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Half Brother. By Kenneth Oppel (2011)

by Kenneth Oppel(Favorite Author)

4.05 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0385618417 (ISBN13: 9780385618410)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

David Fickling Books

review 1: This is an excellent novel telling the story of a young preteen, named Ben, whose life is different from most young people. Unlike many, Ben has a younger brother who is a chimpanzee! Ben's father, who is a scientist employed by a prestigious university, is curious of the ability of chimpanzees to acquire human language - sign language, specifically. As a result, Ben's father decides to conduct the experiment and adopts a baby chimp, named Zan, and Zan is raised as a part of the family. Raising a chimp can be difficult; and certainly, teaching a chimp to talk is challenging! Throughout the book, each family member faces multiple challenges - relationship struggles, financial troubles, bullying, concerns with "fitting in", family unity struggles, and legal disputes are a fe... morew of the problems the family must face, to say the least. And despite the struggles, and the many things that attempt to tear the family apart, the family still presses on by attempting to make the best decisions for Zan, the experiment, and their own lives. All in all, the book is filled with DRAMA, ACTION, SUSPENSE, and BROTHERLY LOVE. (In fact, I kinda teared up after reading the book's ending.) This is DEFINITELY one of the best novels I've read in a while.
review 2: Amazing. This book offered a glimpse into how animals and humans can connect while also telling a story of a boy's love for a chimp he considered a brother. 'Half Brother' is a coming-of-age book that sees Ben Tomlin bond with a chimp named Zan as a part of his parent's experiment to teach ASL (American Sign Language) and how a chimp can act and 'speak' with humans; Ben also finds friends in the oddest places, and has his first love...and the repercussions that come along with it. This novel needed a little more detail on Ben's internal conflict, but the story of Zan and his affect on the people around him make this novel a little bit of a tearjerker (I, however, DID NOT cry). Overall, this novel has amazing characters, great plot, and a friendship that experiences trials and triumphs like real brothers face.Rating: 4/5 less

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