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A review by katykelly
The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius
5.0
Memorable and unusual narrator/protagonist, an epic of a children's novel.
Translated, but you would never know it. It's such a refreshingly original story, setting and narrator. A story about loyalty and friendship, spanning years and continents.
Sally Jones assists the Chief aboard his cargo boat. Grateful to him as her saviour, she's a talented engineer on the sea. After a suspicious pick-up goes awry and the Chief is arrested for murder, Sally Jones goes into hiding and determines to prove his innocence.
The aspect of
Sally Jones is not only a loyal friend, she’s an extraordinary individual. In overalls or in a maharaja’s turban, this unique gorilla moves among humans without speaking but understanding everything. She and the Chief are devoted comrades who operate a cargo boat. A job they are offered pays big bucks, but the deal ends badly, and the Chief is falsely convicted of murder.
Sally Jones will never stop thinking about her friend and her promise to vindicate the Chief, and even as she makes connections and forms friendships, her heart never wavers from its quest.
Yet this loyal comrade is an ape. We see the world through her eyes, the eyes of a sentient being who is treated sometimes as equal, sometimes as inferior, as possession, as mute fool, as servant.
She meets some wonderful characters in her adventures, endearing hospitable sorts that you want her to stay with. Eccentrics, brigands, autocrats. She'll span the globe searching for the proof she needs, changing lives along the way.
This kind of scope is rare in children's books, the 600+ page running length a testament to the epic scale of the story and also shows that the author isn't afraid to test his readers' stamina.
I could feel the period, and loved the black and white illustrations (as well as rather beautiful stylised portraits of the characters) which added to the nostalgic feel and picture of the story. There are some highly memorable characters too, not just our protagonist, but her friends in Lisbon as well as a privileged ruler in India.
Sally Jones is exceptional - warm-hearted but a simple creature at heart, seeking friendship and a sea-bound home, dependable and a quick learner, brave and willing. I adored spending my time with her.
A beautiful novel that doesn't shy away from some quite dark moments and themes, but offers rewards for the patience and stamina of the reader. For ages 10-14.
Translated, but you would never know it. It's such a refreshingly original story, setting and narrator. A story about loyalty and friendship, spanning years and continents.
Sally Jones assists the Chief aboard his cargo boat. Grateful to him as her saviour, she's a talented engineer on the sea. After a suspicious pick-up goes awry and the Chief is arrested for murder, Sally Jones goes into hiding and determines to prove his innocence.
The aspect of
Sally Jones is not only a loyal friend, she’s an extraordinary individual. In overalls or in a maharaja’s turban, this unique gorilla moves among humans without speaking but understanding everything. She and the Chief are devoted comrades who operate a cargo boat. A job they are offered pays big bucks, but the deal ends badly, and the Chief is falsely convicted of murder.
Sally Jones will never stop thinking about her friend and her promise to vindicate the Chief, and even as she makes connections and forms friendships, her heart never wavers from its quest.
Yet this loyal comrade is an ape. We see the world through her eyes, the eyes of a sentient being who is treated sometimes as equal, sometimes as inferior, as possession, as mute fool, as servant.
She meets some wonderful characters in her adventures, endearing hospitable sorts that you want her to stay with. Eccentrics, brigands, autocrats. She'll span the globe searching for the proof she needs, changing lives along the way.
This kind of scope is rare in children's books, the 600+ page running length a testament to the epic scale of the story and also shows that the author isn't afraid to test his readers' stamina.
I could feel the period, and loved the black and white illustrations (as well as rather beautiful stylised portraits of the characters) which added to the nostalgic feel and picture of the story. There are some highly memorable characters too, not just our protagonist, but her friends in Lisbon as well as a privileged ruler in India.
Sally Jones is exceptional - warm-hearted but a simple creature at heart, seeking friendship and a sea-bound home, dependable and a quick learner, brave and willing. I adored spending my time with her.
A beautiful novel that doesn't shy away from some quite dark moments and themes, but offers rewards for the patience and stamina of the reader. For ages 10-14.