Sam was 3 years old when her twin sister drowned in a pond. Later on in life, she finds out that she has a twin sister that is alive. She takes a journey by herself to find her father and twin sister. ( )

Thirteen year old Sam Wright wants answers and she is going to do anything to find them. She lost her twin sister Sarah when she was three years old in a horrible canoeing accident, and her father mysteriously disappeared shortly thereafter. Sam’s mother is now getting remarried and she must deal with idea of having a new Stepfather. In addition, Sam has been having strange dreams about her dead twin and an eerie feeling that she is somehow still alive. “Do You Know the Monkey Man” takes readers on Sam’s physical and emotional journey of finding her biological father and discovering the truth about her family’s past.

I needed an additional cup of coffee this morning because after getting halfway through the book last night, I quickly realized I would not be able to put it down until I was finished. It was fast paced and suspenseful and my interest forced me to each following chapter. The author, Dori Hillstead Butler, does a wonderful job of relaying the complex emotions of an early teen who is trying to find her place in a broken family.
Teens and adults alike can learn a valuable lesson from this book. We live in a world where we are constantly in search of the unknown, the better, the “greener grass” of life. While at times we do find what we are looking for, sometimes along the way we learn to appreciate the life we have and the people who are in it. The message of the story is a beautiful one: there is no single definition of family. Family is a feeling, an emotion. It is comfort, dependability and trust. Family is love. ( )

My favorite book!
This girl wants to find her sister, who everyone claims is dead. But she doesn't believe them, because her body was never found. So she goes on a search for her dad and her sister. ( )

A book about a girl who thinks her sister has died.
Greatt book! loved it. a mistery type. ( )

For Samantha in, Do You Know the Monkey Man?, there are too many unanswered questions about her past. As with any teenager she goes searching for answers to these questions. This book reminded me a lot of, The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney. Samantha goes searching for answers without realizing the consequences that could come. The author did a fantastic job showing the emotions and curiosity of a teenager. I think that this book is a great read for tweens and teenagers alike. ( )