*spoiler warning!*

First the nitpicks: There seems to be a lot of playing with the bounds of realism, in this book. A professional gorilla-rehabilitator, who knows exactly how important each and every endangered gorilla is to the conservation project, would trust a young child (Mandy) that he *just met*, to take care of an orphaned baby gorilla? That's... a little too implausible.
Also, you would *think* that gorilla experts would know more of what to expect during the course of the plot. Everyone goes on a hike to see the band of adult gorillas, and they take Jojo the orphan gorilla with them... And then act surprised when Jojo gets sick and upset! Even *I* know that would be a normal reaction for an orphaned gorilla-baby to have when he sees a gorilla band living happily together... He wants that and needs that, of course he is going to react strongly!

That being said, I really did enjoy this book. I loved the descriptions of Jojo and how him and Mandy bonded throughout the story. And the whole crisis with Grace towards the end... Intense. I like Animal Ark books that really keep you guessing, where it's not completely clear if everything will work out in the end. And this book did that wonderfully. ( )