Gorilla Dawn

Gorilla Dawn

Gorilla Dawn tells the story of Imara, a young girl abducted from her village home, and Bobo, the son of a wildlife ranger, who are imprisoned by a group of rebel soldiers deep in the heart of the African jungle. When the rebels capture a baby gorilla, intending to sell him into captivity, the children vow to return him to his family in the wild before it’s too late. The consequences of getting caught are too terrible to think about, but the children are brave and determined. Will the bond between the gorilla and the children finally give them the courage they need to escape the rebels and can they ever find true safety?

Gorilla Dawn is set in the Democratic Republic of Congo, against the backdrop of deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, child labour and mining for minerals used in computers and mobile phones.

Reading notes:

Awards:
Winner: Leeds Book Award
Shortlists and nominations: Little Rebels Award 2016 (Highly Commended), UKLA Children’s Book of the Year, Northeast Book Award, North Somerset Teachers Book Award and Steyning Grammar School Award. It was also selected for the 2016 Bookbuzz booklist. The US edition received a starred review from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and it was selected for the US Junior Library Guild.

Reviews
‘Lewis’s animal stories grow more powerful with each book … This is a thrilling, thought-provoking adventure’ ― Sally Morris, Daily Mail

‘Not many people can set out to explain the backstory of the mineral coltan to children and produce a thrilling adventure story. But vet-turned-author Gill Lewis is a rare talent.’ ― Lucy Siegle, The Observer Magazine

‘An incredible, moving story’ ― Express & Echo

‘Gill Lewis is a wonderful writer who contrives to write about humans and animals with equal empathy’ ― Melanie McDonagh, Evening Standard

‘children will be bowled over by the action, the moral argument, and inspired with a new understanding of our place in the world’ ― MinervaReads blog

Where to buy

Please consider supporting your local independent bookshop by ordering your copy there. If you prefer to buy online, copies are also available from Waterstones and Amazon.