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mstejpal's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emrodav's review against another edition
5.0
This book punched me in the stomach and ripped me open. It's just so good. I stayed up until 2am crying as I finished it. Actual review to come later.
akublik's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book - Ben's character was believable and well developed, and I came to care about Zan as much as he did. I didn't pick up on the time hints right away - it took me a while to realize the book is set in the 1970s, when these kinds of experiments were first conducted.
tdekamprn's review against another edition
Slow. Not enough interesting things going on.
bushraboblai's review against another edition
5.0
This book made cry, laugh and question my entire existence. EVERYONE, needs to read this.
rocketbride's review against another edition
4.0
interesting meditation on what makes us human: responsibility or dumb luck.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Great historical fiction with a local angle (Victoria is a great weekend destination for my area), and a cool scientific/animal hook.
Booktalked this as part of my 2016 middle school sweep and it was a runaway hit.
This was an example of a book where I rewrote my booktalk to great success.
My first version focused on the "double-edged sword"ness of the similarities between humans and chimpanzees. My second booktalk took a scene from the book of Zan being adorable and brought it to life. Complete with a bottle of liquid soap.
Pretty hefty, but still successful, this took me a few years to get to it, but I'm glad I did. Kenneth Oppel is one of those authors I have to resist reading... he's so good!
Booktalked this as part of my 2016 middle school sweep and it was a runaway hit.
This was an example of a book where I rewrote my booktalk to great success.
My first version focused on the "double-edged sword"ness of the similarities between humans and chimpanzees. My second booktalk took a scene from the book of Zan being adorable and brought it to life. Complete with a bottle of liquid soap.
Pretty hefty, but still successful, this took me a few years to get to it, but I'm glad I did. Kenneth Oppel is one of those authors I have to resist reading... he's so good!
beths0103's review against another edition
5.0
I've never read a YA book like this before. It is by far one of the best books of 2010.
At 13, Ben Tomlin has been an only child his whole life. But then his father decides to uproot their small family from Toronto to Victoria to begin an experiment on whether chimpanzees can acquire language, he is at first skeptical. Living with the family from the time he was eight days old, Zan quickly becomes a member of the family - to Ben and his mother anyway. Ben's father merely sees him as an experimental test subject, causing much animosity in the house.
I have enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's work in the past, and Half Brother is definitely his most important book to date. It deals with some tough questions on animal experimentation, and in perfect cadence, leaves us with more questions than answers. This book is meant to be a discussion; it doesn't claim to have all the answers.
At 13, Ben Tomlin has been an only child his whole life. But then his father decides to uproot their small family from Toronto to Victoria to begin an experiment on whether chimpanzees can acquire language, he is at first skeptical. Living with the family from the time he was eight days old, Zan quickly becomes a member of the family - to Ben and his mother anyway. Ben's father merely sees him as an experimental test subject, causing much animosity in the house.
I have enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's work in the past, and Half Brother is definitely his most important book to date. It deals with some tough questions on animal experimentation, and in perfect cadence, leaves us with more questions than answers. This book is meant to be a discussion; it doesn't claim to have all the answers.
literallykalasin's review against another edition
4.0
When Ben's parents move him from Toronto to Victoria so they can conduct the chimpanzee research they've always dreamed of, he isn't happy. Even less so when Ben discovers that Zan the chimp will be living with them as part of the family. However, things change and Ben grows to think of Zan as the person they are raising him to be and as his little brother. When the experiment ends as the funding dries up, Ben is forced to face the reality that Zan isn't really part of the family.
Kenneth Oppel really weaves together the threads of family struggles, growing up, and the ethics of animal testing of all kinds together in an extremely cohesive, thought-provoking, and ultimately readable way.
Kenneth Oppel really weaves together the threads of family struggles, growing up, and the ethics of animal testing of all kinds together in an extremely cohesive, thought-provoking, and ultimately readable way.
seifknits's review against another edition
3.0
1970s story with the POV of a 13-year-old boy whose parents are engaged in a scientific project to teach a chimpanzee to use sign language.
I enjoyed the book, but thought Oppel backed off a little at the end. At one point, I thought he was going to make a point about what language really is (and isn't), but he made a 90-degree turn and his point instead seemed to be about using animals for scientific research. Should have stuck with the language issue.
I enjoyed the book, but thought Oppel backed off a little at the end. At one point, I thought he was going to make a point about what language really is (and isn't), but he made a 90-degree turn and his point instead seemed to be about using animals for scientific research. Should have stuck with the language issue.