Threatened

Orphan Luc is working for an unscrupulous “orphanage” owner when a professor comes to town with a tempting silver briefcase. When Luc tries to steal it, Prof offers to pay off Luc’s debts to the orphanage and hire him rather than prosecute. Thus begins Luc’s journey into the jungles of Gabon to study chimpanzees with Prof. First terribly afraid of the “mock men” & the dark, Luc eventually comes to love the apes in the scary jungle. This YA book reads like an adult book and trigger warnings for cruelty to animals (not by Luc or Prof!). As Luc grows up, from an angry kid to a smart and loving teenager (I presume), the reader grows to adore him and the apes—even the scary ones. Very highly recommended. This author tells the show more story brilliantly, even with a limited number of characters and loads of animals. I loved it and didn’t want it to end. show less

Survival stories are not usually my thing, but this one had my attention from the beginning, perhaps because it concerns much more than physical survival. It is survival against loneliness, a feeling of abandonment, trying not to need a family, but wanting one anyway. I originally bought it for my fourth/fifth grade school library, but the violence would be too much for all but the most mature students. I think it's a perfect fit for middle school and beyond, though.

After Luc's mother and sister die, he is held by an evil man until he and the other orphans can pay their debts (in Luc's case, his mother's medical bills). This story, however, is a far cry from Little Orphan Annie. It's set in Africa and Luc is "rescued" by the Prof (a show more self-proclaimed professor who tricks Luc's captive into releasing Luc to him as an assistant researcher). But Luc's worries aren't over. As they head deep "Inside" to find and study chimps, they not only face the dangers of the spine-chilling jungle, but the wrath of Luc's former captor, a chimpanzee hunter out for revenge after Prof tormented to scare him away, and the unpredictable, territorial behavior of the chimps.

After everything Luc has endured, is there anyone left to trust? Can he even begin to forgive? And what exactly does "family" mean?

Quibble? Re-read everything for consistency. On page 123, "Mango's cries were coming from high up; she must have managed to make herself a nest." On page 157, "Mango made her own nest for the first time." show less

Threatened by Eliot Schrefer is the second book in his Ape Quartet, this one set deep in the jungles of Gabon. Each book centers around a different species of ape, and in this one the focus is on chimpanzees. The main character, Luc, is a thirteen year old AIDS-orphaned child of the slums who is hired by a researcher from the National Geographic Society to accompany him deep into the jungle in order to study these amazing apes.

The author’s research is impeccable and while this story didn’t quite seem as believable as the first, this story of a young street boy searching for a family and a home was touching and compelling. As both Luc and the orphaned chimpanzees that he meets learn to trust and accept one another, Luc discovers a show more purpose and direction for his life.

The author is combining his interest in conservation and education with adventure in these books. His descriptions of the primitive, natural world that Luc finds himself in are fascinating. Threatened is a YA book with both substance and heart. show less

I easily gave this book 5 stars. Mesmerizing, beautiful, addictive. I have just finished it and am going to read it again with my 10 year old son.

Luc is an orphan originally from Gabon. Through losing his parents and his sister he is no stranger to hardship. When a mysterious man, Prof, shows up in his town, Luc steals a briefcase that hopefully contains money. Prof catches him and in return offers him a job to travel deep into jungle to study chimpanzees.

This is a beautiful book about a child overcoming the most unbearable hardships, of losing loved ones to death over and over, and still having the courage and hope to build a new family.

Luc lives in Gabon with other young AIDS orphans boys under the roof of Monsieur Tatagani, an unscrupulous , exploitive man. Professor Abdul Mohammad meets Luc and hires him as his assistant, taking him deep into the jungle to study chimpanzees. Luc discovers he has an interest and aptitude for the work, thrives under Prof’s tutelage. When Prof disappears under mysterious circumstances, Luc must survive on his own. It soon becomes clear to Luc that the human species are far less civilized than the chimps. A powerful, engrossing, and fascinating follow up to Endangered.

The perfect read for a mid-level or YA who loves unusual subjects treated realistically. THREATENED follows the difficult life of young Luc, an orphan on the streets of Gabon's capital, and his rescue at the hands of a scholar who calls himself the Prof. Following his savior into the jungle, they camp near a tribe of Chimpanzees. Over time, Luc and the Prof befriend these apes, in particular a wounded one called Beggar and his little sister Mango. The story is told in first person, a tour de force of realistic narrative. Lovely job. Perfect present for an ecologically sensitive (or maybe even indifferent) teen.

Another engrossing story about one of the great apes from Schrefer. The protagonist, Luc, accompanies a researcher into the jungles of Gabon to study chimpanzees. Luc's initial fear of the "mock men" turns to admiration, fascination, and love. The challenges Luc faces as an AIDS orphan in Franceville, while researching in the jungle with minimal supplies, when trying to coexist with a chimpanzee tribe, and encountering ruthless bush meat hunters, are described realistically. Like Endangered, Threatened combines a well-crafted story with fascinating animal science and global issues. The plot moves well and will catch the interest of a variety of readers - boys, girls, middle and high school, will all enjoy this story.