Parents' Guide to

Hurt Go Happy

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Award-winner faces tough topic of animal testing.

Book Ginny Rorby Family Life 2006
Hurt Go Happy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Ettina S.
Ettina S. Adult
August 9, 2016
age 15+

Had potential, but poorly done animal rights plot

The characters of Joey and her family and the way they grow in this book felt very real. However, I felt that Sukari (the chimpanzee) and her plotline was not very believable. It read like a poorly thought out rip off of Kenneth Oppel's Half Brother, with a lot more fridge logic issues. In real life, language trained chimps don't belong to random old guys in the woods, but instead are raised by graduate students working with a university. They certainly don't get willed to teenagers, especially disabled teenagers. There isn't a huge excess of chimps, either, and zoos are actually trying pretty hard to breed them. And most language trained chimps have never been sent to a medical research laboratory, so why does every book have to go there? The overall impression is that Sukari is just a tool to deliver the author's ham-fisted animal rights message. I think the story could have been much better if a) Charlie was part of a research team rather than some weirdo rich loner, b) Sukari didn't end up willed to Joey or in a medical research laboratory. Instead, the story could have focused more on Joey's adjustment to attending a signing Deaf school as an oral Deaf kid, which would have been a much more interesting and original storyline than some ridiculous 'teenager travels cross-country to rescue a language trained ape' plotline. Sukari could have been the inspiration for a career in primatology, rather than the vehicle for a poorly done and simplistic animal rights message.

This title has:

Too much violence
Talia4801543555
Talia4801543555 Parent of 0-year-old
May 25, 2009
age 9+

AWESOME

*************I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK IT ACTUALLY MADE MY CHILD CRY. HA HA HA WHEN I ASKED HER SHE SAID BECAUSE TIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD. I THINK THIS BOOK WOULD BE GOOD FOR CHILDEN MAYBE 10 AND UP REALLY REALLY GOOD AFTER MY DAUGHTER READ IT I DID THE BOOK HAD THE CAME EFFECT ON ME AS IT DID OF MY DAUGHTER*************************
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Joey has been mostly deaf since early childhood, but her mother has refused to let her learn sign language. But in her teens, Joey meets a neighbor, Dr. Mansell, who has a chimpanzee, Sukari, who can communicate in sign language. Trying to keep it secret from her mother, Joey begins to learn to sign. But when her mother finds out, and then Dr. Mansell dies, Sukari's future is in doubt. Includes sign-language alphabet, author's Afterword, and a Reader's Guide in the paperback edition.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (7):

While the story never comes across as didactic, no one will miss the piercing critique of animal testing, and it's a theme that will resonate strongly with young readers. Equally powerful, though, is the web of issues relating to deaf children and their families, and in Joey young readers will encounter a strongly sympathetic, and courageous heroine. Like many in the deaf community, she recognizes the positive aspects of her situation, and though she is often frustrated and lonely, she is also at times grateful and relieved to embrace her deafness.

There are a lot of important themes here -- deafness, communication, animal rights, parental fallibility, abuse -- and sophomore author Ginny Rorby swirls them together into a powerfully potent brew in which each ingredient enhances the others. Without ever getting graphic or inappropriate, the emotional and at times disturbing result may be too much for more sensitive readers. The rest will find it hard to put down while reading, and harder still to forget afterwards. This is a book that has a lasting impact on the reader, and those in the target age group may want to go further and take action.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about animal testing and experimentation. What are the pros and cons? Which outweighs the other? What are the ethics involved? Is it OK if it saves many lives? Is it OK with some animals but not with others? Readers who wish to know more can start with the Web sites listed below, as well as the organizations listed in the back of the book.

Book Details

  • Author: Ginny Rorby
  • Genre: Family Life
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Tor Books
  • Publication date: August 1, 2006
  • Number of pages: 267
  • Last updated: June 29, 2015

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