Jakob Wegelius’ middle-grade novel The Murderer’s Ape tells the story of Sally Jones, an anthropomorphic gorilla working closely with a man known as ‘The Chief.’ Together, the two journey all around the coastlines and rivers of Europe and its surrounding areas aboard a grand sailing ship known as the Hudson Queen. When a midnight expedition leaves the Chief falsely accused of murder, Sally Jones goes on a grand and fantastical journey across the globe to try and clear The Chief’s name, as well as set the record straight about the true events of the night that lead to the Chief’s imprisonment.
The Murderer’s Ape is told from Sally Jones’ perspective in the first person, and as soon as the reader delves into the novel’s first few chapters, they are sure to notice that Sally Jones displays many noble qualities and demonstrates many aspects of moral fibre, intelligence and cunning ability. Throughout the course of the novel, Sally Jones works alongside various benevolent characters, such as Ana Molina, Senor Fidardo and Ayesha, who are all introduced gradually as the novel progresses. Readers are sure to enjoy the fact that this novel has a range of different themes and elements woven into its five hundred and eighty-eight pages: it offers mystery, adventure, action and heart-warming senses of companionship and determination.
While this novel is quite fantastic, I did have a few issues with it: though it is a reasonably easy read despite its hefty page number, readers are sure to pick up on the fact that there are certain parts throughout the novel that seem to have no particular additions to the plot and just seem to act as a time-filler. While this novel does incorporate some very interesting and engaging scenes, certain pages containing uninteresting, and ultimately redundant, dialogue and development seem to parry the rich sense of adventure and intrigue that Wegelius manages to convey throughout the novel.
Other contributing factors to the novel’s minor downfalls include its number of chapters. At the beginning of the book, readers are given a chapter index, and they will see that the novel sports eighty chapters over the course of a novel that is just short of six hundred pages. I found these breaks in the novel unnecessary and rather short. I could not help but wonder if they were only there in order to draw younger readers away from the fact that this novel is rather hefty.
All in all, this novel is a great read for middle-grade readers, and while I do think young adult readers may enjoy this novel, it definitely is marketed and written for younger audiences, and some more advanced readers may find its writing bland and uneventful. However, this was a fantastic read and I will be sure to keep this book in the back of my mind when recommending novels to younger audiences.
Cally Black’s In The Dark Spaces is an immersive sci-fi thriller that features some incredible aliens and insightful thoughts on human nature. While it’s full of action and danger, the heart of the story revolves around family, morality, communication, and love in all its forms. Exposition is scarce, but this works in the book’s favour. [...]
In 1984, one of modern literature’s most celebrated works, readers are introduced to Winston Smith, who lives in a dystopian society in which everything–from actions, movements, careers, and, even in some cases, thoughts–are monitored and recorded tirelessly. In this society, all individuals are governed by organisations who mandate conformity and allegiance, and who will cause …
With the arrival of the new Netflix series, now is a perfect time to sink your teeth into Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is unique and one of my favourites; Snicket’s narration is satirical, morbid and hilarious all at once, and although he will warn you many times that the books …
An exploration of both time-travel and identity, Allison Evans’ Ida is a beautifully diverse and emotional story that I feel I’ve been waiting to read long before I knew it existed. Time travel is usually a hit-or-miss for me, but the reader learns about Ida’s powers more or less at the same pace as she [...]
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
April Genevieve Tucholke’s high fantasy novel, The Boneless Mercies, sweeps the reader into a deeply evocative world that grants a feminist take on classic tales inspired by Norse mythology. A retelling of Beowulf, the story follows a band of young women called the Boneless Mercies as they abandon the life they knew and travel the …
Book Review – The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius
Jakob Wegelius’ middle-grade novel The Murderer’s Ape tells the story of Sally Jones, an anthropomorphic gorilla working closely with a man known as ‘The Chief.’ Together, the two journey all around the coastlines and rivers of Europe and its surrounding areas aboard a grand sailing ship known as the Hudson Queen. When a midnight expedition leaves the Chief falsely accused of murder, Sally Jones goes on a grand and fantastical journey across the globe to try and clear The Chief’s name, as well as set the record straight about the true events of the night that lead to the Chief’s imprisonment.
The Murderer’s Ape is told from Sally Jones’ perspective in the first person, and as soon as the reader delves into the novel’s first few chapters, they are sure to notice that Sally Jones displays many noble qualities and demonstrates many aspects of moral fibre, intelligence and cunning ability. Throughout the course of the novel, Sally Jones works alongside various benevolent characters, such as Ana Molina, Senor Fidardo and Ayesha, who are all introduced gradually as the novel progresses. Readers are sure to enjoy the fact that this novel has a range of different themes and elements woven into its five hundred and eighty-eight pages: it offers mystery, adventure, action and heart-warming senses of companionship and determination.
While this novel is quite fantastic, I did have a few issues with it: though it is a reasonably easy read despite its hefty page number, readers are sure to pick up on the fact that there are certain parts throughout the novel that seem to have no particular additions to the plot and just seem to act as a time-filler. While this novel does incorporate some very interesting and engaging scenes, certain pages containing uninteresting, and ultimately redundant, dialogue and development seem to parry the rich sense of adventure and intrigue that Wegelius manages to convey throughout the novel.
Other contributing factors to the novel’s minor downfalls include its number of chapters. At the beginning of the book, readers are given a chapter index, and they will see that the novel sports eighty chapters over the course of a novel that is just short of six hundred pages. I found these breaks in the novel unnecessary and rather short. I could not help but wonder if they were only there in order to draw younger readers away from the fact that this novel is rather hefty.
All in all, this novel is a great read for middle-grade readers, and while I do think young adult readers may enjoy this novel, it definitely is marketed and written for younger audiences, and some more advanced readers may find its writing bland and uneventful. However, this was a fantastic read and I will be sure to keep this book in the back of my mind when recommending novels to younger audiences.
Related Posts
Book Review – In the Dark Spaces by Cally Black
Book Review – 1984 by George Orwell
In 1984, one of modern literature’s most celebrated works, readers are introduced to Winston Smith, who lives in a dystopian society in which everything–from actions, movements, careers, and, even in some cases, thoughts–are monitored and recorded tirelessly. In this society, all individuals are governed by organisations who mandate conformity and allegiance, and who will cause …
Book Review – A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
With the arrival of the new Netflix series, now is a perfect time to sink your teeth into Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is unique and one of my favourites; Snicket’s narration is satirical, morbid and hilarious all at once, and although he will warn you many times that the books …
Book Review – Ida by Allison Evans
Book Review – Highway Bodies by Alison Evans
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
Book Review – The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke
April Genevieve Tucholke’s high fantasy novel, The Boneless Mercies, sweeps the reader into a deeply evocative world that grants a feminist take on classic tales inspired by Norse mythology. A retelling of Beowulf, the story follows a band of young women called the Boneless Mercies as they abandon the life they knew and travel the …