Monkey and Me

Nine-year-old Beanie finds life fascinating and exciting and is only aware of his treatment for a serious illness in the way it affects the rest of his family. His top ambition is to get into his brother's gang. To prove his credentials, he braves a creepy, derelict house but finds something entirely unexpected: a young chimpanzee who knows sign language.

Malcolm the chimp is an enigma. Where did he come from? And who are the scary-looking men who seem to be looking for him? Whatever his secrets, Beanie and the gang realise Malcolm needs protecting but keeping him out of harm's way could mean putting themselves in danger.

This funny, sensitively-written adventure story touches on a number of significant social issues but its overall appeal is the dogged determination of its hero and his irrepressible lust for life.