Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
Realistic Fiction; 264 pages
Sophie is not happy to be back in the Congo for the summer, but when she rescues an abused baby bonobo she becomes more involved in her mother’s sanctuary–and when fighting breaks out and the sanctuary is attacked, it is up to Sophie to rescue the apes and somehow survive in the jungle.
Sam’s review:
Sophie has just arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo from her home in Miami, where she lives with her dad. Her mom lives in the Congo and runs a sanctuary for bonobos, an endangered ape. Sophie is not happy about the visit until her heart goes out to an injured baby bonobo which she rescues (against her mother’s rules) and names Otto. Sophie and Otto become as close as a parent and child, and the descriptions of their relationship are amazing! Their life in the sanctuary, though, is cut short when rebels take over the country and start a reign of terror just after Sophie’s mom has left for the jungle. Sophie, with Otto, must make hard decisions and undertake a perilous journey. If you are looking for a riveting story of a girl and her pet in the midst of war, run and grab this book. It is a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award.