Primates

Really, really enjoyed this light, speedy, semi-biographical account about three very interesting women: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas (who I didn't know about before). They are apparently known as the “Trimates”. I appreciated learning about the strange passion these women lived their lives by - Goodall and Fossey had no formal training in primatology, but were just SUPER INTO chimps and gorillas, respectively.

I appreciated how the darkness and problematic aspects of their circumstances and their work and their personalities was also quietly and unassumingly displayed. For example, I had no idea who Louis Leakey was - but he was integral to “selecting” all three women for their fieldwork. Mostly because he believed women “are better at being patient” and also cuz he was a philanderer!?

This comix, like all good biographical comix, made me very excited to read more and learn more about these women. As well as extremely excited to learn more about primates!

I really enjoyed this! The art is very cute and it really shows how tough and smart these 3 women were in their pursuits of science.

The end casually and vaguely mention's how Dian Fossey's death was a tragedy so I looked her up later and apparently she was MURDERED? The panel shows her writing “Digit Digit Digit” (the name of a gorilla she loved, who was killed by poachers) in a notebook with a shaky hand and so I thought maybe she had a stroke or something? but she was MURDERED WITH A MACHETE. IDK, I'm guessing it was left out of the book for fear of being upsetting to a MG audience. Or maybe it's common knowledge? But I didn't know so I have to imagine most children don't know. Anyway, I think it's very interesting that DIAN FOSSEY WAS MURDERED, possibly by a former student, and maybe that could be included in her biography. in my experience KIDS LOVE MURDER.

It also glosses over some of the racism/cultural appropriation of white ladies in Africa... to some extent I can see just wanting to highlight their accomplishments but then it is kind of assuming a white audience??

mmm well probably I should just read some adult nonfiction if that's what I want, overall it's a very fun and interesting introduction to these scientists and to the importance of their findings on different primates. Great for animal lovers and young scientists!