85 pages • 2 hours read
Wilson RawlsSummer of the Monkeys
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1976A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls is a middle grade historical novel set in the Ozark Mountains in the late 1800s, where 14-year-old Jay Berry Lee tries to capture escaped circus monkeys for a reward, hopeful of buying a pony and a rifle. However, the clever monkeys, led by a chimpanzee, prove difficult to catch, leading Jay Berry on a summer-long adventure. The text includes the use of a term that may be considered offensive to describe a child with a physical disability.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Wilson Rawls' Summer of the Monkeys is lauded for its engaging plot and vivid depiction of rural life, appealing particularly to young readers. Critics praise its heartwarming story and strong moral lessons. Some find the narrative pacing slow and the dialect challenging. Overall, it remains a charming and memorable piece of children's literature.
Who Should Read Summer of the Monkeys?
Readers who would enjoy Wilson Rawls' Summer of the Monkeys are typically young adults and middle-grade readers who appreciate heartfelt coming-of-age stories, adventure, and themes of family and perseverance. Fans of Where the Red Fern Grows by Rawls or Old Yeller by Fred Gipson may find this book especially captivating.
RecommendedReading Age
8-12yearsLexile Level
810L