Threatened

otter - Amazing book! Very emotional, and very heart-breaking, but very heart-warming. I loved Mango's character. She was so protective when (spoiler alert!) the National Geographic photographer came. I was so sad when Luc saw the leopard the last time. Anyway, here is the summary. Luc's mother died of a disease, and his father left and never came back. He starting living with Monsieur Tatagani, who was cruel to all the boys living with him. When a rich-looking man comes to the place Luc works at, Luc tries to rob him. Instead of turning him into the police, the professor offers him a job. Luc accepts it, and they set off into the jungle, looking for chimpanzees. Prof claims that Nat Geo. will come later on in the study. They see two groups of chimpanzees- one group consists of an extremely young female named Mango, an old one named Beggar, and a relatively young chimp named Drummer. The other group is a strong, big pack. Luc becomes very close with Mango, which angers Drummer. Drummer attacks Luc many times, but eventually they become close. Something terrible happens to Prof, and Luc is on his own. Drummer and Mango eventually get accepted into the bigger pack. Luc makes his own house, and realizes that he does have a family. WARNING: BE PREPARED TO CRY AND BE EXTREMELY TERRIFIED FOR THE INCREDIBLY SWEET CHARACTERS. Amazing book. Definitely better then Endangered, which is saying a lot.

Starred review from December 2, 2013
Schrefer switches focus from bonobos to chimpanzees in this engrossing, meticulously researched, and gripping tale of survival in the deep wilds of Gabon, a thematic follow-up to 2012’s Endangered. Luc, a 13-year-old orphan and debt slave, is hired by Prof, who wants to become the first African “janegoodall,” and the two venture into the jungle to study the chimpanzees that dwell within. When tragedy strikes, Luc is left alone, forced to survive by any means necessary. Forging a tentative truce with a small family of chimpanzees, he ekes out a desperate though increasingly satisfying existence. As man and “mock man” grow to understand one another, they take on all manner of threats, including human hunters, animal predators, and even another chimpanzee tribe. Schrefer’s passion for the material and empathy for the characters shows on every page, and his non-human subjects are every bit as complex and fascinating as narrator Luc. The setting comes fully to life, and Schrefer pulls no punches as he showcases the beauty and danger of both urban Gabon and the jungle. Ages 12–up. Agent: Richard Pine, InkWell Management.

Starred review from January 15, 2014
The author of Endangered (2012) introduces another primate species, offering a poignant demonstration of connection between chimpanzees and humans. When AIDs orphan Luc goes into the Gabon jungle with professor Abdul Mohammed, a scientist who frees him from his bondholder and plans to study chimpanzees in the wild, the resourceful boy finds a surprising new family and makes a real home. Luc's story is riveting and seldom comfortable, for him or for his readers. The chimpanzees are aggressive, but they are not as lethal as the leopard or as personally dangerous as the bushmeat hunter the professor frightens away or Monsieur Tatagani, determined to return Luc to his stable of street boys. Drummer, the young male chimp Luc rescues from a trap, and Mango, his toddler sister, have personalities as real and appealing as the boy himself. Luc's first-person narration is so lively and detailed readers won't notice that he seems remarkably acute for a 12- or 13-year-old, even one who has watched his mother and baby sister die and lived, afterward, by his own wits. The particulars of his daily life Inside--where Gabonese believe humans shouldn't go--will enthrall those who enjoy adventure, and the intimate glimpse of chimpanzee daily life is a treat for nature lovers. Engrossing action and characters readers will keep thinking about in a splendid survival story. (Adventure. 12-16)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-After the death of his mother and sister, Luc is left in the hands of a moneylender, Monsieur Tatagani. One of many orphans forced to do Tatagani's bidding, Luc has found a way to be useful and earn a few coins wiping glasses in a bar in Gabon. One night a man shows up with a monkey and a silver attache case, claiming to be a researcher sent by the National Geographic Society to study the chimpanzees in the interior. The mysterious man, called "the Prof," offers Luc a job as his helper. From this modest beginning comes a tale of survival and discovery for both humans and chimps. There are no easy answers here, but deep themes are explored. The plight of the endangered chimps is brought to the attention of readers, as are the challenges of socioeconomic status and geographic realities of Gabon. There are times when Luc's voice as an uneducated orphan adolescent seems vivid and real, at other times less so. Still, the valor and soul of Luc is captivating. Fascinating and sure to lead to discussion.-Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Grades 8-12 Schrefer's Endangered (2012) painted a compassionate portrait of the bonobos of the Congo; here he turns to Gabon, chimpanzees, and the plight of orphans who have lost their parents to AIDS. Luc lives with other young orphan boys under the roof of Monsieur Tatagani, an unscrupulous man who exploits his charges. Professor Abdul Mohammad, a prosperous-looking Arab, meets Luc and hires him as his assistant, taking him deep into the jungle to study chimpanzees. Luc discovers he has an interest and aptitude for the work, and he thrives under Prof's tutelage. All too soon, though, Prof disappears under mysterious circumstances, and Luc must survive on his own. With only Prof's tiny pet vervet for company, Luc watches and learns from the chimps. When humans again appear, it's clear we as a species are far less civilized than the chimps. Of special note is the tender, nonjudgmental portrait of Prof, a closeted gay man who lies about most things, but provides the first caring home Luc has known in years. Schrefer's landscape descriptions are rich and evocative, and his characters, both human and chimpanzee, are complex and fascinating.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)