It's the summer of 1943, and 12-year-old Celie Marsh worries about the war. When her father one day brings home Charley, a monkey, Celie finds a comforting companion. But more upheaval is in store. Based on the author's mother's experience, this tender novel is elegantly crafted and suffused with warmth. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 5-7 As a 12-year-old living in coastal Massachusetts in 1943, Celie obsesses about the war and its potential impact on her life: the possibility of a U-boat invasion, or a bomber attack, or that her brother will enlist even though he's underage. Distraction comes in the form of a pet monkey that her father brings home. Charley proves to be quite a handful always curious, clever enough to get into plenty of mischief, and unpredictably aggressive. Fortunately, Celie gets an ally in keeping track of him when her crabby next-door neighbor's grandson comes to spend the summer. She initially thinks that Joey is about as desirable a companion as a case of poison ivy, but comes to appreciate his imagination, resourcefulness, and generosity. When Celie's brother runs away from home, Joey helps her track him down in Boston; and by the time she realizes that Charley must be given to a zoo, she has recognized that her friend's private concerns and grief (his father is killed in action near the conclusion of the book) are deeper than her own. A solid piece of historical fiction, this novel could engage animal lovers as well as children interested in the World War II era. Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 4-6. Twelve-year-old Celie Marsh thinks the summer of 1943 is going to be a lonely one: her best friend has moved away, and her brothers are always busy. Even clamming at the beach in Gloucester isn't the same. Then Papa brings home a surprise--a rhesus monkey, Charley. Celie is delighted and loves Charley's companionship and antics. Soon, however, everything seems to go wrong. Charley becomes harder to control, Mom starts work, and Celie's older brother runs away to enlist. At every turn there's a new dilemma. In a simple third-person narrative, Buchanan vividly conveys time and place, the effect of wartime at home, and the challenges of coping with change. Celie is a multifaceted, realistic character, both spirited and introspective, and her evolution from being self-centered to sympathetic echoes her growing awareness of the complexities of relationships (whether with family members or a pet), the difficulties of loss, and the importance of love. An engaging, insightful novel that weaves timeless themes into a historical setting. ShelleRosenfeld. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.