Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Nonfiction & Graphic Novel 
 Estimate of age level of interest: Grades 7-12 
 Estimate of reading level: Grade 6 
 Brief description: 
 A nonfiction book about three women--Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birule Galdikas--who made dramatic advances in our understanding of primates, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans specifically. 
 Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: 
 Nonfiction books should give accurate information about a topic. While this graphic novel is categorized as nonfiction, it has elements of fiction--as acknowledged in the afterward by the author: "Maris and I didn't get up before dawn in the jungle...As a result, some of what you just read is fiction" (135). This fictionalization of facts makes it hard for young readers to decipher the difference between what to trust and what not to trust. That said, the significant events are true-to-life, and while the timelines might be "squishy", there is significant portions of the novel from which young readers can learn and be inspired. 
 Graphic novels provide a continuing conversation between the pictures and the text (Chance). This is done well in this novel. The text is varied, switching between cursive for diary entries, thought and word bubbles, and then text boxes for commentary by the narrator. The drawings show movement and surprise, whether it be the difficulty of a hike or astonishment at an accomplishment. Readers not only hear what a character is saying, they see what (s)he is feeling. 
 In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: 
 This book will appeal to middle school students, but would be appropriate for high school students. It is a quick, fun, and easy to read piece of nonfiction work. It also will engage young girls who may be interested in animals or the sciences. The focus on these three ambitious women who may not have had the "proper training" but who had the love and drive may inspire girls to do things they might have thought out of their reach. It shows how women can be mothers, wives, and individuals and do the thing they love to do in this world. 
 Awards if any: 
 Publishers Weekly starred 03/25/13 
 Horn Book Guide starred Fall 2013 
 DCF 2014 
 Links to published reviews from professional sources: 
 Booklist May 15, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 18) 
 Kirkus Reviews April 1, 2013 
 School Library Journal May 1, 2013