If you're looking for a book to help cope with feelings of sadness or grief, this might be a good choice. I like animal stories, and I really liked the chance to think about a situation from the perspective of an elephant.
Description from
the publisher:
A
poignant middle grade animal story from talented author Linda Oatman High that
will appeal to fans of Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan. In this
heartwarming novel, a girl and an elephant face the same devastating loss—and
slowly realize that they share the same powerful love.
Twelve-year-old
Lily Pruitt loves her grandparents, but she doesn’t love the circus—and the
circus is their life. She’s perfectly happy to stay with her father, away from
her neglectful mother and her grandfather’s beloved elephant, Queenie Grace.
Then
Grandpa Bill dies, and both Lily and Queenie Grace are devastated. When Lily
travels to Florida for the funeral, she keeps her distance from the elephant.
But the two are mourning the same man—and form a bond born of loss. And when
Queenie Grace faces danger, Lily must come up with a plan to help save her
friend.
One Amazing
Elephant
was written by Linda Oatman High and published by HarperCollins in 2017.
Why you want to
read this book…
It’s
a touching, emotional story of a girl making friends with an elephant and
learning to love each other in the face of their fears and sadness. I didn’t
expect part of the story to be told from the elephant’s perspective, and it
took me a little while to get used to it, but I thought it was an interesting
way to tell the story. I feel so sad for Lily, having to cope with her
grandfather’s death as well as the way her mother treated her. Along with
Queenie Grace, I really liked Lily’s new friend Henry Jack, who stuck by her
side when she needed someone.
“Don’t
worry,” says my new friend, and his voice is like a warm, fuzzy blanket thrown
over me when its cold.”
If you’re a
writer…
This
is an interesting book to study if you’re considering writing from the perspective
of an animal. The story is told using a first person point of view in present tense,
which brings a feeling of immediacy to the story events. I admired the way the
author created so much emotion though the rhythm of the language.
“I
run and run, tears gushing down my cheeks, through the empty and quiet trailer
park, not caring what anybody thinks or says or does.”
If you’re a
teacher…
There
are possibilities for class discussions about animal cruelty, animal emotions
and how humans care for animals would capture student interest. This book might
pair nicely with The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate, another story written from an animal perspective.
Opening line:
“I’m
finally riding the elephant, my grandpa Bill’s circus elephant, Queenie Grace,
and it feels kind of like I’m riding the universe.”
Other info:
In
an interview with Kathy Temean, Linda talks about the novel:
“It is my hope
that ONE AMAZING ELEPHANT not only raises awareness about the plight of
elephants not as lucky as Queenie Grace, but that it helps readers to get
inside an elephant’s head.”
