In 218 BCE, Hannibal took his army, along with 37 elephants, over the Alps to attack the Romans. Eleven years before this historic event, on the banks of a river near Carthage in North Africa, one of his elephants pulled a drowning girl from the turbulent waters. Thus began Liada's epic journey with the elephant known as Obolus.
Back cover, Hannibal's Elephant Girl

Liada was only 12 years old when she was thrown into the river and left for dead. At about the time she has resigned More...

Review:
Hannibal's Elephant Girl is set around 229 BC, when Hannibal was a young military commander, still living under the shadow of his father Commander Hamilcar Barcar and starting to win the respect of the troops. While Hannibal is a central character in the book, the story revolves around young Liada, after she is rescued from the river by the elephant named Obolus. Though Liada suffers from trauma-induced amnesia, she befriends the people around her and builds a new life.

T More...

Hannibal’s Elephant Girl by Ariion Kathleen Brindley is set 229 BCE at a river camp near Carthage (North Africa) and follows Liada, a 12 year old girl, and her daily adventures. Liada is pulled from a raging river by Obolus, one of the elephants being trained for war at the camp. Liada has lost her memory and is taken in by Yzebel and her jealous son Jabnet to assist her with feeding the soldiers who visit her tables. During Liada’s daily work, she runs across many other camp members; Tin Tin Ba More...

Here is a really terrific story about Hannibal's first mission to Europe told from a most unlikely source, a slave girl who is ultimately tasked with caring for one of the general's fiercest elephants. The historical references to real events and the depiction of Hannibal himself as an intelligent, sensible and sympathetic leader make for an enchanting read for anyone over about age 11 or 12. Assign it as summer reading or read it with your kids-- or just read it on your own. It's charming an More...