Jim was a South African railway inspector in the late 1800s who lost his legs in an accident while at work. Unable to perform all his tasks with his disability but desperate to keep his job, Jim discovered a brilliant solution, a baboon named Jack. Jim trained Jack to help him both at home and at the depot. But when the railway authorities and the public discovered a monkey on the job, Jack and Jim had to work together to convince everyone that they made a great team. This inspiring true story celebrates the history of service animals and a devoted friendship.
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**My thoughts**
I love historical fiction, and this one was definitely a story that I had never heard before. Back in the late 1800s in South Africa, a man named Jim lost his legs in an accident while working on train track repairs. He still needed to work, so he was trained to be a signalman, moving trains to their proper tracks. One day, he comes across a man who had a baboon as an assistant, and strikes a deal to purchase Jack. What follows is an amazing story of how Jack the baboon becomes an imperative service animal and helper to Jim. It is truly incredible what this baboon was able to learn how to do. And the deep friendship and connection between Jim and Jack is beautiful. I'm so glad to have learned a new story.
Following the story, the author talks about how she went about researching the story, which I appreciate as a teacher. The history buff in me loves the real photographs of the real Jim and Jack. Then there is a section that gets into more educational aspects, such as a description of primates, a history of service animals, a glossary of terms, and a list of internet resources for further exploration. Discussion questions can be used in the classroom, or for fun for the independent reader who may like to think about what he has just read. I think it would definitely make a great addition to a classroom library and could lead to all kinds of research projects. I give it 4 1/2 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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