The Murderer's Ape

Sally Jones is a brilliant ship's engineer. The fact that she is also a gorilla and unable to speak complicates matters when her best friend (a ship captain called "the Chief") is framed for murder. From 1920s Portugal to India, on boats, trains, and even airplanes, Sally Jones will stop at nothing to prove the Chief is innocent and free him from prison. Along the way, she meets a cast of unforgettable characters, including a maharaja, a budding fado singer, and an accordion repairman. Newly translated from Swedish, this award-winning book contains black-and-white illustrations by the author (including a charming portrait gallery of the characters). I enjoyed The Murderer's Ape's timeless feel, and its unpredictable adventure pulled me in from the very first page. (Ages 9 to 13)