Endangered Summary
Eliot Schrefer

Endangered Overview

Endangered is a young adult novel by Eliot Schrefer that traces the experiences of the young teenager Sophie Biyoya-Ciardulli, a mixed-race girl who has grown up between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States. Sophie's mother runs a sanctuary for bonobos, an endangered species of apes, near Kinshasa, the DRC's capital city. When the DRC descends into violent armed conflict and political turmoil and Sophie becomes separated from her mother, she must use her survival instincts and her wits to save both herself and her beloved young bonobo, Otto. This novel deals with themes of human suffering and poverty, coming-of-age issues, the complex relationships between mothers and daughters, and the bonds between humans and animals.