In 1864, a ship arrives at the harbor carrying an unexpected passenger: a lively monkey named Jacko, destined to turn the quiet Lee household upside down. When young Minnie adopts the mischievous creature, she discovers that pet ownership comes with challenges no ordinary cat or dog could dream up. From raids on the kitchen to daring escapes through open windows, Jacko's antics test her patience and spark equal parts laughter and exasperation from her family. Written in the ornamental prose style of Victorian children's literature, Madeline Leslie captures something true about the experience of childhood: the fierce love for a creature that drives you mad, the dawning awareness that caring for another living thing means accepting its wildness as part of the bargain. It's a slim, charming book that offers a window into a world where monkeys arrived on merchant ships and children found wonder in the most improbable companions.
