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March 2007

Hurt Go Happy
by Ginny Rorby

Joey sat on the top step with her back against the side of the house and the baby chimpanzee balanced on her knee. She knew it was unnecessary, but she kept the fingers of her right hand spread across Sukari's narrow shoulders, as if she needed support like Luke had when he was a tippy baby. In truth, Joey wanted the energetic feel of Sukari against her palm to last forever.

Though where she sat was damp, shady, and cold, Joey felt as if her insides were roasting. How could she have imagined her day would take this turn? That she would be sitting here with a chimpanzee rifling her pockets, splaying her lips to look at her teeth, and rooting into her boots as far down as she could reach.

Joey laughed until her sides hurt. But deep inside was a truer joy, exactly like she'd felt when her mother came home from the hospital with Luke – instantaneous, heart-pounding love.

Joey Willis is an inquisitive thirteen-year-old and she is also deaf. She is all too accustomed to being left out of things … especially conversations. Joey has been deaf since age six and her mother has never allowed her to learn American Sign Language. At her mother's insistence, Joey must rely on reading lips. She does her best to understand what is being said around her, but she is often frustrated and she feels cut off from everyday life.

Things change in a big way for Joey when she meets Dr. Charles Mansell (Charlie for short) and his baby chimpanzee, Sukari. Charlie and his adorable chimpanzee use sign language to communicate, and Joey secretly begins to learn to sign language so she can communicate with the chimpanzee as well. Spending time with Charlie and Sukari, Joey has never been happier. She even starts making friends at school for the first time. But as Joey's world blooms with possibilities, Charlie's and Sukari's choices begin to narrow until Sukari's very survival is in doubt. You see, Dr. Mansell passes away and Joey faces the daunting challenge of making sure that Sukari's future is safe and secure.

This synopsis was written by a San José Public Library librarian.

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