EVA by Peter Dickinson

A story of a young girl, Eva, who awakens from a coma after a terrible car accident, to discover that her mind, has been transplanted into the body of a female chimpanzee. Eva’s body was so seriously damaged that the only way doctors can save her life is to do surgery and transplant her mind into the body of Kelly, a chimpanzee.

When Eva wakes up in the hospital bed, she can’t move and can only watch the shaper, a futuristic TV, or look out the window. She had to learn how to use the chimp’s body to move and communicate with other chimps.

Eva’s father is a research scientist of captive chimps with whom Eva was raised and grew up. Her operation and recovery were sponsored by a manufacturer of commercial products, in a way exploiting her to advertise their products.

As Eva recovers and adjusts to her new life, she begins to identify with the chimpanzees, leading her to resist her handlers, her parents and manufacturers, for greater autonomy for herself and her fellow chimps.

Peter Dickinson takes us to a fascinating journey of a young girl, told through the eyes of Eva, the main character. The plot is set in the future, in a world where scientists have highly advanced technology.

The relationship between humanity and nature, destructive exploitation of animals, are the primary themes of the book. It raises all kinds of existential issues. Issues about animal rights, and our responsibilities to nature and the environment.

The author reveals the plot of the story slowly, focusing more on the relationships and the feelings of Eva. An unbelievable but thought-provoking book in today’s world of cloning and organ transplants. A good book to stimulate discussion of medical ethics, animal rights, euthanasia, and the influence of media.

AWARDS

Boston Globe-Horn Award for Outstanding Book, 1989

Phoenix Award in 2008

Pacific Northern Library Association for Young Reader’s Choice Award