Monkey Wars
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“Strikingly original” is how Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider series, describes Monkey Wars.
“Kurti draws from history to deliver a powerful allegory . . . [and] keeps this effective, memorable tale rooted in reality.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Sustain the weak. Destroy the strong. A dark fable in the vein of Animal Farm, Watership Down, and The Wave, this action-packed page-turner is told entirely from the monkeys’ points of view and shines a light on the politics of power, the rise of tyrants, and the personal dilemmas that must be faced when your life is on the line.
When rhesus monkeys are brutally massacred on the dusty streets of Kolkata by a troop of power-hungry langur monkeys, Mico, a privileged langur, becomes entangled in the secrets at the heart of his troop’s leadership and is shocked at what he discovers. He feels compelled to help the few surviving rhesus, especially Papina, a young female he befriends, even though doing so goes against everything he’s been taught. As more blood is spilled, Mico realizes that choosing between right and wrong won’t be easy. Includes a note from the author, as well as interesting monkey species facts.
Additional praise for MONKEY WARS
“The allure of power—even for the most conscientious—is portrayed with frightening effectiveness. Powerful.”—Kirkus Reviews
“An imaginative fable about the nature of power and the responsibility of the individual. With plenty of action . . . a fascinating epilogue . . . [and] striking cover art.” —Booklist
“Following in the tradition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, war and politics shape the lives of several monkey troops. An interesting premise that will provide readers with an introduction to fascism and political corruption.” —School Library Journal
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Screenwriter Kurti draws from history to deliver a powerful allegory in the style of Watership Down or Animal Farm. Set in Kolkata, this dark fable sees warring tribes of monkeys struggle for dominance: aggressive langurs, led by the fearsome Lord Gospodar, launch a campaign to destroy the peaceful rhesus monkeys, seizing their territory and driving the survivors into cramped ghettoes. Soon, Gospodar is murdered and replaced by the charismatic and cunning Tyrell, who dreams of conquering the entire city, exterminating his foes, and driving out the humans themselves. Caught up in all of this are rhesus Papina and langur Mico, whose friendship defies boundaries, offering a hope for peace or an opportunity for betrayal. The parallels to WWII and Hitler's rise to power become increasingly blatant as the story progresses, with Tyrell holding his own Night of the Long Knives, for instance, but the novel is no less effective and unnerving for it. Kurti takes creative license with his monkeys' capabilities and anthropomorphic qualities, but otherwise keeps this effective, memorable tale rooted in reality. Ages 12 up.