What the Orangutan Told Alice: A Rain Forest Adventure

Once again, as in Smith's WHAT THE PARROT TOLD ALICE, there's plenty of nature, fascinating mind-popping science (including a discussion of the theory of evolution that will knock both Darwinists and Creationists on their ears), finger-pointing at humankind's shortsightedness (as well as a deserved jab at Americans' refusal to embrace other cultures), suggestions that humans would do well to emulate animals, and wondrous encounters with the rainforest. There are plenty of animal characters such as the wise Lorax-like Marco, the Old Man of the Forest, love-monkey Nik, and survivor Jude, whose owner taught her to drink martinis and smoke Marlboros (no joke). There's an international (even extraterrestrial!) perspective, intelligent environmental and scientific discourse, as well as the sense that people are finally lighting candles rather than cursing the darkness. Teens are fond of the phrase "Get real." In Smith's story, both teens and adults tell the world to get real and listen to WHAT THE ORANGUTAN TOLD ALICE.

If you like fun and adventure, you'll like this story about two teenagers' journey deep into the rain forests of Borneo, in search of Orangutans. An imaginative and captivating tale, it is funny and at the same time poignant. It teaches children about the fragile balance between civilization and nature and the delicate web that binds us all together. It leaves us with an understanding of the plight of the Orangutans, as well as with a sense of hope.I read this book with my 10 year old daughter and we loved it!

I found this book while looking for a gift for my 15 year old nephew and was amazed by how much I enjoyed reading it myself. This is such a creative way to engage young people in looking at issues of habitat preservation, wildlife exploitation and extinction, conservation, (human) overpopulation and more! What might be difficult and abstract concepts for a young person to understand, are made real and personal through the stories of a young girl and the animals she meets in the rainforest. If we are really going to save the earth and all of it's inhabitants, we will have to get the next generation involved. This book has the power to do that and should be in the hands of children all around the world.

What The Orangutan Told Alice: A Rain Forest Adventure by environments Dale Smith is an engaging, informative, entertaining, environmental novel written for young adults and thoughtful conservationists of all ages. A story that relates human and ape, as much from the orangutan's point of view as that of Alice, What The Orangutan Told Alice is a meaningful story meant to make its reader aware of the importance of the natural world...

I loved this book. Through the eyes of a 14 year old child we look into the world of the orangutan, the gibbon, and other animals of the world's shrinking rain-forest. There is a useful dictionary of rain-forest and animal terms. As a former teacher who now works full-time for primate protection, I think this book is suitable for readers from eleven years old right up to 100! It is really thought-provoking but never leaves one with the feeling of helplessness. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman, International Primate Protection League