Endangered
Eliot Schrefer
10/1/12
Scholastic
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
The Congo is a dangerous place, even for people who are trying to do good. When one girl has to follow her mother to her sanctuary for bonobos, she's not thrilled to be there. It's her mother's passion, and she'd rather have nothing to do with it. But when revolution breaks out and their sanctuary is attacked, she must rescue the bonobos and hide in the jungle. Together, they will fight to keep safe, to eat, and to survive. Eliot Schrefer asks readers what safety means, how one sacrifices to help others, and what it means to be human in this new compelling adventure.
THREE WORDS: Powerful & Heart-Wrenching
MY
REVIEW: Eliot Schrefer's
Endangered was
one of those books that I went into with absolutely no expectations
and walked away from with so much--so many feelings, thoughts, ideas,
new information, and inspiration. I'm only sad that I didn't discover
this book sooner.
Endangered
follows
fourteen year old Sophie, as she spends the summer in the Congo with
her mother who runs a sanctuary for bonobos. Sophie buys a neglected
young bonobo, she names Otto, from a man on the street and takes him
to the sanctuary where she nurses him back to health and forges an
unbreakable bond with. When her mother must leave to release bonobos
back into the wild and a revolution breaks out in war stricken Congo,
Sophie must seek refuge in the unforgiving jungle, saving herself and
a group of bonobos. She and her furry friends must contend with
deadly rebels, near starvation, and harsh weather and journey to meet
her mother before it's too late for all of them.
Endangered
is
a powerfully moving exploration of love, family, friendship, war, and
courage. Schrefer has crafted a truly compelling and captivating
story about a place and situation that is given very little
attention, but he has definitely opened my eyes.
This
is not a sweet and sunny story, it is raw, honest, intense and heavy,
and entirely impossible to ignore. Schrefer deftly, yet unassumingly,
explores the plight of the Congo and its people, not shying away from
the dark, painful, and, at times, gory realities of a war stricken
country. And he does so on both a very big picture scale and a very
intimate, personal level. This is book is a work of fiction and not
based on a true story or real people, but the author has
fictionalized Congo's very real issues with a great deal of
authenticity, respect, and sensitivity.
The
world Schrefer has built-the bonobo sanctuary nestled on the edges of
the jungle, the harsh, dangerous jungle itself, the bleak countryside
dotted with various villages and communities- all feels very real and
concrete, and layered. I feel like I learned so much about the Congo,
its history, people, and culture, and, of course, I learned a great
deal about bonobos and have a whole new appreciation for this amazing
animal.
Through
Sophie's relationship with her parents, her relationship with Otto,
the relationship and interaction between the bonobos, and the
behaviors and actions of all the characters, the author has managed
to capture so much about the essence of family, love, and humanity,
and has done so with such finesse. The heart of this book is the
relationship between Sophie and Otto; a relationship that is
heart-achingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. The bond and pure love
between these two touched me greatly and moved me to tears. This is
one friendship that will never truly leave readers.
Sophie's
journey is a harrowing, yet inspiring one that had me on the edge of
my seat. Her adventure through the jungle is one of suspense,
survival, and courage, and I found it equal parts heart-stopping, enthralling, and terrifying.
MY
FINAL THOUGHTS: Endangered left
me breathless, inspired, and thoughtful. This book, its characters;
story; and message are unforgettable and powerful. Readers will walk away from this book inspired and changed. A fantastic read for older MG readers and up.
MY RATING
Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Book Depository
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