Endangered (YA)

Book #97 Read in 2013
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer (YA)

Sophie goes to visit her mother in the Congo.  Her mother decided to leave Sophie and her father (who returned to America) to run a bonobo sanctuary.  On the way there, Sophie buys a young bonobo from a street vendor...a no-no according to her mother but Sophie couldn't leave the bonobo there.  She names him Otto and becomes his surrogate mother.  When a war breaks out, Sophie decides to not leave with the United Nations soldiers because they wouldn't let her bring Otto with her.  She bravely remains behind and due to her intelligence and courage, she begins to journey to the island retreat where her mother was last known to be heading.

I read this book in one sitting.  I had to know what would happen to Sophie and Otto.  This book shows civil unrest, animal cruelty and what the lack of medicine can mean.  It was a powerful read.