Review Detail

The town of MacOongafoondsen (try saying that fast three times) is a tiny one (only 21 residents) and they have little contact with the outside world. When a mysterious ship washes up on shore with one lone (and very hairy) survivor, the townspeople are convinced that not only is the stranger a foreigner and a Frenchman, but he must also be a spy and a thief.

In fact, Monsieur Eek is a chimpanzee. And it comes to Emmaline Perth, a plucky thirteen-year-old and Flurp, her friend and the town fool (doesn't every town need one?) to defend the poor chimp in trial.

If you haven't guessed it already, this is a funny little story with lots of humor, sarcasm, and a lot of tongue-in-cheek plot lines. There are also lots of little anachronisms the year the story takes place in is supposed to be early in the 1600's, but Flurp wears a baseball cap. That's not all, of course. This just lends to the general air of fun and frivolity of the novel.

Emmaline, Flurp and Monsieur Eek go through quite a bit and even manage to solve a local mystery while defending themselves from the crazed townspeople. This is a fun read for any young readers with a bent for hilarity and fantasy. Recommended for readers aged 8 and up.