Title: An Elephant in the Garden
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Major Themes: Germany, Zoos, Elephants, Refugees, World War II
Synopsis: Soon after her mother saved a young elephant from the Dresden Zoo, the city was destroyed, and Elizabeth and her family became refugees.
A couple of months ago, I went to a huge used book sale. One of the books I picked up, because it was inexpensive and I had heard a lot about the author, was An Elephant in the Garden. It took a while to get around to reading it because there are so many books on my TBR pile—but when I started reading it, I was drawn in to this amazing story.
Publisher’s description:
It’s 1945. Elizabeth’s father is fighting with the German army on the Eastern Front. Her mother works at Dresden zoo, where her favorite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot to prevent them running amok if the town is bombed, Elizabeth’s mother moves Marlene into the back garden to save her…and then the bombs start to fall.
Their home destroyed, Elizabeth and her family must flee the bombed-out city and through the wintry landscape, all the while avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow…
My thoughts:
This book begins in a rest home, when an old woman starts telling a little boy a story that seems unbelievable at first. Very quickly, however, the little boy and his mother—and the reader of the book—are enthralled with the tale she tells. At least, I didn’t want to put the book down! I have decided that I like Michael Morpurgo’s books.
An Elephant in the Garden is based on fact, as far as the bombing of Dresden and the way the family had to flee. Taking an elephant with them, though—I didn’t find any information about that in a quick online search, and the author didn’t include a historical note. However, it makes a wonderful story! I would love to read this book aloud to my family sometime. This book tells about part of World War II that I haven’t seen much of yet—how many books are there about the zoos? I also loved the way the family learned to love and accept one of the enemy and realized that all people are very similar.
WARNING: Part 2, chapter 3: Bombing, shooting animals in the zoo. Part 3, chapter 3: Bastards used as swear word, lying. Part 4, chapter 3: Holy cow, goddamned.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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