Book Name : An Elephant In the Garden
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: October 25th 2011 by Feiwel & Friends
ISBN : ISBN13: 9780312593698
No. Of Pages: 199 pages
Book Format: Paperback
Language: English
Ages: 10 Years and up.
About Author:
Michael Andrew Morpurgo is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. His recent bestsellers in Britain include Running Wild, Kaspar, and Warhorse, debuting Broadway. And it is now a film by Steven Speilberg. You can visit Michael on the Web at www.michaelmorpurgo.com.
About Book:
The book ‘An Elephant In The Garden‘ is historical fiction, the plot has been set during World War II. Lizzie, an elderly woman in a nursing home, shares her story to a small boy Karl, a son of a working nurse. The whole plot of the story is split into two eras one where Lizzie shares her story and the second was of 1945 when she was 16 years old Elizabeth, living in Dresden, Germany, with her family Mother (Mutti), Father (whom she called Papi), and 8 years old brother Karli, who is asthmatic.
When Elizabeth’s father leaves home to join the military on the Russian front, mother Mutti joined a Zoo nearby where a baby elephant has developed an exceptional bond with her, whom Mutti named Marlene. As a Mother, Mutti was trying hard to get all the end meets of the house and kids in the absence of their father. The fear of allied bombers on the city Dresden was all over in Mutti’s mind, along with her kids, she was worried for Marlene too. Zookeeper has announced that if sooner or later bombers attack Dresden city, they have to shot all the zoo animals for the safety of citizens on the road. Fear of attack eventually urns into reality, without delay, Mutti evades from Dresden city with Elizabeth, Karli, and Marlene.
Amidst endless hindrances, hunger, snowy weather, shielded with the chilled wind, moving from jamming road to the forest hay, they met a young boy Peter, an American injured soldier. Who helped them in taking to the countryside with the help of his compass.
Hit:
The book ‘An Elephant In The Garden’ is precisely divided into four sections for better understanding the different stages of the events. A book is for young readers, the language to present a war’s trauma, the scarcity of food or the fear for life, etc. has been shown in very smooth flow without ruining the curiosity. A surface knowledge about world war II has been explained in a very concise manner, so even a person who prefers to skip dig the grave deeper also got a clear idea about far or against parties, like the role of Red Army, NAZIs, German-Russia Relations or the role of Americans militants.
Miss:
In some places, I felt the story’s characters could not get a proper end. I couldn’t understand the need for two narrators in the story like the present version’s narrator was a nurse, and in the flashback version, the narrator was Lizzie herself, which created a miniscule level of confusion in the reader’s mind while transitioning.
My Review And Rating:
From unfolding secrets, holding few lies in the heart with the anticipated danger, sleeping many nights without food, to separating with loved ones, this book depicts every journey beautifully. A good option for the age 8-12 YO readers. There is a part where it is shown that a young guy Peter and Elizabeth, had a crush on each other; honestly, even that has been mentioned in an utmost pretty way without losing the end of modernity or, rather, I should say with absolute appropriateness.
I gifted this historical fiction to my 11 YO son, a voracious reader who loves to read fiction and non-fiction both. This book holds the perfect combination of emotions, bravery, love, and of course, the tinge of history. Here, the mom-son duo loved reading it together. I give a 4-star rating to a wonderful historical fiction.
To know whether Elizabeth and Karli get a chance to meet their Papi again? Being asthmatic, did Karli managed to survive in chilled stormy weather? pick a reading with your kids a light, soft, underneath a horror of war, human-animal bonding, family love, and historical fiction ‘An elephant In The Garden’.
Do share have you already read this fiction or planning to read?
‘I’m participating in the #TBRChallenge organized by Blogchatter“.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, and generously SPONSORED BY Bugshield Clothing – Enjoy Outdoors More!
Copyright © Archana Srivastava
This article is the property of the author Archana Srivastava (archusblog). Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.
A good way of reviewing a book. Glimpse is quite interesting, I will add this book in my 2021 reading list.
Thank you 🙂
Sounds like an interesting read. O loved your detailed review. Thank you for sharing this
Thanks for sharing reviews.I haven’t read or heard about this yet, will check it out 🙂
That seems like a good option to gift it to kids who are into reading. Is the language easy or difficult for teenagers ?
I liked how you reviewed the book with the hits and the misses. It looks like a good book to gift young kids. Usually, children’s books do not talk about wars.
I haven’t read a story set during the world war. I should take this up. Thanks for sharing this wonderful review
My daughter is 8 year old. Seems like a good book for her. After reading your detailed review I would love to grab this one for my girl. She likes historical fiction.
Your review is very detailed and nice to get an understanding of the book. I am not much into war based books however this seems interesting will check it out.
Like the way you have reviewed…hits and misses.
I found the plot very interesting. Will give this a read sometime.
A well-balanced review. It seems like a good historical fiction for children. One to introduce them to the realities of wars but in a language they would understand. Bookmarking it for reference.
The elephant in the garden during world war 2? Would kids relate to such a book, I am afraid. ow old kids is this book recommended for. Your review is very elaborate and informative though.
A very well written review. I could catch the glimpse of the book so well. The book too sounds interesting. My sister would love to read it.
Nicely done review of the book. World war stories always are so bittersweet. We cannot even begin to imagine the life of fear and stress they all lived in. The stories of loss of loved ones, separation etc., are heart-wrenching. This book though seems unique in the sense that it is a wartime story for young ones – not many of that genre are there.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful review
Thanks for sharing the review, let me know if its good for kids as you said young readers
Review blog post is really interesting. My 5 year old loves books to. As you do, I gift my girl books to. Love your honest review about this book.
Thanks for sharing Archu, I haven’t read or heard about his yet, will check it out 🙂
I totally love the review and looking forward to pick one. I think it is very interesting story and I am sure my kid will love it too.
I am a big fan of historical fiction. Based on your review, I am planning to pick up this book as my next read. Heading to Amazon soon.
this is really interesting. Would definitely tell us a lot about the times of World war II. Thanks for the recommendation.
I enjoyed the book mostly because of the descriptive language Michael Morpurgo used because it made me feel like I was with Lizzie,Karli,mutti and peter
My daughter is a big fan of historical fiction. Let me tell her about this book. Hopefully, she hasn’t read it already, Otherwise, its a good book to gift her.