Descriere
AN OBSERVER, GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH, TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES and BOOKTRUST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A Waterstones Children's Book of the Month
'I don't know when I last read a book with such pure and unalloyed pleasure. It's ingenious, it's moving, it's charming, it's beautiful, it's exciting, and most importantly the characters are people I feel I know like old friends' - Philip Pullman
Sally Jones is an extraordinary gorilla and a brilliant ship's engineer who sails the high seas on The Hudson Queen with her loyal friend the Chief. One day the shipmates are offered a mysterious job that promises to pay big bucks, but then disaster strikes, the job goes wrong and the Chief is falsely convicted of murder.
For Sally Jones this is the start of a grand adventure and a desperate quest to clear her friend's name. By freighter, steam train and bi-plane the intrepid ape journeys from Lisbon to Bombay and beyond in search of the truth. But powerful forces are working against her, and they will do anything to protect their own secrets...
A SUNDAY TIMES, OBSERVER, GUARDIAN, TIMES, TELEGRAPH AND BOOKTRUST BOOK OF THE YEAR
'I don't know when I last read a book with such pure and unalloyed pleasure. It's ingenious, it's moving, it's charming, it's beautiful, it's exciting, and most importantly the characters are people I feel I know like old friends. I thank Jakob Wegelius wholeheartedly for giving me several hours of joy' -- Philip Pullman
'Sally Jones is now my favourite heroine in recent Children's books. Move over King Kong, there's a new great ape in town. Charming, moving, and page-turning - what's not to like about this very original novel?? You gor-really got to read this!' --Julia Golding, author of The Diamond of Drury Lane
'If you like the Tintin books... this will make you very happy... A thrilling adventure' --Paul Zelinsky
'A wonderful book... a cracking tale filled with weird and wonderful coincidences, strange characters in these out of the ordinary adventures. And of course the inspired idea of having a gorilla, Sally Jones, as the main character. Best book I have read in years!' -- Korky Paul
'A rare treat; a book you want to thrust into the hands of children and adults alike' -- Observer, Children's Books of the Year
'Evocative... original and old-fashioned in its storytelling... A story to lose yourself in' -- Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children's Books of the Year
'Charming... I loved Sally Jones's old-worldliness and Jakob Wegelius's black-and-white illustrations. Move over, King Kong' -- Alex O'Connell, The Times Children's Books of the Year
'The two children's books I loved most this year are also the two I've loved most this decade. One is The Murderer's Ape - a fast-paced adventure story' -- Katherine Rundell, Guardian, Children's Books of the Year
'Sally Jones, the year's most charming heroine' -- Telegraph, The 50 Best Books of 2017
'A captivating and unusual adventure story, brilliantly told from the point of view of Sally Jones' -- Katherine Woodfine, BookTrust Children's Books of the Year 2017
'There is so much to say about this unique and absorbing tale, but it would probable be better if you just read it yourself' -- Sophy Henn, BookTrust Children's Books of the Year 2018
'Fascinating' -- Guardian
'Jakob Wegelius's The Murderer's Ape is narrated by its central animal character, the compelling Sally Jones... among the pleasures in this twisting, turning tale of profound loyalty, are the black-and-white illustrations, at each chapter head' -- Herald
'It's all too rare that you come across a novel in which the heroine is an anthropoid ape... [The Murderer's Ape] fills that very gap... Evocatively illustrated' -- Spectator
'A joy from start to finish... An adventure tale like no other, a story to get truly lost in' -- Iris Independent
'Compelling narrator... stands out as a truly original work' -- Irish Times
'My personal favourite book of all time' -- Melissa Cox, Down the Rabbit Hole
'The Murderer's Ape is really brilliant and there's some real treasures on the Pushkin list' -- Katherine Woodfine, Down the Rabbit Hole
'[The Murderer's Ape] is such a brilliant book, it's my favourite one from last year' -- Alex T Smith, Down the Rabbit Hole
'It has a real spirit of good old-fashioned storytelling... with more than 100 evocative black and white illustrations by the author. I as absolutely charmed; one for fans of Brian Selznick and Tintin' -- The Bookseller, Ones to Watch
'Prize-winning Swedish author Jakob Wegelius is that rare combination, a compelling storyteller who illustrates his own prose to perfection, the constant underestimation of Sally's abilities, the many eccentric companions she encounters and the rollercoaster narrative offer plenty of entertainment in a tale that reaches a most satisfying conclusion'-- School Library Journal
'Rich in unforgettable characters... The plot is totally immersive, making it very hard to stop reading... The Murderer's Ape is going to last - one of those books you'll still be reading may years from now. That's the best compliment I can give' -- Daniel Hahn, Scoop
'A brilliant adventure... rich with lovable multi-dimensional characters that feel like family... the black-and-white illustrations lend an extra hint of detail and luxury to this book, which has already won great acclaim' --BookTrust
'Utterly delightful' -- Lizzy's Literary Life (blog)
'An outstanding book... superb... an amazing page turner' -- David Keyte: Teacher and Book Vlogger
'Sally Jones... will transport you on a fabulous journey to exotic and dangerous places' -- New Books Magazine, Books of the Year
'A joy... a great read on many levels and certainly one to read aloud with your child' -- The Book Trail
'Eventful and gripping' -- The Bay
'Captivating, emotional and utterly enchanting' -- Blog of a Bookaholic
'Sometimes a book comes along that simply takes your breath away. The Murderer's Ape... is one such book' -- Outside in World
'Its wonderful cast of quirky characters, the warm relationships and firm friendships and the lovely illustrations make [The Murderer's Ape] one which you will remember with great affection long after you've finished it' -- Reading Zone
'Sally Jones is one of the most delightful and unexpected heroines you could hope to meet... This lavish, adventure tale has more than enough twists and turns to keep young readers entertained. The exquisite black and white illustrations perfectly complement the narration' -- Carousel
'Extraordinary... a compelling story of mystery, betrayal, friendship and ultimately, forgiveness, with fascinating diversions into the worlds of music, engineering and aeronautics along the way' -- Teach Secondary
'A captivating adventure story, full of intrigue, mystery, dark secrets and dangerous escapades. With its rich descriptions, page-turning plot and a brilliant main character in Sally Jones, it's a truly unforgettable read' -- The Week Junior
'A perfectly unputdownable book for the brave, the curious, and the gentle at heart' -- Bookanista
'Classy, well-presented and old-fashioned pleasure' -- The Bookbag
'This may be the most charming book I've read all year' - New York Times Book Review
'A complex mystery, an intricately constructed narrative, and deep characters. Committed, careful readers will be richly rewarded' -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
'A richly imagine and thoroughly unique adventure' -- Booklist (starred review)
'A thrilling adventure. Prepare to meet the remarkable Sally Jones; you won't soon forget her' -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
'A head-spinning story of mystery, intrigue, love and adventure' -- Shelf Awareness
'[Sally Jones is] such a sympathetic character, with her longing for the Chief and her dread of being caged in a zoo, that readers will be entirely content to follow her slow progress, the novel's pace being more leisurely than dramatic yet somehow highly satisfying' -- The Horn Book
'A new animal heroine has arrived on the scene. An unusual and oddly charming adventure' -- School Library Journal
'The best protagonist and narrator I have read since I don't know when... An instant classic' --Teenreads
