The Ape House by Sara Gruen surprised me with information about animals kept in captivity for various human purposes. Bonobos in the story are kept in an enclosed but, freedom-enriching environment that is being used to study the effects of language between humans and the apes. Sign language has been taught to great apes since 1977, beginning with the famous gorilla, Koko. Similar to using sign language with human infants, the sign language helps to lessen stress as the animals can communicate their needs with their captors. Computers are instrumental helping the communication with the bonobos in the language lab. The writer, Sara Gruen, spent time with the real life language competent bonobos at the Great Ape Trust, earning her way in by studying linguistics. Sara was able to represent them accurately for her novel by studying the apes and interacting with them. This novel weaves reality and fiction, creating a suspenseful tale with strong characters and a compelling storyline.
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