
Eliot Schrefer's 'Rescued' tells the compelling story of John, a boy whose life is intertwined with Raja, a baby orangutan his father brought home. When John's parents divorce and Raja is sold to a cruel roadside zoo, John feels a deep responsibility to save him. This leads him on an adventurous and dangerous journey to bring Raja to a sanctuary in Indonesia. The book explores themes of family, responsibility, animal welfare, and the courage to fight for what's right, making it suitable for children aged 8-11 for independent reading, or as a read-aloud for younger animal lovers.
When John was ten years old his father brought back a baby orangutan from Indonesia, and Raja quickly becomes John's "brother" and responsibility--so years later, after his parents divorce, and his father has sold Raja to a roadside zoo, John sets out to rescue him and bring him to a sanctuary in Indonesia.