Annette's Book Spot: animals

Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Audio Book Review: Ape House, by Sara Gruen

Ape House by Sara Gruen book cover and review

I really enjoyed Ape House. It's a good thing Gruen is an interesting writer because there were some extra details that I thought were excessive.

John is a reporter who visits the Great Ape Language Lab to interview Isabel Duncan, one of the chief scientists. He is fascinated by what he sees -- how the apes are treated as equals. How they were able to communicate with humans -- and wanted to.

A few days after his visit, protestors bomb the lab, Isabel is seriously injured, and the apes are loose. Isabel considers the apes to be her family, and when they are sold out from under her, she is devastated and will do anything to be reunited with them.

John has lost the ape story to another reporter and ends up quitting his job. We get a lot of detail about John and his relationship with his wife, Amanda, who is trying to be a writer but is depressed about being rejected. I really got frustrated with this point of view at times. I really just wanted to hear about what was happening to the apes. I realized that the emphasis on John must mean that eventually he and Isabel would team up, but it took way to long to get to that point.

That is really my only complaint about Ape House. There were many interesting characters, and the road to saving the apes was fraught with detours. My heart really felt for those apes! I felt their humanness just like Isabel. And the twists! I was surprised at who the bad guys really were, and I enjoyed how it all resolved.

The audio version was excellently narrated by Paul Boehmer. His voice didn't detract from Ape House at all (which is the way I like it.)

This adult title is appropriate for teens who are interested in animals. And, if you haven't read Gruen's Water for Elephants, you shouldn't miss that one either.

Published by Spiegel & Grau, 2010, audio by Random House
Audiobook obtained from the library
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Book Review: The Great Zoo of China, by Matthew Reilly

To say The Great Zoo of China is action packed just doesn't seem like enough. I'm not sure I've ever read a book that was so relentless.

CJ is our main character. She's been invited to write an article for National Geographic on a new, very secret zoo being constructed in China. After she gets there, along with some other reporters and Hamish, her brother and photographer, they discover that this zoo isn't just large -- it's a zoo for dragons.

The tour guides go through all the descriptions of how the dragons have come to be alive and how the zoo is perfectly safe. These very large and dangerous animals are well under control. They have all kinds of barriers to allow visitors to get close, but the dragons will leave them alone. It's perfectly safe. Nothing can happen. Cue the Jurassic Park music....

The Great Zoo of China has a Jurassic Park theme, and that story is even mentioned by the characters in the book when they are on the tour. There is an added element in that not only do the dragons overcome the safeguards and become lethal, the management of the zoo is also trying to kill all the witnesses!

Did I like CJ? I have no idea. There is basically no character development in The Great Zoo of China. When all hell breaks loose, she takes over. She is way too cool under pressure. As a matter of fact, everyone is too cool. There is no panic, no screaming, no yelling or harsh words or anything. They all just follow what CJ says without question. No one argues. There's even another character that might be more qualified to lead the group, but he doesn't step up. It was weird.

The action is non-stop. I mean that. There's never a break. I think if the group could have reached temporary safety a couple of times and maybe communicated, bonded, built trust, got to know each other, planned together, it would have been more realistic. But we never get to know any of the characters and they don't get to know each other. I've never read a survival story like that.

The Great Zoo of China is very gory. The descriptions are explicit and almost cinematic in their quality. People get their faces ripped off, and things squirt and pop, and, well, you get the idea. Just be prepared for that.

The premise is excellent. The descriptions of the process of hatching the dragons, building the zoo, and all the safeguards seems very plausible. I fell for it. I even bought the innate intelligence of the dragons and how they managed to overpower the humans. I just really didn't like the breakneck pace where the characters just went from one gruesome, deadly encounter to another. And, of course, CJ was always spared -- usually at the very last second in some very unlikely way.

If you like action, The Great Zoo of China is your book. You don't want to miss it. If you like a relentless, fast paced survival story, pick this up. If you enjoyed Jurassic Park, you will probably enjoy The Great Zoo of China. If you need to connect with characters -- you will not get that in this book.

Published by Gallery Books, January 27, 2015
eARC obtained from NetGalley
416 pages

Rating: 3/5

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Book Review: Unstoppable, by S. R. Johannes

Unstoppable, the third book in the Nature of Grace series, keeps up the excitement -- even more than the first two books (Untraceable and Uncontrollable).

Grace is now living in Florida, in the Everglades, with her grandmother. Her grandmother has a boyfriend who has a nephew, Dylan. Dylan has a girlfriend, Sadie.

Sadie is an activist. Her cause is to try to rid Florida of its many roadside zoos, where animals are held under the most horrible circumstances. So she stages a protest. Grace attends the protest, and on the way home finds a Florida panther that is badly injured and has chains around its neck. She, of course, brings the panther home.

This starts what turns out to be a harrowing, exciting, thrilling, dangerous, and heart-stopping adventure that I don't want to say too much about. Suffice it to say that Grace, Dylan, and Sadie get into some serious trouble and their lives are threatened. Johannes is not afraid to show us some very cruel ways for humans to die, as well as cruelty to animals. The thrill factor of Unstoppable is the strongest point of the book. This is the definition of "a page turner."

It's easy to get wrapped up in Unstoppable. That also makes it easier to overlook the extremely STUPID decisions that were made at times. Not just the teens, either. Sometimes what the adults do just doesn't make sense. But, adventure lovers will be willing to overlook these issues for the sake of the action.

Unstoppable would work as a stand alone, although the first two books were even better in my opinion, and there are references to these stories in Unstoppable. And, we get a visit from some beloved characters from the earlier books too.

Grace is a feisty character that, while making impulsive decisions, will keep your heart pounding. And, you will love her because of her sincere love for all animals.

Published by Amazon Digital Services, May 29, 2014
eBook obtained from the author
209 pages

Rating: 3/5

Monday, February 13, 2012

Book Review: Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater

Mr. Popper's Penguins is a classic children's story that is silly and entertaining, as children's stories should be.

Mr. Popper loves to read about the South Pole and Admiral Drake sends him a penguin to keep as a pet. Well, you can imagine there are many obstacles to keeping a penguin, and eventually twelve penguins, in your house. Each obstacle is conquered with very sensible silliness.

I can imagine the children's belly laughs as you read this one aloud. The text is simple; the sentences are short and choppy, but rhythmic.

I haven't seen the movie, but I'm sure Jim Carrey is a wonderful Mr. Popper. The book was originally written by Richard, but after suffering a stroke, it was finished (and parts were re-written) by his wife Florence. It was originally published in 1938, but there is nothing to keep today's kids from thoroughly enjoying this wacky tale.

Published by Open Road (ebook)
eBook obtained from NetGalley
139 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: no rating

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Book Review: Shifting, by Bethany Wiggins

Shifting is one of my first novels where shape shifting is the main premise. I really enjoyed this story, and I think many teens will too.

The orphan theme seems to be pervasive in YA lately, and this books follows the trend—17-year-old girl, been through many horrible fostering experiences, finally lands in a home with a good person. Fortunately, after the beginning of the book this is no longer a major plot line in the story.

Maggie Mae has been moved from Albuquerque to a small, rural town in Navaho country. It seems Maggie has been in trouble with the law a few times because of indecent exposure. She soon meets Bridger,our other main character, who is very mysterious.

Maggie is a Shifter. Whenever there is a full moon, she shifts into an animal. Maggie soon finds out she can shift at will, and uses this power to escape from her stressful life at a new school. She and Bridger become friends, and it seems like they could be more than friends, but Bridger is extremely rich and is not allowed to date anyone who is not a part of his social class. So they try to remain friends, but there is much tension in the relationship, because they both cannot deny their feelings.

While Maggie Mae is shifted, she is hunted and almost killed by a pack of wild animals. There’s also a strange man who is hunting for Maggie Mae. Suffice it to say, there are many mysteries to be exposed here. What is Bridger hiding? Why does he disappear at the most inopportune times? Why does Maggie Mae have this power? Who is the strange man stalking Maggie Mae? Why are these animals after her?

The plotting is well-paced, and keeps you reading to find out all of these answers. The characters are interesting and their emotions are real. There are a few times when Maggie Mae makes stupid decisions for the benefit of the plot, such as moving her room into the barn when the danger is the greatest. And…my biggest complaint…was the very abrupt and startling foreshadowing at the end of chapter 23. It was jarring, unnecessary, and somewhat ruined the ending of the book. It was as if Wiggins decided, “I need to use some literary technique somewhere. OK. I’ll used foreshadowing and I’ll stick it in right here.” I’m already 2/3 through the book. I’m invested. Hook me with the story, not with two sentences that jump out of nowhere. I’m hoping this will be removed in the final copy…..

The Shifter/Skinwalker legend is well-described and the ending is satisfying. There are some tense moments that had me flipping pages rather quickly.It was an easy book to read. I would recommend this to paranormal fans, both boys and girls.

Note: I have seen three different covers for this book. The ACR I have has the cover pictured above (and I like this one the best.) The other two involve her ponytail having a snake head at the end. While intriguing, there are no snakes anywhere in the book. Why would you put that on the cover?

Published by Walker & Company, September 27, 2011
ARC provided by Linworth Publishing for review
353 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Book Review: Half Brother, by Kenneth Oppel

Half Brother is heartwarming, thought-provoking, and sad all at the same time.

At first, thirteen-year-old Ben isn’t thrilled about his new “baby brother” – an 8-day-old chimpanzee. His mother and father are both researchers who are studying chimp behavior, and their goal is to try to raise the chimp (named Zan) as a human child and teach him language using American Sign Language.

Zan becomes a part of the family – he eats in his high chair, he wears clothes and a diaper, he drinks a bottle, he plays with toys – and Ben begins to feel like Zan really is his little brother. In order to take on this project, his family has moved across Canada, so Ben must make new friends, and get used to a new school and a new life, as well as his new brother.

But, Zan really can’t be a human. He is taken care of and “trained” by grad students, and each behavior is recorded. He does begin to learn words, at a very fast pace, and amazes them all. But, he can’t sit still, he throws chimp-sized tantrums, and he bites when he is angry. And he’s still a baby. An adult chimp will be many times stronger than any human.

The reader knows this story isn’t going to fade away smoothly into “happy every after.” First, there are funding difficulties when some grants don’t come through. Ben has become very attached to Zan, and he’s been assured by his parents that Zan will be around for a long time. But his dad treats Zan like a project – not like a son. Things fall apart rapidly, and the last part of the story is about Ben trying to make sure Zan, his little brother, is always safe and happy.

Oppel's story is really about family. What makes a family? What is language? Does Zan really learn language? There are strong messages about mistreatment of animals for experimentation, but the book isn’t preachy. I found myself tearing up a bit during some parts of the book, and I”ve still been thinking about this book days after I’ve finished reading.

I can see this book being used for some excellent class discussions about a variety of issues. I will be recommending this to my animal lovers; I’m sure they will have many good things to say about this one.

Published by Scholastic, 2010

Copy obtained from the library

375 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5