saisayshai's review against another edition
5.0
Rescued, like all the books in this series, is so important. I know it is marketed as a children’s/young adult book, but adults also really need to read this series. Why? Because they’re the ones with money and the power to make a change. Endangered was one of my favorite books as a child, and I’m reading rescued over a decade later, feeling the same way I felt then. Eliot Shrefer’s love for the animals he writes about, the research that goes into each of his books, is truly honorable. Thank you so much for looking out for our ape friends.
delz's review against another edition
5.0
In the age of the musical Hamilton, where people are learning about history and being entertained at the same time, a book comes along that will also educate, but on a national global issue and it does as well entertain the reader. This is the story of a boy living in Atlanta, who is given an orangutan by his father. They live fairly peaceably for years, it's not an easy situation, but they manage. Until one day Raja, that's orangutan's name, in a fit of anger bites off John's finger. Things do not change automatically, but eventually John's parents divorce and John and his mom move to Oregon, leaving the dad and Raja in Atlanta. After a some time passes John's father calls to say he is having financial difficulty and he's selling the house and giving Raja to a zoo. John feels the need to say goodbye to Raja, but when he returns to his old home things seem to have gone terribly wrong and John feels an overwhelming need to make things right. It seems there are many instances where people have taken these creatures from their homes thinking they would make good pets, but unfortunately they do not. It's unfortunate for the people, but it's a shamefully horrible situation for the animal. This is not light summer reading, but don't be put off by that, because it's an important issue, right now, today. Elliot Schrefer does such fabulous research and entwines that with relatable characters. That combination along with a meaningful and poignant story are what makes this a must read.
amdame1's review against another edition
4.0
Schrefer addresses the topic of orangutans taken from their jungle homes and families in the 3rd book of a 4 book series.
John's dad works for a company that does work overseas. While on a trip there, he remembers John making a comment about how cool it would be to have an orangutan. John never really thought it was a possibility until his dad brought baby Raja home. Now they have grown up together but mom and dad are getting a divorce and they need to figure out what to do with Raja (who is totally bonded to John by the way).
A heartbreaking look at what happens when humans interfere with animals and their natural environment. There is definitely a MESSAGE in this book and it's relatively subtle until the very end.
John's dad works for a company that does work overseas. While on a trip there, he remembers John making a comment about how cool it would be to have an orangutan. John never really thought it was a possibility until his dad brought baby Raja home. Now they have grown up together but mom and dad are getting a divorce and they need to figure out what to do with Raja (who is totally bonded to John by the way).
A heartbreaking look at what happens when humans interfere with animals and their natural environment. There is definitely a MESSAGE in this book and it's relatively subtle until the very end.
missprint's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of those, "Oh no, this book is making me cry on public transit" books.
What an astounding story, hitting real, hard issues through the perspective of a realistically written teenaged, American boy.
When John's father comes home with a baby orangutan, ten year-old John gets not only a friend and companion but a brother. John and Raja grow up together, crafting a unique understanding and sign language between them - until a vicious accident pulls them apart. Years later, John must travel back to his father's house to say goodbye, as Raja is being sent to a zoo. But things unravel quickly as John learns more about the zoo, the conditions animals must endure in many institutions, and many other truths about animal trafficking. Now, John must figure out what the best steps are to do right by Raja.
What I loved in this book - well, okay, I loved a lot of things. But I loved the realism of John's emotions, and the complexity there. So much of his actions are driven by guilt, rather than say, altruism. He DIDN'T handle everything well, and he even knew it - he was being driven by blind emotions, and even when I didn't agree with him, wow could I empathize with him.
And of course, Schrefer managed to pack in a ton of crazy important, crazy upsetting information in a very accessible, absorbable way. If anything, my only problem with this book was that it was TOO upsetting/tough sometimes and I had to keep putting it down for a breather. At least, until the last third/forth which I inhaled, tears pouring down my face. Yeah.
What an astounding story, hitting real, hard issues through the perspective of a realistically written teenaged, American boy.
When John's father comes home with a baby orangutan, ten year-old John gets not only a friend and companion but a brother. John and Raja grow up together, crafting a unique understanding and sign language between them - until a vicious accident pulls them apart. Years later, John must travel back to his father's house to say goodbye, as Raja is being sent to a zoo. But things unravel quickly as John learns more about the zoo, the conditions animals must endure in many institutions, and many other truths about animal trafficking. Now, John must figure out what the best steps are to do right by Raja.
What I loved in this book - well, okay, I loved a lot of things. But I loved the realism of John's emotions, and the complexity there. So much of his actions are driven by guilt, rather than say, altruism. He DIDN'T handle everything well, and he even knew it - he was being driven by blind emotions, and even when I didn't agree with him, wow could I empathize with him.
And of course, Schrefer managed to pack in a ton of crazy important, crazy upsetting information in a very accessible, absorbable way. If anything, my only problem with this book was that it was TOO upsetting/tough sometimes and I had to keep putting it down for a breather. At least, until the last third/forth which I inhaled, tears pouring down my face. Yeah.
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
2.0
I absolutely loved the first two books in Eliot Schrefer's Ape Quartet but this one, set in the US, feels different. First, because we know that John shouldn't be raised with an orangutan as a "brother" and that causes discomfort. Then the story moves around a bit, from when (mild spoiler) John's finger is bitten off by Raja the orangutan, then we get fast forwarded to the future with teenage John reuniting with Raja before the orangutan is sold to a zoo. Sure, there are interesting moral and ethical dilemmas like in the rest of the Ape Quartet. There always will be when you write about the fascinating interactions between apes and humans. But in this book, the dialogue was a little clunky and the outcome was far too positive to be believed. I wish all captive apes could experience what Raja did, but I know the outcomes are usually far worse.
mindy's review
4.0
A solid entry in Schrefer’s ape quartet as we wait for the final book and think about the gorillas to come. For my full review, visit Ecolitbooks.com.
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