21FA-LS-5653 - International Literature: The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius
"Farewell, you cruel maiden,
Farewell, goodbye, I say,
For I'm weary now of waiting,
Bibliography:
Wegelius, Jakob. 2017. The Murderer's Ape. Translated by Peter Graves. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 9781101931776
Plot Summary:
In the early nineteenth century, Sally Jones is a seafaring engineer who sails with her captain, Henry Koskela, on their steamer ship, the Hudson Queen. She is also a unique intelligent nonverbal gorilla who can read, write, and understand humans. Heading towards warmer weather, Sally Jones and Captain Koskela have to emergency port in Lisbon, Portugal, after a misfortunate encounter at sea. While seeking refuge and looking for work, they meet a mysterious man, Alphonse Morro, who hires them to pick up and deliver cargo from a nearby port. Once they reach their destination, Sally Jones and Captain Koskela are held at gunpoint by a group of local thugs who force them to bring contraband onto the ship. However, as they start to set sail, the boiler of the ship malfunctions causing everyone to abandon the mission. Sally Jones and Captain Koskela safely make it to shore, escaping the criminals, with just enough money to buy a hot meal for the night. Suddenly, they run into Alphonse Morro again. As Captain Koskela confronts him, Alphonse runs away, leading the Captain into a chase towards the river. The Captain tries to stop Morro from jumping in but fails to save him, causing witnesses to believe that they saw the Captain throw him overboard. Captain Koskela is soon arrested, and Sally Jones is on the run, left to wonder who Alphonse Morro is and why he framed the Captain for murder? As Sally Jones attempts to come up with evidence to set the Captain free, she embarks on a long adventure through Europe and India, meeting a cast of characters — new friends and some enemies along the way. Will Sally Jones discover what happened to Alphonse and help set the Captain free?
Critical Analysis:
The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius is an exciting, adventurous, middle-grade mystery novel about Sally Jones, the gorilla. Readers will admire Sally Jones for her courageous travels from Lisbon to India and back to save her friend, Captain Koskela. Readers will also enjoy the full cast of characters that she meets along the way. Ana Molina is a gracious Fado singer who warmly invites Sally Jones into her home and heart. Signor Fidardo, Ana's landlord, initially appears to be a prejudiced old man, a reoccurring characteristic throughout the story. However, soon he grows to care deeply for Sally Jones, forming an unexpected friendship, as other characters in the novel do as well. Readers will also encounter shady characters, such as Alphonse Morro, who sets the mystery behind this novel, testing Sally's judgment along her journey. My favorite character other than Sally Jones was the Maharaja she becomes an aide-de-camp for; he accurately culturally depicts Indian values and traditions and acts as Sally's emotional counterbalance. There are several characters throughout the story, and Wegelius creates a smooth format for readers to follow along with easily, such as detailed pencil illustrations of characters and chapters.
Besides an accurate depiction of Portuguese, European, and Indian characters, Wegelius establishes various settings in Portugal and India. Readers will feel as if they have been transported to seaside countries as Sally Jones ports in many areas throughout the novel. Wegelius especially writes an exemplary representation of Portuguese and Indian cultures, technologies, and customs in the late 18th century to early 19th century. For example, Sally Jones tells the story of Alphonse Morro at the beginning of the novel by typing on a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter. The Maharaja uses an old gramophone, an antique vinyl player, to listen to his music collection. And, I particularly loved the portrayal of the Indian tradition of the Maharaja and Sally Jones exchanging turbans as a sign of respect and friendship. Wegelius also does an excellent job of depicting garments in that timeframe. It's especially apparent when Sally Jones has to exchange her dirty overalls for specially tailored silks. The author additionally reflects realistic representations of late 18th century Indian culture through significant details of the Maharaja's palace, such as special living quarters for his mother and wives, separate from his own room. Wegelius also includes Portuguese diction, including foreign addresses and descriptions, such as "Rua de São Tomé."
Overall, The Murderer's Ape is a charming international translated story that readers of all ages will love. It's easy to see why this novel is an award-winning Batchelder choice. The novel invites readers to reflect on the humanistic values Sally Jones endures, including never giving up, the power of friendship, and overcoming prejudices. The book is also told in short chapters, making the 600-page novel a breeze to read. Audiences will find the story intriguing and adventuresome as Sally Jones navigates through international waters braving the most dangerous characters in this culturally unique tale. I recommend this mystery for middle-grade readers and up, anyone interested in seafaring adventures, and those looking for a good detective case.
Awards & Reviews:
- 2018 Batchelder Award Winner
- 2018 ALA Notable Children's Book Selection
- 2018 USBBY-CBC Outstanding International Trade Book Selection
- 2018 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults Selection
- 2017 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Kinderbuch Winner (German Youth Literature Prize)
- 2014 Augustpriset for Children's and Youth Literature Winner (Annual Swedish Publishers' Association Award)
From ALA Booklist, "A richly imagined and thoroughly unique adventure."
From Kirkus Reviews, "Features a complex mystery, an intricately constructed narrative, and deep characters. Committed, careful readers will be richly rewarded."
From Publishers Weekly, "A thrilling adventure. Prepare to meet the remarkable Sally Jones; you won’t soon forget her."
From The New York Times Review, "This may be the most charming book I’ve read all year. It’s a challenge to build a story around a protagonist who can’t speak, and Wegelius does this skillfully, emphasizing qualities that make us human."
From School Library Journal, "A new animal heroine has arrived on the scene. An unusual and oddly charming adventure."
Connections:
Discussion: After reading Sally Jones's many adventures throughout the book, ask patrons to discuss their dream travel destinations and why. If any patrons have recently traveled, ask for volunteers willing to discuss what they experienced during their trip.
Activity: Ana Molina sings traditional Portuguese music called Fado throughout the book. Play this video of Fado music for patrons to listen to and learn more about Portuguese culture in Lisbon, where Ana Molina, Signor Fidardo, and Sally Jones live. You can also try traditional music from India, where Sally Jones is the aide-de-camp for the Maharaja. Encourage patrons to reflect on the two different styles of music on how they are similar or different.
For patrons interested in reading more Swedish adventurous novels written in translation, introduce the following:
- Gaarder, Jostein. 1991. Sophie's World. ISBN: 9781857993288
- Lindgren, Astrid. 1945. Pippi Longstocking. ISBN: 9780142402498
- Lindgren, Astrid. 1964. Seacrow Island. ISBN: 9780670625925