Isabel is running a study of bonobos learning sign language and communicating with humans. Her entire world changes (as does the bonobos' world) when Isabel is running a study of bonobos learning sign language and communicating with humans. Her entire world changes (as does the bonobos' world) when there is an explosion in the lab, Isabel is hurt, and the bonobos are taken away. Isabel is on a mission to find them, as she considers them her family.
I really liked this, but then, I love animals! The sign language studies are fascinating. I have to say that I'm glad I was reading this at home at the point where Isabel went through a place that does testing/experimentation on animals. That was super-tough to read (yet sadly, those places are out there). I did make the mistake of reading a few reviews the day I started reading it, so I did read something that I would have preferred not to know, but that was my mistake. My copy had an Author's Note and a Reader's Guide at the end where Gruen talked about her research for the book, which I always find interseting. You can tell, even without reading that, though, that how much she loves animals, herself. ...more