Berani (Michelle Kadarusman, A&U)
Berani is a powerful middle-grade story about animal activism set in Indonesia, by the Indonesian-Australian author of Music for Tigers. Weaving in two interconnected stories and three voices, including that of a captive orangutan, Michelle Kadarusman creates a number of moral dilemmas for the book’s protagonists and shows them working together on an orangutan rescue. Malia is passionate about advocating for the orangutan habitat in Sumatra, but she gets in serious trouble at school when her petition to help build awareness of palm oil is shared online, expressly against the request of her mother and her teacher. Ari has moved from his small village to a bigger town to continue his education, but he feels guilty his female cousin is not given the same opportunity, and worried about Ginger Juice, the orangutan kept in a cage at his uncle’s restaurant. When Ari is given a petition by Malia, it gives him the information he needs to help Ginger Juice. The story is exciting and engaging, with strong character development as Malia and Ari learn to take agency in their own lives, making some big decisions about the world they want to live in. Berani is ideal for animal lovers or readers interested in activism and would also be a good choice for book clubs. Highly recommended for readers aged nine to 12.
Angela Crocombe is a senior children’s buyer at Readings Kids. Read her interview with Michelle Kadarusman on Berani here.
