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reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first book by Kenneth Oppel and probably not my last.
I loved the relationship between Ben and Zan, so cute. I didn't really like Ben at some points during the story especially when he had his Project Jennifer going. Didn't like the dad at all, found him to be a jerk.
One of the things I didn't enjoy about the book is that it kind of dragged at some points towards the middle but at the end, I just wanted to sit and finish it to figure out what happens with Zan.
Not a totally original idea because it kind of reminded me of Planet of the Apes but I have never read a book that covered this topic.
I loved the relationship between Ben and Zan, so cute. I didn't really like Ben at some points during the story especially when he had his Project Jennifer going. Didn't like the dad at all, found him to be a jerk.
One of the things I didn't enjoy about the book is that it kind of dragged at some points towards the middle but at the end, I just wanted to sit and finish it to figure out what happens with Zan.
Not a totally original idea because it kind of reminded me of Planet of the Apes but I have never read a book that covered this topic.
madsgraph's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel is a Young-adult book.
This book is about a chimpanzee who gets raised by an American household to learn their language. Some of the characters include Ben and Zan. The father of the family sees Zan as just an experiment, which is pretty sad.
I think this is a really good book and when you read it you really start to think about life, like you’ve never done before. This book is an emotional rollercoaster which everyone should read even people who don’t even like this genre. Though one bad thing about the book is that it can be a little slow-paced at times and you don’t really read it as quickly.
I do recommend you read this book, even if you don’t like you should at least try it.
This book is about a chimpanzee who gets raised by an American household to learn their language. Some of the characters include Ben and Zan. The father of the family sees Zan as just an experiment, which is pretty sad.
I think this is a really good book and when you read it you really start to think about life, like you’ve never done before. This book is an emotional rollercoaster which everyone should read even people who don’t even like this genre. Though one bad thing about the book is that it can be a little slow-paced at times and you don’t really read it as quickly.
I do recommend you read this book, even if you don’t like you should at least try it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Animal cruelty
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
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.