Endangered

( 9 )

Overview

The compelling tale of a girl who must save a group of bonobos--and herself--from a violent coup.

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 sancuary 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 ...

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Endangered

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More About This Book

Overview

The compelling tale of a girl who must save a group of bonobos--and herself--from a violent coup.

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 sancuary 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.

2012 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature

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Editorial Reviews

The Washington Post
Eliot Schrefer grounds this taut, heart-wrenching tale in details gleaned from his work on a similar sanctuary and paints vivid portraits of intelligent, peaceful primates…
—Mary Quattlebaum
The New York Times Book Review
Sometimes during an act of heroism, it's the savior who ends up being saved. Such is the case in Eliot Schrefer's dazzling, big-hearted novel Endangered…As riveting as the action is, it's the nuanced portraits of the characters, human and ape, that make the story so deeply affecting.
—Vicki Constantine Croke
Publishers Weekly
Schrefer (The Deadly Sister) shines a light on an oft-overlooked part of the world with this intense adventure set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Sophie, a half-American, half-Congolese 14-year-old, visits her mother at a bonobo sanctuary, her biracial origins make her feel out of place, but she finds purpose by bonding with and caring for Otto, an abused juvenile bonobo. Civil war breaks out while Sophie’s mother is away, and Sophie is inadvertently trapped in a country beset by starvation, roving bands of killers, and natural hazards. To stay alive, Sophie and Otto live off the land, travel in secret, and coexist with other bonobos, while seeking escape or refuge from the chaos. Schrefer spares no detail, fully exposing the horrors of war as he chronicles Sophie’s struggle for survival. This drama is clearly written from the heart, smoothly educating readers about the perilous dichotomy of the Congo and the heart-wrenching plight of the endangered bonobo, without sacrificing the intensity of the story. Sophie, meanwhile, demonstrates herself to be tenacious, resourceful, and strong, making decisions that, while not always smart, are driven by compassion. Ages 12–18. Agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"Schrefer (The Deadly Sister) shines a light on an oft-overlooked part of the world with this intense adventure set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Sophie, a half-American, half-Congolese 14-year-old, visits her mother at a bonobo sanctuary, her biracial origins make her feel out of place, but she finds purpose by bonding with and caring for Otto, an abused juvenile bonobo. Civil war breaks out while Sophie’s mother is away, and Sophie is inadvertently trapped in a country beset by starvation, roving bands of killers, and natural hazards. To stay alive, Sophie and Otto live off the land, travel in secret, and coexist with other bonobos, while seeking escape or refuge from the chaos. Schrefer spares no detail, fully exposing the horrors of war as he chronicles Sophie’s struggle for survival. This drama is clearly written from the heart, smoothly educating readers about the perilous dichotomy of the Congo and the heart-wrenching plight of the endangered bonobo, without sacrificing the intensity of the story. Sophie, meanwhile, demonstrates herself to be tenacious, resourceful, and strong, making decisions that, while not always smart, are driven by compassion. Ages 12–18. " - Publishers Weekly starred review

“[D]azzling, big-hearted…As riveting as the acting is, it’s the nuanced portraits of the characters, human and ape, that make the story so deeply affecting…Otto, however, becomes the story’s real protagonist. The descriptions of him are so visceral I sometimes felt I was holding a bonobo, not a book.” - New York Times Book Review

Praise for The Deadly Sister

* "Well-drawn characters, realistic dialogue, and suspenseful twists and turns add to the appeal. Teens crave mystery, and this book will suit them just fine." - SLJ, starred review

"The page-turning action and the potent relationship between the two sisters will keep teens’ attention right up to the final confession." - Booklist

Praise for The School for Dangerous Girls

"Teens might behave dangerously themselves to get their hands on this page-turner.” —Booklist

“Gripping, violent and terrifying.” —Kirkus Reviews

VOYA
Sophie has spent summer vacations with her mother in the Congo ever since her parents divorced. She has grown up in the bonobo sanctuary that is her mother’s life work: to protect the endangered species from the hands of those who steal them from the jungles and sell them illegally. This summer begins with Sophie rescuing a small bonobo from a roadside vendor, something she has been taught not to do. Sophie, though, cannot bear to see an animal in pain. Thus, Otto enters her life. Otto is bonded to Sophie and follows here everywhere. So when unrest means evacuation from the Congo, Sophie is reluctant to leave Otto behind. Instead, she risks her life to find a way to get them both to safety. Schrefer combines successfully the thrilling adventure of jungle survival with the heartwarming story of Sophie and Otto. These two elements should mean a wide open audience. The environment, political upheaval, race, animal rights, and other ethical issues are part of the narrative, but they are presented as multi-faceted and complex. There are no easy answers or solutions. Additional materials include an author interview, information about the Congo, and information about bonobos. Ages 12 to 18.
Children's Literature
Since her parent's divorce, fifteen-year-old Sophie travels to the Congo each summer to visit her mom. Her mom manages a sanctuary for bonobos, the closest living relative to humans. When she arrives in Kinshasa, the capital, civil war is breaking out and traveling is dangerous. While there, she buys a maltreated bonobo and brings him to her mom's sanctuary. When they arrive at the sanctuary, the bonobo, now named Otto, is quickly evaluated and treated for malnutrition. The plan is for Sophie to stay there with friends while her mom transports several bonobos to a preserve dedicated to their species. While her mom is gone, the sanctuary is attacked and Sophie and Otto barely escape with their lives. They eventually make their way to the preserve and safety and a reunion with her mom and dad (who has traveled from the United States to bring her home.) Schrefer vividly describes their escapes and travels and the story comes alive. Although this is a fictional book, there is a wealth of information about the Democratic Republic of Congo and the trafficking and saving of bonobos. It would make a good discussion book. An interview with the author is included as well as a short list of organizations working on conservation and on the preservation of bonobos. Endangered is a great story with believable characters and lots of action and will appeal to adults as well as teen readers. Reviewer: Michele Lauer-Bader
School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—Fourteen-year-old Sophie rescues Otto, a young chimp, while spending the summer at her mother's bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When the president is assassinated and war breaks out, Sophie has a chance to return home to the United States but cannot bear to leave Otto. Their journey to safety takes them into the bonobo enclosure, but the real danger begins when they venture out and risk encountering rebel soldiers. Schrefer excels at imbuing the bonobos with individual personalities and endearing quirks. The bond between Sophie and Otto is so expertly depicted that it almost seems like a parent/child relationship, and readers will readily relate to the anguish the girl feels as she debates leaving her pet behind. The novel tackles tough ethical dilemmas without offering easy answers and delves into racial politics (Sophie's mixed racial heritage influences how others treat her), giving the book a nuanced tone. Schrefer portrays painful scenes in unflinching detail, and his powerful use of language drives the story forward. However, Sophie often seems preternaturally skilled for a teenager who has spent limited time in the Congo. Several moments stretch plausibility, such as when she rescues Otto from a group of soldiers or when she becomes leader of the bonobo tribe. Additionally, because Sophie is recounting the story as an adult looking back, her voice is often far more mature and polished than most adolescent protagonists. Yet despite the flaws, this is a poignant and moving story.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780545165761
  • Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
  • Publication date: 10/1/2012
  • Pages: 272
  • Sales rank: 29853
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Lexile: 900L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 8.30 (w) x 5.60 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Eliot Schrefer is the author of The Deadly Sister, The School for Dangerous Girls, Glamorous Disasters, and The New Kid. He lives in New York City, and has never discovered any bodies. Visit him online at eliotschrefer.com.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 9 )
Rating Distribution

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(2)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 EST 2013

    LOVE

    I honsetly loved this book! Imonly 11 and i.really enjoyed it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Nov 04 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Boi

    Thank you mrsvaljones for ruining this book by revealing every plot point. Just another book i cannit buy because yiu ruined it. Bn, another sale lost!

    1 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 EST 2013

    more from this reviewer

    I knew I was going to like Endangered long before I read the fir

    I knew I was going to like Endangered long before I read the first page; I'm a sucker for animal books. I've never read an animal book I didn't like. That didn't mean Endangered was going to be a good book.

    Endangered was a good book.

    I was sucked into it with the first paragraph; the writing was beautiful, and the bonobos won my heart over. I can remember each of their names in the stories, even if I can't tell you a name of a single human character. They were the stars of the show, their goofiness and animal ferocity making them more memorable than most characters I encounter on a daily basis.

    There were still issues with it; as the revolution went on, there were a few scenes that seemed scattered and out of place - for instance, our main character has to rescue Otto from a young soldier, and that entire scene felt... odd and unnecessary, because the plot and characters didn't develop from the scene. (Of course, I have an ARC; that may have been cut out in the final version, but I doubt it.)

    However, the lyrical writing and the bonobos - Otto! Songolia! I even liked Anastasia. - make the book more than worth the read, and by the end of the story, you may want to throw yourself into the Congo to go work with bonobos. I know I do.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2013

    Krystah Kayee

    Hi i am krystah and i love this book im only on page 22 and may i say this is one of the bestest books i have ever read so i juss gotta say to keep writing awesome booka jussike this i hope to be a book writer juss like yuu and write a book kinda like yours i mean yuu inspire me and thats probly good news for yuu so goodbye and i hope yuu like my review so byebye

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2013

    Enjoyable reading for all ages 14 years +

    Enjoyable. I even cried at certain parts.

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  • Posted Sat Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Review: "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer was quite som

    Review:


    "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer was quite some thrill of a read. Truly the novel was a well written read of the real issues of the 'terrifyingly real world of the Democratic Repuglic of the Congo.' The story was of a young girl named Sophie(half white and half black) who was very responsible and courageous...a protagonist, and her journey to get away from violence that was all around her while she was protecting a bonobo(Otto). Now you may be asking just what is a 'Bonobo?' As you read "Endangered" you will see how this heroine was able to grow and even mature as she goes about to save this one bonobo all by herself. I found this read a page turner because it was hard to put down until the very end. This fast paced storytelling was simply off the chart good! In your read you will see just why saving the bonobos were so important. The author did a very good job at illustrating this relationship between the human and animals. For Sophie will find 'love, friendship and compassion. "Endangered" is very emotional and a very intriguing story that will leave you saying 'Wow!'...what a good read only leaving you with the thought of those who ework with these 'Bonobos' are truly amazing people.

    With that being said...Yes, I would recommend this novel as a excellent read not only for the young...as a adult I really enjoyed this read.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2012

    PRESS HERE

    This is a great book! I dont usually like monkeys. Not foer anyone under 10.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Dec 09 00:00:00 EST 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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