Berani

by Michelle Kadarusman

An honest and stirring novel about the choices made by young environmental activists, and the balancing act between consequence and triumph

Malia has had a privileged upbringing in Indonesia, but since her Indonesian father died, her Canadian mother wants to return to her own family on the other side of the world. Malia is determined to stay. Indonesia is her home, and she loves it. Besides, if she leaves, how can she continue to fight for her country’s precious rainforests?

Ari knows he is lucky to be going to school and competing on the chess team, even if it means an endless round of chores at his uncle’s restaurant. Back in his home village, he and his cousin Suni dreamed about getting a chance like this. But now he is here without her, and the guilt is crushing him. As if that weren’t enough, he’s horribly worried about Ginger Juice, his uncle’s orangutan. The too-small cage where she lives is clearly hurting her body and her mind, but where else can she go? The rainforest where she was born is a palm oil plantation now.

In Berani, Governor General’s Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman spins together three perspectives: Malia, who is prepared to risk anything for her activism, Ari, who knows the right path but fears what it will cost, and Ginger Juice, the caged orangutan who still remembers the forest and her mother. The choices the young people make will have consequences for themselves, for Ginger Juice, and for others, if they are brave enough—or reckless enough—to choose.

Genres: Middle Grade, Canada, Animals, Juvenile, Nature, Fiction, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2022

About the author

Michelle Kadarusman is originally from Australia and Indonesia and often shares her cultural background in her work. She is twice-nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award and her work has been translated into Spanish, German, Japanese and Turkish. Her middle-grade novels have earned many nominations and honors, including the Freeman Book Awards, Green Earth Books Awards, USBBY Outstanding International Books and Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature. She lives in Australia and Canada.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You are not defined by where you live or where your parents were born or where you were born. You are defined by what is in your heart, by your actions, your words…”

This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year. While targeted to a MG audience, adults can definitely enjoy this touching story full of hope. Personally I connected strongly as I understood a lot of the references set in Indonesia from dangdut music blasting from a radio, village guys playing dominoes, the love of chess to stomach reactions from sop buntut and of course, infamous sinetron (TV dramas).

But most of all I loved how authentic the story is: a pre-teen activist delivers a strong presentation fighting against palm oil plantations, save precious rainforests and orang-utans only to find it challenges the status quo and finds herself suspended and having to apologise for her actions - very normal where this story is set.

I enjoyed the 3 perspectives of the stories: Malia, Ari and.. Ginger Juice! (Beloved orang-utan) sometimes multi perspective stories can be jarring but this wasn’t. Cleverly written, easy to follow and the choices Malia and Ari make come together quite nicely.

“Chess taught me the value of patience. It taught me there are many ways to reach your goal. There are millions of strategies and moves you can plan ahead in order to achieve what you want.”

A powerful story about standing up what you believe in no matter what.. Highly recommended to reads from as young as 10 years old. With special thanks to Allen & Unwin Publishers for sending me a review copy of this book.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25/5 - The premise of this was cute but I didn't love the execution. I thought it was a touch too long and tried to take on too many different societal issues (especially for a middle grade novel). I enjoyed the representation and alternating POVs, but I hated the stilted language used for Ginger Juice's chapters. Overall, this tackled some interesting topics but it was a miss for me.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battle of the books- this was great read to bring out your inner activist. The perspective of the orangutang, Ginger Juice/Berani, was a good addition.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to #Edelweiss+ and @pajamapress1 books for an eARC of BERANI by Michelle Kadarusman (Release Date: August 30/22).

This author was a Governor General’s Award finalist for her 2019 book, GIRL OF THE SOUTHERN SEA, and I will pick up anything she writes. Still, the stunning cover of BERANI (designed by Lorena González Guillén) will draw readers to this story told from three different points of view that focuses on environmental activism in Indonesia. Malia is passionate about protecting the rainforests but finds herself in trouble when she circulates a petition without permission on the school’s website. The petition ends up in the hands of a boy named Ari, whose uncle has an orangutan named Ginger Juice in captivity at his restaurant. And Ginger Juice longs for her mother and her home in the rainforest where she was born. These three perspectives weave together into a moving and inspiring story about standing up for what you believe. Fans of THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN will especially want to add this book to their TBR shelf.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love... With an orangutan named Ginger Juice, living in a cage in Malang, on the island of Java, in Indonesia. Told from three narrators, this book is about bravery, doing what's right even when there are not-so-right consequences, and love for life. It's a quick read (I read it in two days), and you'll want to visit Indonesia when you're done reading it.

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you MichelleKadarusman and @Pajamapress for letting me review this book. I love the front cover of Berani it beautiful. Berani is beautiful story that pulled at my hear strings. The story is about Ginger Juice who is caged orangutan, Malia who wants to help orangutum and Ari who uncle has Ginger juice in a cage. Both of them come togther to fight for what they thinks right to help Ginger Juice and there self. At the end of the story i felt very emotional snd was glad Berani grts hapoy ending. This story is for children age 8 and above. I think children will love this book and they will also learn about Orangutum thst they are not a pet they need to be set free. The book is 210 pages and a lovely font thats rasy to read. Tbe characters are brillant snd its lovely heartwarming story 5 stars.

[Colleen Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful book by Michelle Kadarusman! She beautifully weaves three storylines together and draws them to satisfying conclusions. This book would make an excellent read aloud to grade 4-6 classrooms.

[Sylvia McNicoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone rushes for a new Michelle Kadarusman novel. What I love about this story is how much empowerment it gives to kids. Whether you're an animal activist or just a reader who sees one cruel treatment of an animal, standing up can make a difference. But it can cost you too. Uplifting!

[Theophilus Firtandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berani means brave in Indonesian.

I saw the title + the orangutan cover and knew immediately it was related to Indonesian culture.

Malia, a 12y/o girl, discovers her passion for activism relating to monocultures of palm-tree oil and its destruction of the orangutans' habitat.

Ari, a 12 y/o boy, struggles with the guilt of living with an orangutan as the family pet.

I enjoyed the reconciliation that both achieved in finding peace with their counter-cultural desire, and their journey to getting the orangutan a home, whose human-given name is Ginger Juice, but given name from her mother is Berani.

Great pacing! I wanted to see more of the side characters because by the time they came back in the end I forgot who they were.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023-2024 Silver Birch Fiction Nominee

[Michelle Kadarusman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enormously excited to introduce my latest middle-grade novel BERANI! The book centers around a captive orangutan and is based on an experience my brother and I shared many years ago when living in Surabaya, Indonesia. The story is also inspired by brave young environmental activists in the region. I hope you enjoy it!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Malia, Ari, and Ginger Juice - a captive Orangutan. Although Malia and Ari have never met, these junior students in Indonesia will have their own stories while also coming together for a common goal: to save Ginger Juice.

If there are any teachers or educators reading this review, PLEASE use this as a read-aloud for your students! I read this to my 3/4 class and made it a unit study and they absolutely loved it! They loved Ginger Juices point of view and got into the story quickly. By the end they were begging for me to read more for almost forty minutes so they knew what happens. A few were even tearing up at the end (no spoilers but it’s a good one!). I also genuinely loved reading this book and reading it to them. There are a lot of themes in this book such as activism, privilege, identity when you are mixed race, and sexism that really lend themselves in a way kids can understand while also starting conversations. It raises important issues and shows two sides to a conflict and personal growth.

As an educator, I was also able to lend the themes of this book into many units. We started reading this book in April for Earth Day/month and talked about how themes of deforestation were similar to other books and movies we saw in class such as The Lorax. It’s also east to lend it into your own community as you talk about taking care of the planet. From there we also talked about how pollution affects animals in our community as well (such as in Canada, especially the micro plastics in our lakes) for a science unit. We also then completed a unit on endangered species in our province and what we can do to help them (like orangutans and Ginger Juice) by making missing posters.

The chapters are also usually short so it’s easy to do a few in a class then have a discussion or prompt that they can respond to. From this it was easy to get observation and marks for inferencing, predicting, and making opinions and having students use examples from the text. I’m genuinely surprised this text isn’t used more by teachers as it is great for large or small group reads.

Honestly, even if you’re not a teacher and want to give an engaging (but not long) books about environmentalism, culture and identity, and protecting animals then be sure to get Berani! Truly a great book for young readers.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking novel that takes place in Indonesia, Berani deals with some of the complexities of environmentalism, local government, and the economy while showing readers that life is full of difficult choices that require us to go outside of ourselves and understand how our choices impact others. The story is told from three different perspectives.
Malia is a young girl whose family has roots in Canada and Indonesia. While living with her mother in Indonesia, Malia enjoys a relatively privileged life attending a private school. One of her passions is environmental activism, but when she provides information to her fellow students that is not in line with how the local government views the issue, it causes problems for her teacher, principal and friend. Malia needs to reconcile the consequences of her activism on those around her, and learns about the challenges local economies face.
Ari is a young boy who lives and works with his uncle while attending a better school than his tenant farming parents would be able to send him to. He recognizes this is a privilege that comes at the expenses of his cousin, as his family could not afford to send both of them. His uncle's restaurant has an orangutan, Ginger Juice, as an attraction, and Ari begins to see that it is wrong to keep the animal in captivity, but is not sure how to make his Uncle see this.
We also get brief passages from the perspective of the Ginger Juice, who has some memory of living in the wild before being captured, and see the descent in his physical and mental condition.
Ari struggles with understanding the responsibility to his family back home to obey and work for his uncle but also to stand up to his uncle about Ginger Juice's condition.
The strength of the book is how the characters are able to learn that even things that seem black and white are quite complex. The resolution to both plots are satisfying as is the look at how things work in a society that is quite different to what North American readers are used to.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malia has lived a privileged life in Indonesia, but after the death of her father, her mother wants to return to her home of Canada. If Malia leaves Indonesia, she can’t continue her activism to stop deforestation. However, when a school project backfires and puts her future in jeopardy, Malia wonders if moving to Canada is a good idea after all. Meanwhile, Ari moved in with his uncle to have the opportunity to go to school and compete in chess tournaments. At his uncle’s restaurant, an orangutan named Ginger Juice has been kept in a cage since she was a baby. After finding out that it’s illegal to keep an orangutan as a pet, Ari wants to get some help for Ginger Juice, but that means going against his uncle and maybe getting him in trouble.

Malia and Ari had to face moral dilemmas in this story. Malia gave a presentation and passed out a petition without her teacher’s permission which put her teacher’s job in jeopardy. Her teacher could get her job back, if Malia admitted she was wrong, but she was conflicted about going against what she believes in. Ari wanted to get help for Ginger Juice, but he didn’t want his uncle to get in trouble for holding her in captivity for so long. Luckily their stories had positive outcomes, but these are moral dilemmas that kids can face once they learn about issues in the world.

This was a touching and emotional story. Ginger Juice’s had a narrative which told her perspective from in the cage and from the rainforest before she went to live with Ari’s uncle. It was quite disturbing to hear her talk about how her home was destroyed and she was taken away from her mother to live in captivity. Though it was hard to read, it’s important to read these types of stories because they reflect real world problems.

Berani is a beautiful middle grade story.

Thank you Pajama Press for sending me a copy of this book!

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2025 Hackmatack Award in the English fiction category. The story is told through alternating viewpoints of the three main characters - Malia, Ari, and Ginger Juice (who happens to be a captive orangutan). It takes place in Indonesia, and one of the major plot points involves the heavy influence that the palm oil industry exerts over everything. Malia is the daughter or an Indonesian father and white, Canadian mother. Her rich grandmother pays for her to attend a private school. Malia - and her teacher! - both get suspended when she defies her mother and distributes an anti-palm oil petition at her school. Ari comes from a small village, and stumbles upon Malia's petition when he visits her school to participate in a chess tournament. When he investigates further he discovers that it is illegal to keep orangutans as pets, which is very concerning because his Uncle keeps Ginger Juice in a cage as an attraction at his restaurant.
This book introduces some complicated topics, including (but not limited to) government corruption, destruction of the environment, inequality, prejudice, and the death of a parent. Before I started, I assumed that the story would focus most on the orangutan however I quickly discovered that her story bridged the gap between Malia and Ari. Although I wasn't a huge fan of the chapters told from GJ's perspective, I think I understood what the author was trying to accomplish. I was moved to literal tears by Ari's explanation to his headmaster why his cousin deserved to take his place at school (p190). I don't give out five stars easily however this book completely wowed me with the story AND included extra resources at the end, which always gets extra points with me. I would absolutely recommend this book to any young reader looking for a good book!

[Sadie Noni · Rating 4 out of 5]

An empowering story for young readers

At its heart, Berani is a story about the earth, and the complex relationships of its inhabitants, with each other and with their home. It is written simply, perfect for 8 - 12 year olds. Because it is primarily written from the perspective of two children, the book is very accessible.

Having lived in Indonesia my whole life, I’ve seen too many cases of orangutan abuse. So I loved the parts of the story written from an orangutan’s perspective. Because though we humans share the earth with fauna and flora, all the opinions are ours. They seem to have no voice and Michelle gives them one. I’m sure young readers would appreciate this too. There are moments when the orangutan is hurting, which I think could be painful for young readers. But the protagonists Malia and Ari do something about it. That is empowering for the young reader.

The book is an excellent introduction to humanity’s role in destroying or conserving biodiversity. And it puts the young reader at the center of a very important yet difficult situation. Fight for the earth and rebel against business as usual (and earn the wrath of the system in the process). Or give in and give up. Fit the mold but lose self respect, and admit the damage the earth will continue to sustain. It’s a challenge all of us face everyday, but Michelle makes it easy to recognize, think about and act on.

The story is set in Indonesia, my home. And I cannot tell you how good it felt to be in familiar territory. I grew up reading British and American authors talking about far away places, so to be able to recognize the names and places in a story felt special. I wish there had been more books like this when I was younger, for the Asian child.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is so profoundly not a book from an American perspective, and it astonishes me how much that struck me while reading it -- the message of considering the consequences to those around you, of choosing how to compromise (or not) to keep your integrity without damaging others, of profound and meaningful apology, of putting others first and planning ways to protect those who cannot fight for themselves -- it shames me that these are things I don't recognize in most of the reading I do.

That's kind of a sidebar, but an important one. The book is good. The alternating viewpoints work really well for the most part. although the ones from Ginger Juice's perspective didn't resonate as well for me, I think kids will find them powerful. Loved the message of environmental activism. Loved learning about Indonesian culture. Appreciate that the author is drawing on her own experiences. Loved the gradations of experience, especially regarding religion, and the ways that people respect each other. It doesn't pull any punches when talking about military power and government power that impinges on people's rights, but also leaves a lot of space for the complexity of human emotion. Really loved Ari's story, and how he is inspired by chess to change the things that cause him pain. There are lots of great messages in the book.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Dan Allbery · Rating 3 out of 5]

...I truly believe deep down in my heart that one day I will learn and discover many of the world's mysteries. That one day I might be somebody.

Set on the island of Java in Indonesia, Berani follows Malia, Ari, and a captive orangutan named Ginger Juice. Each comes for three very different worlds, but they will need each other to find purpose and peace.

As someone who lived on Java (in Jakarta) for three years, this book pulled me in. My regional ties brought added purpose to reading this book. From the smells of frangipani to the monkey forest references, I was hooked. I am also all too familiar with the powers of the palm oil industry and how controversial it is in Indonesia and globally. However, despite my personal ties, the book was mediocre. I wonder if a reader not from Indonesia would hang on each page or listen to the characters as closely. The book is important and deserves to be represented, but it has its limitations. For me, all of the Ginger Juice's chapters were a slog. I know it is the thinking of an orangutan, but the choppiness of the writing was more frustrating than anything else. Recommended for GR 5-7.

[A B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berani is a well written book, however, the reasoning for my 3 star review is because the topics covered in this book are too old for the intended audience - ages 9 to 12.

*This book is nominated for a Diamond Willow Award, and I am reviewing it based on that.*

Endangered animals, deforestation, anti-government ‘propaganda’ (as referenced in the book) and environmental issues wouldn’t be my ideal reading material as a child. This is a clean book with no Romance and no inappropriate language. At one point the main character disobeys her mother and teachers orders believing that she is doing the right thing - in the end she realizes her mistakes.
Another note for my 3 star review is the chapters written in Ginger Juice’s perspective were difficult to read. While I understand the broken English is that of an orangutan, I didn’t look forward to reading them.

This book held my attention and I enjoyed reading this book as an adult, but I don’t think many kids in middle school would genuinely enjoy this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this multiple perspective, middle grade story set in Indonesia.

It's told from three points of view: Ginger Juice a caged orangutan, Malia a passionate rainforest student activist, and Ari a boy who wants to do the right thing but sometimes isn't sure what that is, exactly. These three characters intertwine in a story about social and environmental justice.

The issues are complex and the young characters are eager to make a difference - but the adult world isn't making it easy. The story does a good job of showing how a simple act of protest can make a powerful difference in both good and harmful ways. Malia's act of protest almost ends up getting her teacher fired, for example!

Overall, a good eye-opening read that will help middle schoolers understand a global issue from the the context of a South Asian country.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. I will read anything Michelle Kadarusman writes, but even if I didn't know who the author of this book was, this cover is absolutely gorgeous and immediately made me want to read it. And what a beautiful story! Told from three different points of view, Malia, Ari, and Ginger Juice, the story focuses on environmental activism in Indonesia

If you are a fan of THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, or you are looking to add more books with environmental themes to your library, then this is a must read.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade fiction novel tells the story of Malia, a young girl who lives in Indonesia and is passionate about being an activist against deforestation. Another main character, Ari discovers that an orangutan has been caged in his uncle's restaurant since infancy, he wants to get help for the animal but doesn't want to get in trouble by going against his uncle. Both kids face moral dilemmas about realistic and important global issues that will feel authentic for readers in this age group. A beautiful and emotional story, it is one that fans of The One and Only Ivan and other animal activist middle grade novels will love.

[Saskia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blimmin loved this book! Perfect for middle grade and Y9 ... and adults. I will never consume Palm Oil again.

Unlike other books that slam you over the head with 'issues' (Two Degrees, I'm looking at you!), this novel weaves the message through the story so well. Told from 3 perspectives, it gets its message across faultlessly and with pathos and understanding. Fully realised characters (as much as you can in a book at this level) round out a great reading experience. This will be front and centre of my Y9 book talks for a long time to come.

Y9

CW: animal captivity, animal torture (cigarette burn)

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging quick YA read. I loved that there are 3 narrators; 2 children and 1 animal. The author does a superb job of really capturing the adolescent experience of engaging with the world with care and nuance. The book is set in Indonesia and the plot centres around an orangutan. I appreciate how the author was able to so eloquently describe the experiences of wealth and poverty, race and belonging, among other important factors in identity-shaping from a coming-of-age voice in a specific milieu.

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book sad. While the orangutan gets to go back to her mother and the jungle, none of the other characters really get a happy ending. They just accept their place in life isn't the one they occupied at the beginning of the book. It's a bit of a downer read. That all being said, it's a good read. The writing is good and the plot around animal activism is one that kids can get behind and also feel passionate about.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berani will captivate its young readers from the stunning cover, to the relatable, but interesting and dynamic characters, to the passionate environmental activism incorporated throughout. Told from three points of view, Berani will inspire readers to care about orangutans!

Berani would make a great class read aloud for grades 4-6. It is nominated for the 2024 MYRCA Sundogs.

[Jill CD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every school library should own this book. I absolutely loved it hands down.
It is the story of a captive orangutan told from 3 different perspectives. It highlights the dilemma of sustainable farming, palm oil, habitat destruction, activism, and the consequences of doing what is right.
Excellent read aloud choice for a rich discussion. Suggested grades 4 and up

[Alexis]

What an awesome book! Multiple POVs (including an animal point of view), short chapters, student activism, and doing the right thing even when it's the hardest thing. Absolutely adore Michelle because she has such a talent for creating worlds (with animals) and this book was a treasure to read.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of the best books I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it to any and every animal lover. This is not just a children’s book. This is a book everyone no matter their age should read. Wow.

[Mike Broderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read with a world message that can be passed onto our younger generation. Empathy, consideration for others, communication, activism are all messages in this book. Great book for the Forest of Reading book club.