Half-Brother Review

Ben Tomlin is a regular 13 year-old boy. It is the 1970’s and he has just moved to Victoria, BC with his parents and newborn brother, Zan. There’s just one difference between his family and others- Zan is a chimpanzee.

Ben’s parents are scientists, and for their latest project, they decided to adopt a baby chimpanzee. They would raise it as a human and teach it sign language. At first Ben is uncomfortable around Zan and hesitant to call him his brother, but Zan quickly grows on him. They have fun communicating with sign language and playing. Meanwhile, Ben is also starting at a new school with new teachers, friends, and girls. He must manage a regular teen’s life as well as be a loving, supporting and caring brother, teacher and playmate for Zan. Zan is growing older and although he has been raised identically to a human child, his chimpanzeesinstincts are still a prominent feature. He becomes rambunctious and even dangerous. The family faces important decisions about the family and the future of “Project Zan”. But when they don’t receive an important grant, the future of Zan seems doomed. After all, Project Zan is really just an experiment, and what happens when the experiment is over?

Ben’s father shows no fatherly love towards Zan. He treats him like a scientific specimen and loses the faith that Zan can learn sign language, when he has learned more language than a human baby his age would have. Ben’s father implements techniques that are controversial among the family and team of students, who help care for and teach Zan. One of those techniques is the use of a “Learning Chair”, which Zan and Ben both hate. I sympathized with Zan and Ben as I read their struggles with the chair and father. The book was very well-written and I became angry with some of the characters, specifically Ben’s father.

I learned a lot about animal testing and whether wild/exotic animals should be kept as pets. It prompted me to reconsider my own beliefs on these issues. I was outraged at the poor conditions some animals are kept in. This book was excellently written, except I felt the back cover gave away too much of the book. I also thought the real ‘core’ problem that was in the climax came a bit late. But other than that it was thought-provoking, engrossing, and very descriptive of the feelings the characters experienced. I felt like I was really there with Zan, and was sad when the book ended, because I wouldn’t get to ‘see’ Zan anymore! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes a good, deep read.

I submitted this review to a contest to win a book!

Moose Poem

My chubby hands press against the door

My breath fogging up the glass

I hear the sounds of a family of moose

Chomp

Chomp

Clop

Chomp

Chomp

The youngest one looks up

For a moment it is just me and the moose

We gaze into each other's eyes

Penetrating the glass barrier between us

That moment passes

The moose looks away

And goes back to chomping

I will remember that moment

For a long time

Watching the beauty of nature

Meet my eyes


The poem is based on a true story- I was way younger though.

Out My Window (Poem)

Out my window
The world spins by
From toddlers to marathon runners
Do you see the smile?
Look a little harder
It's a constant race through time

Out my window
A child cries
The playground is so wonderful
Who would want to leave?
But away she is whisked
To her it's a crime

Out my window
A homeless man begs
His life is in your hands
A little help please?
Buy that cheap hot dog
It'll brighten his day

Out my window
There's Chinese and Spanish
From cookies to relish
Is there any alike?
All this diversity
It can't seem to stop

Out my window
It's all just a blur
But look down into it's depths
Are the details there?
So look a little harder
And see all the little things