Berani

Gr 5-8–A genuine and thoughtful realistic novel that focuses on protecting our animals and resources. Malia has lived her whole life in Indonesia. After the death of her father, her mother wants to move them back to her hometown in Canada. Malia has strong convictions about saving the orangutans, and stopping the destruction of the rainforests. Ari is visiting his uncle to attend school, but during a chance meeting gets a handout from Malia that gets him thinking. His uncle owns a successful restaurant, but has an orangutan named Ginger Juice on display. Ari wants to help Ginger Juice but isn’t sure how. Incorporating Ginger Juice’s perspective in addition to Malia’s and Ari’s, this moving middle grade novel will keep kids interested. Readers will be putting the pieces of the plot together as they turn each compelling page. Kadarusman adeptly weaves factual information about orangutans and the rainforest into the fictional story.