Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls (4/5)

Summer of the Monkeys is a classic book published originally in 1976 by Wilson Rawls. The book follows teen Jay Berry who lives on a small farm in Oklahoma with his Mom, Dad, and disabled sister Daisy, who has a crippled leg. The book starts as when Jay finds a group of monkeys in the forest below his farm. When consulting his grandfather he learns about the bounty on the monkeys and how they are from a circus. They devise a plan to trap the monkeys however Jay seems to fail over and over again as he is outsmarted by the monkeys and their leader Jimbo. However, when they contact the Circus they are instructed to befriend the monkeys instead of trapping them. Thus, when a storm hits the area and the monkeys are cold and hungry, the family takes them in and befriends Jimbo and his group. The next day, Jay and his family contact the Circus and get the bounty for the monkeys. Jay is excited and decides to buy a Pony and a gun which is what he has always wanted. However, after the purchase of the pony Jay hears about how the family is saving up money in order to afford surgery for Daisy’s leg. When Jay hears this he starts to cry and wants to return the Pony in order to help his sister. Thus, his parents and Daisy go to the city for the surgery which turns out to be a success. Jay is happy with his decision as he sees his sister walk without her crutches for the first time. In my opinion, this book was a pleasant read that showcased themes of growing up and compassion. The book is perfect as it’s not too long and entertaining all the way through. Although the book was written in the 1970s the themes and lessons of the book are something that is still prevalent in children today and there is much we can learn from this book. I would advise future leaders to be ready to be entertained and have fun while reading this book.