This book follows the Freemans, a fictional family plucked from gritty Boston suburbs to live under the microscope of a research institute. They have been assigned to raise Charlie, a needy infant chimpanzee, and teach him sign language. We quickly are introduced to much more than this strange situation, however. The Freemans’ experience involves complexities of race, assimilation and family dynamics. The book is more about the family and less about their exotic new addition. Charlie the chimpanzee is really an ancillary character, whose presence brings about truths that are neither attractive nor comfortable for the family members to face. As they cope with what has been put in front of them, the Freemans’ pain and desire to seek comfort is beautifully and precisely human.
