Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

  Sophie is on her way to visit her mother who runs a bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the summer as she does every year.  She grew up in Congo leaving when she was eight to live with her dad in America.  She has seen beauty and suffering in her birth country.  On the ride to the compound she and her friend and driver Clement, come across a baby bonobo; his captor offers him for sale.  The little ape has been abused and Sophie cannot abandon the pathetic pleading in his eyes.  Buying him she knows will anger her mother; a purchase will encourage more poaching.

With her mom’s help, Sophie begins nursing the little ape, Otto, back to health and decides to stay at sanctuary while her mom goes home for the night. Before her mother can return, armed revolution breads out and the sanctuary is attacked.  The rebels are ruthless and many are killed as they settle into the compound.  Sophie and Otto were outside the compound when the strike occurred and are able to escape. 

The journey to find her mother in a war torn country, while keeping herself and Otto safe, is a harrowing one.  Schrefer has done his research and the fascinating picture of the bonobos (with whom we share over 98% of the same DNA) who Sophie joins in the jungle in order to survive is accurate and engrossing. 

This tale of survival and animal and human connection will touch your heart.

Tessa's picks
5th-8th
Survival, animals, fast paced, adventure

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