Hello everyone!
Today's review is for a different genre than I usually read. I was given the opportunity from Netgalley and Pushkin Press to read the translation of the second Sally Jones's book The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius. I don't typically read middle grad fiction but the concept really caught my interest and I felt like this book would be right up my alley.
Let’s get into it!
Here are the quick facts:
eBook
Publishers: Pushkin Press | Pushkin Children's Books
Publishing Date: September 10, 2024
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Rating: 4/5 stars
640 pages
Sally Jones is a mechanic, loyal friend, and ape. She works with Captain Kostela aboard a ship and together they move cargo and sail the sea. While caught in an illegal scheme, Kostela is falsely accused of murder. Sally Jones, alone in Lisbon, learns that that there maybe hope after all, when learning the supposed murder victim still lives. With her hard work ethic and ability to astound people with her skills, Sally finds friends in Lisbon and sets off of proving Kostela's innocence.
I really enjoyed this book. The concept alone was enough to catch my interest but I also enjoyed so many aspects of the book. The book was a lot longer than the other novels I tend to read. It was over 600 pages but it didn't feel as if the story dragged along. I wasn't sure what I expected when I started out reading but I was pleasantly surprised by both the long narrative arc and the pacing of the book. It was integral that the story took place over a long stretch of time and it didn't feel like anything was rushed for the sake of the plot. Life moved on slowly for Sally but she never lost hope in her belief to prove Kostela's innocence. It also allowed for the relationships Sally made with other characters to become deep and meaningful.
The choice to make the narrator an ape also really solidified the story telling for me. Sally Jones had such a distinct narrative voice that seemed very adult in a children's story. It allowed for the author to have the main character experience hardships and prejudice while still maintaining the fantastical elements of a children's story. I did, however, find that the story relied heavily on outdated stereotypes for the nonwhite characters within this book. I'm not sure how much of this was because of the fact that the story was translated to English but it was enough to stop this book from being a 5/5 star read for me.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book for both children and adults alike. The story is told in a way that is entertaining for children but serious enough for adults. I believe that this story blends those two ideals together in a beautiful way. I look forward to reading more books within this series.
The Murderer's Ape is out now. I'll link places to purchase book below. Thank you again to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Until next time!
Links:
Penguin Randomhouse: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/253474/the-murderers-ape-by-jakob-wegelius/
Pushkin Press: https://pushkinpress.com/book/the-murderers-ape/
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