this story, though at first I was disappointed not to meet with the bonobos again, but that quickly subsided. I will say that even though Luc and Prof's relationship was one I was rooting to grow more fatherly, I am proud of the progress Luc was able to make on his own.
One criticism I have, which I'm not sure if it's my experience alone, is it was a hard book to finish. That's not to say I didn't, it may just have been a "reading rut" of sorts, but it did take me significantly longer to finish this novel than Endangered.
I would love to hear more about Luc's life inside-though I doubt that would be released any time soon- and how much he's matured. If you enjoy books of adventurous boys, interesting characters, and wildlife, you will most definitely love this book! Solid 4/5
One criticism I have, which I'm not sure if it's my experience alone, is it was a hard book to finish. That's not to say I didn't, it may just have been a "reading rut" of sorts, but it did take me significantly longer to finish this novel than Endangered.
I would love to hear more about Luc's life inside-though I doubt that would be released any time soon- and how much he's matured. If you enjoy books of adventurous boys, interesting characters, and wildlife, you will most definitely love this book! Solid 4/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2019
I will always love the setting of this series for taking place in jungles and forests. Reading about how the characters scavenge for anything edible and sometimes even following the chimpanzees or bonobos was extremely interesting. Although the plotline of the first two books was all about protecting endangered types of apes, I still liked them a lot as Eliot Schrefer never spares details and always makes sure the reader knows exactly what they are seeing. I will probably also read the last to books of the series because the descriptiveness is just so juicy.
October 29, 2019
Pure. Honest. Fresh.
The nuanced characters of this book-man and ape-are beautifully formed. They are relatable and lovable and reveal the truth about chimpanzees that most of us are clueless about. The perspective of the protagonist is a good choice, for the character is learning like the reader. Mango is the sweetest thing ever, and even Drummer, who we start out hating for his violent nature, reveals himself to be kind too.
I never really thought of chimpanzees as anything more than animals. Of course, I care about animals too, but chimpanzees are more. They have emotions, families, hopes... And this book, despite being a riveting story and not a documentary, portrays that clearly.
The nuanced characters of this book-man and ape-are beautifully formed. They are relatable and lovable and reveal the truth about chimpanzees that most of us are clueless about. The perspective of the protagonist is a good choice, for the character is learning like the reader. Mango is the sweetest thing ever, and even Drummer, who we start out hating for his violent nature, reveals himself to be kind too.
I never really thought of chimpanzees as anything more than animals. Of course, I care about animals too, but chimpanzees are more. They have emotions, families, hopes... And this book, despite being a riveting story and not a documentary, portrays that clearly.
November 8, 2019
Part of Schrefer's Ape Quartet & 2014 National Book Award nominee - the story of an African boy living among chimpanzees - an engrossing and fascinating adventure that I loved! And it inspired me to read some of Jane Goodall's work. Read my full review and listen to a sample of the wonderful audio book:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2019/...
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2019/...
February 17, 2022
I think objectively this is an amazing book; the realism of the chimps and diseases and relationships were all real and they were well written. I just had a hard time getting into this one and my enjoyment level sort of suffered. I do think the book got better as it went on, which could be because I switched to the audiobook, but overall this didn't make me feel much from inside and im a deep animal-lover so that says a lot.
February 2, 2023
i literally got 50% done and i just couldn’t finish it. i couldn’t really get into i and i found the plot to be boring. i wish i could give it a chance but i just can’t 💔
-scout
-scout
September 30, 2016
Threatened is by far one of the favorite books ever! As it turns enemies to friends, Eliot Schrefer makes you want to sit on the edge of your chair and read more. When he adds great detail and paints a picture in your head, it encourages you to stay tuned to what happens next.
In the book Threatened by Eliot Schrefer, a boy named Luc is forced to live in a house of mistreated orphans after his mother and sister die, and his father leaves them. When Luc brings home an occasional coin, it goes to his mom's debt. Once, when he sees to man with a briefcase, Luc instantly believes it is money that's inside. Although he is ready to grab the briefcase out of the man's hands, he is confused because in movies, handsome men with black suits on are usually carrying briefcases, the man wasn't very handsome nor was he in a black suit. When Luc has his chance, he goes in and tries to take the briefcase. Instead of being angry, the man named Prof, isn't mad at Luc but allows him to go with him to go into the wilderness to study chimpanzees, where he meets mock men such as Omar, Drummer, and Mango.
If you had to pick any book about primates and human relationships, Threatened is the book for you. When you read this book, you'll feel like you're actually in the wilderness with the chimpanzees.
"Humans are animals,too,you know."
-Eliot Schrefer, Threatened
In the book Threatened by Eliot Schrefer, a boy named Luc is forced to live in a house of mistreated orphans after his mother and sister die, and his father leaves them. When Luc brings home an occasional coin, it goes to his mom's debt. Once, when he sees to man with a briefcase, Luc instantly believes it is money that's inside. Although he is ready to grab the briefcase out of the man's hands, he is confused because in movies, handsome men with black suits on are usually carrying briefcases, the man wasn't very handsome nor was he in a black suit. When Luc has his chance, he goes in and tries to take the briefcase. Instead of being angry, the man named Prof, isn't mad at Luc but allows him to go with him to go into the wilderness to study chimpanzees, where he meets mock men such as Omar, Drummer, and Mango.
If you had to pick any book about primates and human relationships, Threatened is the book for you. When you read this book, you'll feel like you're actually in the wilderness with the chimpanzees.
"Humans are animals,too,you know."
-Eliot Schrefer, Threatened
July 12, 2014
"I shut the book, smoothed my hands over the cover, and toyed with the spirals at the edge. I wanted to live inside that book. Which is how I knew I was staying."
When beginning and ending this book, this is how I felt and reacted:
At first, I decided to read this book because Eliot's debut, Endangered, was pretty good. It was well-written and captivating for my liking. He always deals with a concept that is unique and fresh. I dove right into it, considerably enjoying it through the middle. But by the end, I was steering myself away from it, especially because of the boring-predictable plot. But then, the ending was fairly good, so that boosted up my happiness, just a little.
This is about Luc, who has always been warned about the Inside. The "mock-men" have always been classified as extremely dangerous. Now, Luc is all alone, and his mother's gone. Then, a mysterious man named Prof comes into town where Luc "works," and offers Luc a job after he almost got robbed. They both head into the Inside to study the dangerous chimpanzees. Luc then realizes the truth behind everything, and that includes the chimpanzees themselves. Can you fight for creatures that you love?
I seriously love Eliot Schrefer for his love of animals, specifically chimpanzees. I love monkeys, so dearly much. They're one of my favourite animals, and I seriously open my heart out to them. I have so much respect for people who are fighting anxiously to save endangered and beautiful species such as the chimps. Through reading this book, you can really see the love that this author has for these animals. He puts his heart and soul into it, and all of his thoughts about the surrounding world who may think differently.
The plot of this book wasn't the most enjoyable. I can very much see that Eliot's main idea here is to be aware and save the chimps. But he does it uniquely and that's great. It certainly had its dull moments where not much was happening and everything was all bread-and-butter like. So in that aspect, the book was a downer for me.
But I really opened my heart out to the characters. They were great. Luc was all rebellious and kick-ass and I liked him for that, but with the heart of his, it was even better. By the end, he had a great love for these primate relatives of ours, and that's just gorgeous to read about. I had my arms open to him and all of the monkeys.
My favourite character would have to be Prof. Despite everything that had happened, he was a remarkable person. Because of him, Luc got an opportunity to live his life in ways that he could never imagine of. He was a wise, unique person and believable. The feelings he showed were not fictional.
By the end, I was pleased with this book, but not as pleased as I was with Eliot's first book. The cover isn't attractive either. (A simplistic monkey cover, again?) It was an okay read, but nothing too special about it. The meaning is really beautiful, though.
When beginning and ending this book, this is how I felt and reacted:
At first, I decided to read this book because Eliot's debut, Endangered, was pretty good. It was well-written and captivating for my liking. He always deals with a concept that is unique and fresh. I dove right into it, considerably enjoying it through the middle. But by the end, I was steering myself away from it, especially because of the boring-predictable plot. But then, the ending was fairly good, so that boosted up my happiness, just a little.
This is about Luc, who has always been warned about the Inside. The "mock-men" have always been classified as extremely dangerous. Now, Luc is all alone, and his mother's gone. Then, a mysterious man named Prof comes into town where Luc "works," and offers Luc a job after he almost got robbed. They both head into the Inside to study the dangerous chimpanzees. Luc then realizes the truth behind everything, and that includes the chimpanzees themselves. Can you fight for creatures that you love?
I seriously love Eliot Schrefer for his love of animals, specifically chimpanzees. I love monkeys, so dearly much. They're one of my favourite animals, and I seriously open my heart out to them. I have so much respect for people who are fighting anxiously to save endangered and beautiful species such as the chimps. Through reading this book, you can really see the love that this author has for these animals. He puts his heart and soul into it, and all of his thoughts about the surrounding world who may think differently.
The plot of this book wasn't the most enjoyable. I can very much see that Eliot's main idea here is to be aware and save the chimps. But he does it uniquely and that's great. It certainly had its dull moments where not much was happening and everything was all bread-and-butter like. So in that aspect, the book was a downer for me.
But I really opened my heart out to the characters. They were great. Luc was all rebellious and kick-ass and I liked him for that, but with the heart of his, it was even better. By the end, he had a great love for these primate relatives of ours, and that's just gorgeous to read about. I had my arms open to him and all of the monkeys.
My favourite character would have to be Prof. Despite everything that had happened, he was a remarkable person. Because of him, Luc got an opportunity to live his life in ways that he could never imagine of. He was a wise, unique person and believable. The feelings he showed were not fictional.
By the end, I was pleased with this book, but not as pleased as I was with Eliot's first book. The cover isn't attractive either. (A simplistic monkey cover, again?) It was an okay read, but nothing too special about it. The meaning is really beautiful, though.
July 14, 2014
"I was finally making a choice of my own, and it made me feel a contentment that lived right next to terror." Luc is an AIDS orphan in Gabon who has known way too much loss and exploitation in his young life. When an Egyptian researcher offers him a job as his assistant, and the chance to escape the man who has enslaved him since his mother's death, Luc jumps at the chance even though he has only heard horror stories about the chimps who live in the dense Gabonese jungle. Eliot Schrefer's extensive research into the geography, chimp behavior, and poaching problems of the West African jungles make Threatened a compelling read. As they follow Luc's adventures with the chimps, reader's will not see chimps as cute little human-like creatures, but they will share Luc's affection and respect for them. They will also share Luc's determination to protect them no matter what. Threatened is also a story of surviving loss. Something Luc shares with some of the chimps. Even readers who are not particularly interested in chimps or endangered species will love Threatened.
August 20, 2015
As in Endangered, Schrefer has created another fascinating, primate-centric novel in a world that would envelope me into its humid, exotic and wild terrain within seconds of opening its pages. I still do not like chimps quite as much as bonobos, but the ones Luc befriends here are quite charming. And this location is even more remote: you really are one with the chimpanzees, as for great sections of the book there are only one or two humans present, with no trace of civilization Inside.
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)
January 6, 2015
Wow - what an engrossing book! Schrefer's story about a teenage AIDS orphan in Gabon who befriends a family of chimpanzees while living in the jungle to study them is exciting, fascinating, disturbing and heart-warming all at the same time. Excellent setting and character development, plus a host of thorny issues to discuss make this a good choice for book groups/clubs. Threatened had a strong impact on me, and I can definitely see why it was a 2014 National Book Award finalist (http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2014_y...). I'm putting the author's first book (Endangered) on my "to-read" list for sure...
April 21, 2014
This was an eye opening book. I have to admit I still don't love chimps as much as I love bonobos (after reading his last book), but I have a much bigger appreciation of them now. The two are our closest genetic relatives - which is why he has chosen to study them and write about them.
Schrefer's author's note is also incredibly important: "There are over fifty million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa: over 300 for each of the remaining wild chimpanzees. Outlooks for both of those populations are grim. Forty percent of Gabon's people are under fifteen. In large part because AIDS decimated a generation of adults." (Rebekah)
Schrefer's author's note is also incredibly important: "There are over fifty million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa: over 300 for each of the remaining wild chimpanzees. Outlooks for both of those populations are grim. Forty percent of Gabon's people are under fifteen. In large part because AIDS decimated a generation of adults." (Rebekah)
April 1, 2015
Luc lives in Gabon with other young AIDS orphans boys under the roof of Monsieur Tatagani, an unscrupulous , exploitive man. Professor Abdul Mohammad meets Luc and hires him as his assistant, taking him deep into the jungle to study chimpanzees. Luc discovers he has an interest and aptitude for the work, thrives under Prof’s tutelage. When Prof disappears under mysterious circumstances, Luc must survive on his own. It soon becomes clear to Luc that the human species are far less civilized than the chimps. A powerful, engrossing, and fascinating follow up to Endangered.
September 10, 2015
On my best of 2014 list. Schrefer, who clearly did his research, delivers a strong wildlife conservation message while acknowledging human needs in developing countries. This story is educational but entertaining and would appeal to animal lovers and especially to boys who like adventure stories and don't mind gore.
Full review on my blog: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2014/12...
Full review on my blog: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2014/12...
February 10, 2015
This is now my favorite book ever! I love the story so much and love the character even more. I earned a lot while reading this, but it was not boring to learn. I love and have always loved monkey so much. When I read this book I felt like I was standing beside Luc the whole time, so it was actually fun to read this book.
January 10, 2014
Love, love, love this book!
March 17, 2015
I am having trouble fitting into this book. A good number of people like it but this one isn't doing it for me.
October 21, 2022
Threatened, By: Eliot Shrefer
Rating: 4.5 stars
"Threatened" by Eliot Schrefer is an outstanding, fulfilling, and overall great novel. In this book the characters are established very well, from Luc, a desperate, sad, and regretful boy whose parents were both killed, and, in the process, he was left with an infant sister that he could not care for, to the Professor, a wise, intelligent, and charismatic man with a giant ego. You can tell that the writer knew what he was doing because even though both characters are vastly different, they both tie together nicely. The book's plot is that the main character, Luc, is sad, regretful, and afraid. He is just a 13-year-old boy with no parents, no relatives, who lives in a house chock full of neglected orphans because his parents had died. The orphans practically do slave work for a horrible and abusive man named Tatagani who exploits and uses them for money. one day, Luc is working at Tatagani's bar, and a very official and established looking man carrying a locked briefcase with a pet monkey walks in. Luc is suspicious of the man and eventually gains his trust so that he can steal his briefcase. It is extremely rewarding, in the end because inside is twenty-five thousand American dollars. in the end the professor is remorseful and pays for Luc's freedom from tatagani so that they can go study chimpanzees in the jungle. Since the story is so well made it all webs together and leaves you wanting to read more. My example is that when Luc is in the jungle with Omar; the professor's old pet monkey, Mango, a baby chimpanzee with no mother, and Drummer, a strong chimpanzee who is mean, and they find the pack of chimpanzees in a clearing, they start to bond with the pack, even Luc, who is Human.
As well as the good character development and story that leaves you thirsty for more, Luc is smart and acts accordingly to bad situations. For example, when the professor gets taken at night, Luc tries to find him, but he knows that if he goes too far from camp, he will lose his way and will die so he must give up, unlike most other movie and story characters who get themselves tied into dangerous situations just to save people that mean something to them and end up dying even though it could have easily been avoided. Although most of the book made me want to read it in one sitting there are some things that I did not like especially with professor because the weakest part of the story is the role of Professor. His dubious actions as a wildlife expert and the mystery shrouding his personal life are not explained at all. He is put into the story to rescue Luc from Tatagani’s clutches in Luc’s hometown and inserting him to the secluded forests of Gabon. Even his work in watching the chimps looks suspicious, he is the expert, and yet we learn nothing about his studies from him.
I give this book four and a half stars because of how much I enjoyed reading about the storyline, its characters and because I actually learned things about primates that I had no idea about until now. I also did not give this book full marks because of the how bad I felt while reading it; I felt plunged into a completely different place than where was, not only in the jungle of Gabon with wild chimpanzees but of being an orphan with AIDs. Some of the book's first details were horrific, for example; child thieves being threatened with having their hands cut off. I do not think that this book should be read by kids my age if I am being honest, because even my mom thought it was bad and she is in the medical field.
Ultimately, "Threatened" by Eliot Schrefer was an outstanding, fulfilling, and overall great novel. In this book the characters are established very well, I would recommend this book to people over my age because of its remarkably interesting and compelling story. I read it in three days because the story kept me yearning for more and I was sad to see that the Taos High School library did not have the sequel. It had a really messed up story so I do not believe the book should be read by younger audiences.
Rating: 4.5 stars
"Threatened" by Eliot Schrefer is an outstanding, fulfilling, and overall great novel. In this book the characters are established very well, from Luc, a desperate, sad, and regretful boy whose parents were both killed, and, in the process, he was left with an infant sister that he could not care for, to the Professor, a wise, intelligent, and charismatic man with a giant ego. You can tell that the writer knew what he was doing because even though both characters are vastly different, they both tie together nicely. The book's plot is that the main character, Luc, is sad, regretful, and afraid. He is just a 13-year-old boy with no parents, no relatives, who lives in a house chock full of neglected orphans because his parents had died. The orphans practically do slave work for a horrible and abusive man named Tatagani who exploits and uses them for money. one day, Luc is working at Tatagani's bar, and a very official and established looking man carrying a locked briefcase with a pet monkey walks in. Luc is suspicious of the man and eventually gains his trust so that he can steal his briefcase. It is extremely rewarding, in the end because inside is twenty-five thousand American dollars. in the end the professor is remorseful and pays for Luc's freedom from tatagani so that they can go study chimpanzees in the jungle. Since the story is so well made it all webs together and leaves you wanting to read more. My example is that when Luc is in the jungle with Omar; the professor's old pet monkey, Mango, a baby chimpanzee with no mother, and Drummer, a strong chimpanzee who is mean, and they find the pack of chimpanzees in a clearing, they start to bond with the pack, even Luc, who is Human.
As well as the good character development and story that leaves you thirsty for more, Luc is smart and acts accordingly to bad situations. For example, when the professor gets taken at night, Luc tries to find him, but he knows that if he goes too far from camp, he will lose his way and will die so he must give up, unlike most other movie and story characters who get themselves tied into dangerous situations just to save people that mean something to them and end up dying even though it could have easily been avoided. Although most of the book made me want to read it in one sitting there are some things that I did not like especially with professor because the weakest part of the story is the role of Professor. His dubious actions as a wildlife expert and the mystery shrouding his personal life are not explained at all. He is put into the story to rescue Luc from Tatagani’s clutches in Luc’s hometown and inserting him to the secluded forests of Gabon. Even his work in watching the chimps looks suspicious, he is the expert, and yet we learn nothing about his studies from him.
I give this book four and a half stars because of how much I enjoyed reading about the storyline, its characters and because I actually learned things about primates that I had no idea about until now. I also did not give this book full marks because of the how bad I felt while reading it; I felt plunged into a completely different place than where was, not only in the jungle of Gabon with wild chimpanzees but of being an orphan with AIDs. Some of the book's first details were horrific, for example; child thieves being threatened with having their hands cut off. I do not think that this book should be read by kids my age if I am being honest, because even my mom thought it was bad and she is in the medical field.
Ultimately, "Threatened" by Eliot Schrefer was an outstanding, fulfilling, and overall great novel. In this book the characters are established very well, I would recommend this book to people over my age because of its remarkably interesting and compelling story. I read it in three days because the story kept me yearning for more and I was sad to see that the Taos High School library did not have the sequel. It had a really messed up story so I do not believe the book should be read by younger audiences.
May 18, 2018
Threatened by Eliot Schrefer follows an aids orphan deep in the slums of Gabon Africa, named Luc, who has been sold into indentured servitude in order to pay off his he now deceased mother's hospital bills. He meets and befriends “prof” an Arabian professor who is an acclaimed researcher for national geographic. Prof uses counterfeit cash to free Luc from his debt, and take himself Luc and his pet chimpanzee deep into the jungles of Gabon to study chimpanzee behavior and how human activity has affected the struggling species
My favorite part of the novel was reading the development of Luc and his character as he spends more time in the Jungle of Gabon. Seeing the viewpoints of a character raised in a society that pressed caution around “mock men” actually be exposed to them for an extended period of time was very inspiring and interesting and you truly do feel an attachment to the characters.
There are two ways a reader can interpret survival in reading the novel,
firstly and more obvious there is the quite literal sense that is apparent as Prof and Luc are in an environment surrounded by dangerous plants and animals and any wrong action could lead to death
Secondly, a more mental aspect of survival is apparent in Lucs time spent in the jungle, many chapters are devoted to him reminiscing on his past life and former family that he lost, and he combats these worries while in the jungle attempting not to go delusional.
Schrefer does an amazing job in developing the relationship between the chimps and humans. Contrary to the stigma portrayed in the introductory passages of the novel, Schrefer illustrates the species as complex creatures all with their own individual personality thus the reader is able to distinguish chimps based off of their behaviors. This was an aspect of the novel I thoroughly enjoyed as it allowed for the world built in the jungles to seem authentic and real.
Overall Sherefer crafts an incredible story for those who enjoy readings on will, survival, and family. An overall fantastic novel that leaves the reader satisfied and breath taken.
My favorite part of the novel was reading the development of Luc and his character as he spends more time in the Jungle of Gabon. Seeing the viewpoints of a character raised in a society that pressed caution around “mock men” actually be exposed to them for an extended period of time was very inspiring and interesting and you truly do feel an attachment to the characters.
There are two ways a reader can interpret survival in reading the novel,
firstly and more obvious there is the quite literal sense that is apparent as Prof and Luc are in an environment surrounded by dangerous plants and animals and any wrong action could lead to death
Secondly, a more mental aspect of survival is apparent in Lucs time spent in the jungle, many chapters are devoted to him reminiscing on his past life and former family that he lost, and he combats these worries while in the jungle attempting not to go delusional.
Schrefer does an amazing job in developing the relationship between the chimps and humans. Contrary to the stigma portrayed in the introductory passages of the novel, Schrefer illustrates the species as complex creatures all with their own individual personality thus the reader is able to distinguish chimps based off of their behaviors. This was an aspect of the novel I thoroughly enjoyed as it allowed for the world built in the jungles to seem authentic and real.
Overall Sherefer crafts an incredible story for those who enjoy readings on will, survival, and family. An overall fantastic novel that leaves the reader satisfied and breath taken.
March 1, 2014
While I wish this cover was something similar to ENDANGERED's gorgeous hardcover (seen here), I am very much looking forward to THREATENED. I was quite fond of ENDANGERED, a different and unique YA book that featured one of my favorite things: animals. I'd recommend adding ENDANGERED and THREATENED to your TBR lists.
*******
This review (and others) can be seen in all its proper formatting glory--and with quotes!--on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
I'm spending too long thinking of a rating and it's driving me crazy, but it's at least 4 stars.
As was the case with Endangered (the first in a quartet of great ape books, with each focusing on a different one: bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas), Threatened is not your average YA novel. It's a fine, well-written piece of realistic fiction that reads almost like a compelling non-fiction novel, and it has a purpose: to raise awareness of something that's very important.
Threatened tells the story of Luc, an orphaned teenager (I think that's his age) living day to day in Franceville, a city in Gabon (a small country in Africa, I believe). He spends his days trying to make money to pay off his debut so he can gain freedom from the orphan-taker-inner, Monsieur Tatagani. After Luc's mother died of the worm, he was put in Tatagani's care (a wretched man, by the way) until he could pay off his mother's hospital bill. But after his little sister dies, too, Luc finds himself without a family and alone in the world, except for the fellow orphans in Tatagani's care.
But things change when Luc tries to steal from Prof, a professor who's going Inside (the jungle is Inside, and what's not is Outside) to study chimpanzees, or what Luc calls mock men. Luc ends up going with Prof into the jungle, and it's there that he stumbles into more than just the wilderness: chimpanzees, a different kind of life, and a family.
I don't know if you know this about me, but I have MEGA LOVE for animals. Like, if I had to choose between saving an animal or a human in a fire, I'd probably choose the animal. (Okay, not really. Maybe.) So I was immediately drawn to this set of Schrefer's books because they had a large focus on animals, and not just any animals, but primates! Or, more specifically, apes! (THEY ARE NOT MONKEYS, PEOPLE.) And I love primates, even more so after taking a Primatology class. So these books, they SPEAK to me.
And Threatened did something very special. I was reading these scenes where Luc observes and interacts with the chimpanzees, and I thought to myself, "Gosh, I WANT that. I want it BAD." Once upon a time, my college plan was to major in Zoology. (Though you don't need that degree to work in a zoo, but that's a different story.) Then it was to major in Creative Writing and minor in Zoology. Then I dropped the Zoology bit. And as I read this book, I wondered why on earth I dropped Zoology. When I took some Anthropology classes to receive my Associate's Degree, I LOVED them. And I decided I wasn't going to be satisfied if I didn't take those kinds of classes again, so now I've put Zoology back on the table. And it's mainly because of this book.
Now, back to the book itself. (Sorry for the side note! But that's kind of the point: this book makes you feel something toward these magnificent creatures, and it makes you more aware of the horrors that are done to them.) Threatened has a wonderful cast of characters, most of which are not human. (Though chimpanzees do share 98.7 percent of our DNA.) There's Luc, the somewhat troubled POV, and one I did not mind being in the head of. As was mentioned earlier, he goes on an adventure with Prof, an interesting man who I really liked. I also thought that the relationship--not quite father/son, but a good friendly one--between the two was great. Prof, however, did not start off on his own. He has his own sidekick, a pet vervet named Omar. (Now, THAT is a monkey.) I know primates aren't meant to be pets, but my gosh, I loved Omar and I WANT ONE. There's also a handful of chimpanzees, with two main ones: Drummer and his little sister Mango. I loved them both so much, and they each played such important parts in this story. (And I'm totally jealous of the interactions Luc had with them.)
Part of what makes Threatened so great is the fact that you can feel for these characters and they all have such wonderful personalities and they're all a prominent part of the story...yet most of them aren't human. And there's something that's just so AWESOME about reading a book where you observe these characters and want to see them on every page and you root for them yet they're not your average character--they don't even speak a human language! (But they do speak in their own way.)
I don't want to say too much about this book because I want you to experience it for yourself. But come on, how could you NOT want to read it?! It has CHIMPANZEES! It takes place in the JUNGLE! There's a pet vervet! Threatened will give you so much: adventure, fear, smiles, tears, love, and more. The book itself has love and romance, but not the kind you're thinking: it's the romance of friendship and family. Threatened tells the story of a boy and some primates in the jungle, but it also teaches. (Bonus: There's an author's note explaining some parts of the story, and it includes some books I have read and shows I'd recommend myself: In the Shadow of Man, Next of Kin, Escape to Chimp Eden.)
I'll be honest: this book did start out a little slow for me, and I'm not sure if I love it like I did Endangered. However, when I started this book, it wasn't something I was in the mood for. Threatened isn't some fluffy book: it's more serious, but it's written in a way that works. And once I got into it, I started to fall for so many of the characters. At one point, I was actually AFRAID to finish this book because I feared it would break my heart. (By the way, that ending, MY HEART.) I just hope that you give this book a chance, even if it isn't something you'd usually read. Please remember that animals are people, too--they live, they have family and feelings, etc. And this book helps to show just how human some animals really are. Also, I'm SUPER EXCITED to see what Eliot Schrefer does with the next two books in this quartet--orangutans, then gorillas! Now, I could talk about this book and animals for forever, but I need to figure out how I can live in the wild with primates...
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of the book.
*******
This review (and others) can be seen in all its proper formatting glory--and with quotes!--on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
I'm spending too long thinking of a rating and it's driving me crazy, but it's at least 4 stars.
As was the case with Endangered (the first in a quartet of great ape books, with each focusing on a different one: bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas), Threatened is not your average YA novel. It's a fine, well-written piece of realistic fiction that reads almost like a compelling non-fiction novel, and it has a purpose: to raise awareness of something that's very important.
Threatened tells the story of Luc, an orphaned teenager (I think that's his age) living day to day in Franceville, a city in Gabon (a small country in Africa, I believe). He spends his days trying to make money to pay off his debut so he can gain freedom from the orphan-taker-inner, Monsieur Tatagani. After Luc's mother died of the worm, he was put in Tatagani's care (a wretched man, by the way) until he could pay off his mother's hospital bill. But after his little sister dies, too, Luc finds himself without a family and alone in the world, except for the fellow orphans in Tatagani's care.
But things change when Luc tries to steal from Prof, a professor who's going Inside (the jungle is Inside, and what's not is Outside) to study chimpanzees, or what Luc calls mock men. Luc ends up going with Prof into the jungle, and it's there that he stumbles into more than just the wilderness: chimpanzees, a different kind of life, and a family.
I don't know if you know this about me, but I have MEGA LOVE for animals. Like, if I had to choose between saving an animal or a human in a fire, I'd probably choose the animal. (Okay, not really. Maybe.) So I was immediately drawn to this set of Schrefer's books because they had a large focus on animals, and not just any animals, but primates! Or, more specifically, apes! (THEY ARE NOT MONKEYS, PEOPLE.) And I love primates, even more so after taking a Primatology class. So these books, they SPEAK to me.
And Threatened did something very special. I was reading these scenes where Luc observes and interacts with the chimpanzees, and I thought to myself, "Gosh, I WANT that. I want it BAD." Once upon a time, my college plan was to major in Zoology. (Though you don't need that degree to work in a zoo, but that's a different story.) Then it was to major in Creative Writing and minor in Zoology. Then I dropped the Zoology bit. And as I read this book, I wondered why on earth I dropped Zoology. When I took some Anthropology classes to receive my Associate's Degree, I LOVED them. And I decided I wasn't going to be satisfied if I didn't take those kinds of classes again, so now I've put Zoology back on the table. And it's mainly because of this book.
Now, back to the book itself. (Sorry for the side note! But that's kind of the point: this book makes you feel something toward these magnificent creatures, and it makes you more aware of the horrors that are done to them.) Threatened has a wonderful cast of characters, most of which are not human. (Though chimpanzees do share 98.7 percent of our DNA.) There's Luc, the somewhat troubled POV, and one I did not mind being in the head of. As was mentioned earlier, he goes on an adventure with Prof, an interesting man who I really liked. I also thought that the relationship--not quite father/son, but a good friendly one--between the two was great. Prof, however, did not start off on his own. He has his own sidekick, a pet vervet named Omar. (Now, THAT is a monkey.) I know primates aren't meant to be pets, but my gosh, I loved Omar and I WANT ONE. There's also a handful of chimpanzees, with two main ones: Drummer and his little sister Mango. I loved them both so much, and they each played such important parts in this story. (And I'm totally jealous of the interactions Luc had with them.)
Part of what makes Threatened so great is the fact that you can feel for these characters and they all have such wonderful personalities and they're all a prominent part of the story...yet most of them aren't human. And there's something that's just so AWESOME about reading a book where you observe these characters and want to see them on every page and you root for them yet they're not your average character--they don't even speak a human language! (But they do speak in their own way.)
I don't want to say too much about this book because I want you to experience it for yourself. But come on, how could you NOT want to read it?! It has CHIMPANZEES! It takes place in the JUNGLE! There's a pet vervet! Threatened will give you so much: adventure, fear, smiles, tears, love, and more. The book itself has love and romance, but not the kind you're thinking: it's the romance of friendship and family. Threatened tells the story of a boy and some primates in the jungle, but it also teaches. (Bonus: There's an author's note explaining some parts of the story, and it includes some books I have read and shows I'd recommend myself: In the Shadow of Man, Next of Kin, Escape to Chimp Eden.)
I'll be honest: this book did start out a little slow for me, and I'm not sure if I love it like I did Endangered. However, when I started this book, it wasn't something I was in the mood for. Threatened isn't some fluffy book: it's more serious, but it's written in a way that works. And once I got into it, I started to fall for so many of the characters. At one point, I was actually AFRAID to finish this book because I feared it would break my heart. (By the way, that ending, MY HEART.) I just hope that you give this book a chance, even if it isn't something you'd usually read. Please remember that animals are people, too--they live, they have family and feelings, etc. And this book helps to show just how human some animals really are. Also, I'm SUPER EXCITED to see what Eliot Schrefer does with the next two books in this quartet--orangutans, then gorillas! Now, I could talk about this book and animals for forever, but I need to figure out how I can live in the wild with primates...
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of the book.
December 23, 2019
I love Eliot Schrefer's writing so far!! I've only read two of his books, but they quickly suck you in and keep you busy!
I think I liked this one better than the first, probably because Luc is out in the jungle instead of just a jungle enclosure. Also bonobos can be a bit awkward at times with how they release stress sooooo yeah. Chimpanzees aren't the same.
It was really cool how I was kinda "in" the troop and following along with all of them. I learned a lot of the chimpanzees' personalities, too. Silver Stripes is grumpy and moody, Drummer is emotional but cool, and Mango is silly and adorable! Then there's Bad Mother and Good Mother. These are just some of the names that Luc named them to tell them apart.
I didn't like Monsieur Tatagani. I mean, he's a bad guy, so of course I don't. But really, learn your lesson. You do NOT mess with protective chimpanzees. THEY GANG UP ON AND KILL OTHER TROOPS OF CHIMPANZEES TO GAIN MORE TERRITORY!! And you and all your hunters seems like an intruding troop!! Even I knew that. XD
Yes, amazing as before, and I expected nothing more. This was an exciting read.
Content:
Romance--none! Unless you call it between the chimps but all the males do is run after the females and nothing is mentioned. XD
Language--I don't remember anything.
Violence--Yeah. Chimps attacking other troops and a group of hunters. Slightly descriptive with the uhh . One chimp attacks Luc a few times, mentions of a jaguar having attacked a man; nothing but a skull/bones left behind in the end. More, but just general things like this.
I think I liked this one better than the first, probably because Luc is out in the jungle instead of just a jungle enclosure. Also bonobos can be a bit awkward at times with how they release stress sooooo yeah. Chimpanzees aren't the same.
It was really cool how I was kinda "in" the troop and following along with all of them. I learned a lot of the chimpanzees' personalities, too. Silver Stripes is grumpy and moody, Drummer is emotional but cool, and Mango is silly and adorable! Then there's Bad Mother and Good Mother. These are just some of the names that Luc named them to tell them apart.
I didn't like Monsieur Tatagani. I mean, he's a bad guy, so of course I don't. But really, learn your lesson. You do NOT mess with protective chimpanzees. THEY GANG UP ON AND KILL OTHER TROOPS OF CHIMPANZEES TO GAIN MORE TERRITORY!! And you and all your hunters seems like an intruding troop!! Even I knew that. XD
Yes, amazing as before, and I expected nothing more. This was an exciting read.
Content:
Romance--none! Unless you call it between the chimps but all the males do is run after the females and nothing is mentioned. XD
Language--I don't remember anything.
Violence--Yeah. Chimps attacking other troops and a group of hunters. Slightly descriptive with the uhh . One chimp attacks Luc a few times, mentions of a jaguar having attacked a man; nothing but a skull/bones left behind in the end. More, but just general things like this.
May 27, 2019
Survival stories are not usually my thing, but this one had my attention from the beginning, perhaps because it concerns much more than physical survival. It is survival against loneliness, a feeling of abandonment, trying not to need a family, but wanting one anyway. I originally bought it for my fourth/fifth grade school library, but the violence would be too much for all but the most mature students. I think it's a perfect fit for middle school and beyond, though.
After Luc's mother and sister die, he is held by an evil man until he and the other orphans can pay their debts (in Luc's case, his mother's medical bills). This story, however, is a far cry from Little Orphan Annie. It's set in Africa and Luc is "rescued" by the Prof (a self-proclaimed professor who tricks Luc's captive into releasing Luc to him as an assistant researcher). But Luc's worries aren't over. As they head deep "Inside" to find and study chimps, they not only face the dangers of the spine-chilling jungle, but the wrath of Luc's former captor, a chimpanzee hunter out for revenge after Prof tormented to scare him away, and the unpredictable, territorial behavior of the chimps.
After everything Luc has endured, is there anyone left to trust? Can he even begin to forgive? And what exactly does "family" mean?
Quibble? Re-read everything for consistency. On page 123, "Mango's cries were coming from high up; she must have managed to make herself a nest." On page 157, "Mango made her own nest for the first time."
After Luc's mother and sister die, he is held by an evil man until he and the other orphans can pay their debts (in Luc's case, his mother's medical bills). This story, however, is a far cry from Little Orphan Annie. It's set in Africa and Luc is "rescued" by the Prof (a self-proclaimed professor who tricks Luc's captive into releasing Luc to him as an assistant researcher). But Luc's worries aren't over. As they head deep "Inside" to find and study chimps, they not only face the dangers of the spine-chilling jungle, but the wrath of Luc's former captor, a chimpanzee hunter out for revenge after Prof tormented to scare him away, and the unpredictable, territorial behavior of the chimps.
After everything Luc has endured, is there anyone left to trust? Can he even begin to forgive? And what exactly does "family" mean?
Quibble? Re-read everything for consistency. On page 123, "Mango's cries were coming from high up; she must have managed to make herself a nest." On page 157, "Mango made her own nest for the first time."
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