Book details
Phil Earle - Author
Expect a war story centred on Joseph’s bond with Adonis, rather than a battle narrative alone: the struggling zoo and its animals are also central to the plot.
Book Analysis
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Sign in for personalised guidanceTalk about: What changes as Joseph and Adonis begin to trust one another?
How the book presents it: The story moves from violence and loss towards resilience and peace.
Talk about: If the story offers moments of peace, how do they sit alongside the losses and danger?
The relationship between a hurting boy and a volatile gorilla gives the story an unusual focus on trust.
War brings persistent fear, violence and death; animals are euthanised or sent away, and the zoo’s losses weigh heavily. Joseph also faces bullying at school and has dyslexia.
If Joseph and Adonis build trust, what helps that happen, and what does each seem to need from the other?
Try reading a section at a time, pausing to check how the war and the zoo’s difficulties are affecting Joseph. This can make room to discuss the story’s heavier moments as they arise.
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
Limited information
Checked: 2 October 2026.
Relevant to: Trust across difference
Limited information
Checked: 2 October 2026.
Relevant to: Trust across difference; War, loss and resilience
Benefits, discussion questions and reading approaches are suggestions. Your knowledge of your child remains part of the decision.
These links show the original reading lists. Inclusion is not a guarantee of suitability for your child.
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