Another great book from this author. He wrote about bonobo apes in Africa and the problems for their future. Clearly, he loves bonobos. In this book, his story is about chimpanzees whose habitats are also in danger. Both chimps and bonobos share 98% of our DNA, but while bonobos are relatively peaceful and live in matriarchal societies, chimpanzees are patriarchal and can be very dangerous to each other as well as people.
The main character is an orphan boy whose life is very grim. He belongs to a cruel man who "takes in" orphan boys in order to make them work for him. I am sure that the circumstances are reality for many children in Africa in countries that have been ravaged by aids. He begins a journey with a strange Arab man who says he is there to study chimps for National Geographic. Nothing about him adds up except that he has a briefcase full of money (most of it counterfit).
Once in the jungle, the story gets more intense. Schrefer depicts chimps as they really are and it is not always easy to read. In fact, the story is not a feel-good story. you will be left wanting more and wishing for a better ending. He does put information at the end of the book about how you can help both chimps and bonobos. He didn't really put any link to help aids victims, but he does list some videos and documentaries that would be helpful. He really did his research for this book and for Endangered .
Everyone should be encouraged to read these books.
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