Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

In the 1970's, a new-born chimpanzee was forcibly torn from his mother's arms and given to a family in New York City as part of a scientific experiment on language capabilities in animals. The baby chimp was raised to think he was a human child. As told in journalist Elizabeth Hess' biography of the chimp, Nim Chimpsky: the Chimp Who Would be Human, the little chimp was loved, dressed as a toddler, and taught American Sign Language. Tragically but typically for animal studies at the time, once the funding for the experiment ended, Nim was unceremoniously removed from his home, stripped of his favorite toys, foods and human companions, and caged in a serious of research laboratories before finally arriving at a primate sanctuary.

The ethical issue of experimenting on a sensitive and intelligent animal in the name of progress forms a critical part of the Half Brother. In an interview, author Oppel credits original news stories of Herbert Terrance's research with inspiring him to write a fictionalized account of the LaFarge family and Nim. In Half Brother, the story centers on the relationship of Ben Tomlin, teenage son of a behavioral scientist, with his new baby "brother," Zan.

In the beginning of the project, Ben and his mom take seriously their responsibility to integrate Zan into the family--to share meals, play, and bond with him. At the same time, Ben becomes aware that his father thinks of Zan not as "a beloved little baby," but as a "specimen." Tension mounts as Ben's dad changes protocols to make Zan more productive--to learn more signs more quickly. Without better results, Dr. Tomlin can't find funding. Ben wants to stand up for Zan, but what can he do? What happens to Zan if the funding is cut off? What happens if Zan really hurts someone?

Woven into the personal nature of this particular experiment is the issue of animal rights and the humane treatment of animal subjects. Half Brother is fiction, but the science experiments in linguistics and behavioral psychology are based on real research. The relationship between Ben and his father is compelling. Ben wants to admire and respect his father, and wants his father's attention in return. Ben is initially proud to be a part of the study, but increasingly questions the impact of his father's research protocols and professional objectivity on the quality of care for Zan. Ultimately, Ben must decide where he stands and whether he can let his brother go.