4.5 stars. I loved this book. There is certainly some ugly violence, and the story is not easy. I think it would be a good introduction for teens to the confusing political situation of the the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the same time it discusses human and animal rights. ( )

While 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 the Democratic Republic of Congo. 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 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 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. And I forgot to mention, I cried at the end. ( )

Fictional story of a 15-year old Sophie, whose mother runs a preserve for bonobos in the Congo, and whose divorced father lives in Miami, where she attends school. War breaks out during her summer visit, and Sophie decides she cannot abandon her young bonobo charge (Otto.) Soldiers attack the preserve and she takes refuge with the bonobos, and then sets out to find safety for herself and Otto. Schrefer has done a nice job describing life in a war-torn country and efforts to save a species. ( )

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Schrefer took on an extremely difficult subject and did a tremendous job. This is a real page-turner that I think would captivate a lot of jaded tweens and teens. The gore (I was looking for this especially) is handled very well -- chilling but not gross, effective in heightening the sense of danger and risk facing Sophie on her quest to save the baby bonobo, Otto, and herself.

After rebels take over the bonobo compound, Sophie and Otto sneak back to recover a duffel with food. The workers have been slaughtered:

There, on the far side, was Mama Brunelle's body. A dead body, a thing and not a person. To keep myself going, I didn't let my thoughts rest on that fact. She was facedown, her legs the only part of her that wasn't covered in dried blood. Bits of her were missing; I couldn't understand, or make myself understand, which ones. Inhale, exhale, inhale.

Schrefer also sets up some compelling questions for readers that would be very interesting to approach in a class. What about Sophie's mother's decision to make a priority of the bonobos over her family? How about Sophie's decision to rescue Otto, thus leading directly to the capture of two more wild bonobo babies (and the likely slaughter of their mother)? How about the fact that Sophie, because she is American, is rescued (but then refuses evacuation) versus the UN's refusal to evacuate native Congolese citizens? This is exactly what happened in Rwanda as the genocide started in 1994.

I don't want to seem to have a vendetta against [b:Goblin Secrets|12809970|Goblin Secrets (Zombay, #1)|William Alexander|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354035673s/12809970.jpg|17958988], which won the NBA for YA (Endangered was a finalist), but this is also a much better book, on the level of fellow finalist [b:Never Fall Down|12924297|Never Fall Down|Patricia McCormick|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330649356s/12924297.jpg|18079742] (yes, I'm a human rights geek, but, again, also a magic, automaton, goblin geek). ( )