Young Llama Thoughts
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Adventurous
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Christian Friendly
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Easy Reading
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Humerous
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Youth Appropriate
Overall
Review
I was kind-of shocked by how good this book was! I mean, it’s a book about an elephant during WW2. I thought I was going to sob a lot; so consider me presently-surprised when this book was full of hope and life instead of sadness and death.
This book is about a family in Dresden Germany during World War 2. Elizabeth’s mother works at the zoo and tells them if the city is bombed the animals will be shot to keep the people safe. Knowing the war will reach them eventually, her Mutti convinces the zoo director to allow her family to take care of the young elephant she raised. Thinking only to save Marlene, the family doesn’t realize that she might save them instead. When the first bomb is dropped, the family flees their home with an elephant in tow and a stranger who might save them. Never knowing where they might end up, only knowing where they came from, this story is based on historical facts and a true legend.
I was very surprised how uplifting this novel was! Expecting tragedy and sadness, but getting a sweet story about hope instead really sold the book for me. Though there is pain and death throughout the novel; this book is really about having hope and trusting in each other during a trial instead of just surviving. It was a pretty short read, but the focus of the story sticks with you. It would be a great novel for boys and girls 10 and up!
Now there is some violence in the book. Not described or detailed but it is mentioned. Mention of WW2, bombings, fires, death and more. Mention of people dying or being trapped in the city. Hitler is brought up a few times, as well as mention of people trying to assassinate him. Mention of animals being shot and screaming. Honestly, it’s a pretty clean book even with the war. Not a lot of blood or stuff mentioned.
Overall, this was a very inspirational novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading! I believe kids 10 and up would enjoy the story and even families or classrooms could read it together. If you are looking for a fun, historical, fictional story based on a true legend, I have the book for you. -The Young Llama Reader.
Pros
- An AMAZING novel about hope!
- A great novel for kids 10 and up!
- An inspirational, short, sweet story!
Cons
- Mention of WW2.
- Lots of talk of lost loved ones, death and bombings…
Lizzie and Karl’s mother is a zoo keeper; the family has become attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene, who will be destroyed as a precautionary measure so she and the other animals don’t run wild should the zoo be hit by bombs.
The family persuades the zoo director to let Marlene stay in their garden instead. When the city is bombed, the family flees with thousands of others, but how can they walk the same route when they have an elephant in tow, and keep themselves safe? Along the way, they meet Peter, a Canadian navigator who risks his own capture to save the family.
As Michael Morpurgo writes in an author’s note, An Elephant in the Garden is inspired by historical truths, and by his admiration for elephants, “the noblest and wisest and most sensitive of all creatures.” Here is a story that brings together an unlikely group of survivors whose faith in kindness and love proves the best weapon of all.
