Walt and Judy Ribke are devastated to discover they’re unable to have a child. Then Walt sees a Life magazine story about chimps learning sign language and decides to adopt baby chimp Looee. Life with Looee is a joyful, if educational, adventure — until he gets older. Through Looee’s story and those of several other captive chimps, McAdam’s novel raises provocative questions about the similarities and differences between humans and other primates — and how each genus is treated.
A Beautiful Truth, Colin McAdam, $30. Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.
FILED UNDER: April 2013