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This well-written classic features clean language and content and a heartwarming story. Fourteen-yearold Jay Berry lives on a farm in the Ozarks. When a circus train crashes in his area and all the monkeys escape, a large reward is offered for the monkeys. As Jay and his dog try to track the monkeys down, the reader is taken on a journey of adventure. I love the wonderful relationship of Jay and his grandfather and Jay's persistence and hard work. This story is slower than most stories today, so not all readers will love it.

Summer of the Monkeys

By Wilson Rawls
Level 8
Review:

This well-written classic features clean language and content and a heartwarming story. Fourteen-year-old Jay Berry lives on a farm in the Ozarks. When a circus train crashes in his area and all the monkeys escape, a large reward is offered for the monkeys. As Jay and his dog try to track the monkeys down, the reader is taken on a journey of adventure. I love the wonderful relationship of Jay and his grandfather and Jay’s persistence and hard work. This story is slower than most stories today, so not all readers will love it.

(Reviewed by Jenny Phillips)

Region North America, United States, Ozarks
Period 19th Century, 1800s
Genre Historical Fiction
Digital Format E-book
The Good and the Beautiful Library No
  • E-Book
  • 3.5 Entertainment Value
  • 3 Moral Value
  • 3 Educational Value
  • 4 Literary Value
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Entertainment Value

All books on our list are chosen to be engaging, but books that rank high in entertainment value may be more appealing to reluctant readers and/or those who are new to good and beautiful books.

Moral Value

All books on The Good and the Beautiful Book List are deemed appropriate and wholesome, but some books have more emphasis on moral principles than others. A lower rating for moral value does not mean the book is inappropriate; it only means that moral values are not as highly emphasized.

Educational Value

Although all books on this list have educational value in the sense of increasing vocabulary and other important skills, the educational value scale is based on how well the book helps the reader gain knowledge about historical time periods, cultures, geography, science, etc.

Literary Value

Books that score high in literary value include exceptional writing, use of literary devices, and a rich vocabulary. All books on The Good and the Beautiful Book List are well-written, but some have a higher literary value than others.

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