The Elephant Thief

The Elephant Thief #1

by Jane Kerr

When Danny accidentally buys an elephant, he accepts a job from a zookeeper to ride the elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester that turns into a journey that captures the attention of everyone in the country.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Childrens, Fiction, Historical, Animals

327 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[jv poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable adventure about a boy and an elephant. Great gift for younger readers, I think.

[Willemijn jufwillemijnopallstars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal, ook spannend op sommige momenten. Deels waargebeurd, wel dik voor een kinderboek

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

De olifantendief is een mooi en ontroerend verhaal over de onverwachtse vriendschap tussen een jongen en een olifant. Aangrijpend, omdat Danny niet kan praten. Hij leeft als straatjochie, maar komt dan door bepaalde gebeurtenissen in aanraking met de beroemdste olifant ter wereld, Maharadja. Vlotte schrijfstijl, beeldend geschreven. Bevat spannende gebeurtenissen waardoor je blijft lezen. Sommige gebeurtenissen zijn een beetje vergezocht, daarom maar 4 sterren ipv 5. Maar zeker enorm genoten van dit verhaal. Spannend, maar bevat ook mooie boodschappen!
Gebaseerd op het echt verhaal van deze olifant.

[15VanGeesbergenH · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK. I didn't really enjoy it that much as I got a bit confused but there was unexpected twists.

[Becky Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Jane Kerr took a historical event - Maharajah walking from Edinburgh to Belle Vue - and turned it into a great story, keeping it in the time it happened. It was nice to read about how seeing Maharajah's skeleton at the Manchester museum had inspired Jane to write the novel; it felt right that she talks about the real story at the end (that's my inner historian coming out!)

Her characters are interesting, though I felt some of them perhaps lacked a little depth, such as Mr Jameson who is all boundless enthusiasm and showmanship. I did love Danny and how his character developed from the mute, nameless street-thief and pickpocket, Boy, into someone who felt he deserved a home and friends - and a name. Hetty is wonderfully unrestrained by convention - as I would be if I'd just been freed from a controlling Aunt - chatting continuously to anyone and everyone, but far smarter and more crafty that people believe.

Maharajah the elephant is a character that will capture people's hearts and minds. He's beautifully written and described in a way that creates a clear image in my mind of how he looks and behaves. The bond between him and Sandev, then him and Danny is lovely to read. The developing relationship between the boy and the elephant is well written; it's realistic, rather than overly sentimental, which would have been easy to do.

The book is fast paced, entertaining and well-written. The story moves along well and I honestly didn't pick out who the inside-man was until it was revealed. I picked out the red herrings but just couldn't figure out who the real perpetrator was. The Elephant Race itself is an entertaining concept - and I won't reveal who won in the end, though I imagine most of you can guess. The pleasant and unpleasant bits at the end of the book rounded it all off nicely.

I would happily recommend this book to both young readers and adults. It's a good read and worth picking up; I won it via a World Book Day competition and I am glad I did.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my e-text (read with audible)

This historical fiction book was captivating. With all the twists and turns of "Danny's" journey, your higher level grades are sure to stay entertained. This book is meant for 5th grade and above because of vocabulary and topics. This books tells the story of Boy transforming into Danny and finally into the Prince. We follow the adventure of his new life with his new companion, the elephant. He learns so much a long the way and the reader learns with him.

IN THE CLASSROOM: First activity would be a quick write. Have the students think about how they would feel if they had this dramatic of a change happen in their life? Do they think they would handle switching lives as well as boy did? Discuss with class after everyone has written down answers. Use a guess yes or no activity before each chapter. This book has a lot of unexpected events happen and it would be interesting to see what children can infer about the next chapter. This is a great comprehension tool as well as a way to keep students accountable for reading the chapters and paying attention to what happened.

WOW BOOK: This was a WOW book for me because it always kept me entertained. I never knew what was going to happen next and I felt like I couldn't put the book down. I think this book had a lot of important themes for younger students to read and learn, as well as people my age. This is definitely a book I would recommend to people of all ages.

[Tobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book. I kept wanting to read it.

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 4 out of 5]

READING LEVEL: 4.7 AR POINTS: 11.0
(Age 8-12, grade 3-7)
--------------------
Originally published in the UK in 2017 and published in the U.S. in 2018. A cute little story based on a real elephant. Maharajah, an Asian elephant who had once been part of a famous traveling circus, Wombwell's Royal Number One Menagerie, back in 1872. He was sold off in Edinburgh, Scotland, to become a resident of the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in Manchester, England. But, after boarding the train to bring him to his new home, Maharajah destroyed his carriage. His new keeper decided to walk the elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester, 218 miles, which took 10 days...a 4-hour car drive today. Maharajah lived 10 years at Belle Vue and died in 1882 from pneumonia. His skeleton was put on display at Belle Vue until its closure. It is now, to this day, on display at the Manchester Museum.

https://manchesterhistory.net/bellevu...

The author used the above events, along with real people to create this sweet little novel for young readers, adding all the excitement of the 10 day journey from Edinburgh to Manchester that was actually missing on Maharajah's real life journey.

"Boy" was a homeless, mute orphan living on the streets and thieving his way through life in Edinburgh. When caught thieving at the auction where they were auctioning off the zoo animals, including the elephant, Maharajah, the Magnificent, he was given the name, Danny, and thrown into the job of riding Maharah the 218 miles down to Manchester. He developed friendships and family bonds for the first time in his life. He connected with Maharajah, and Maharajah connected with Danny because of his gentle nature. He learnt what it felt like to truly love something so much that he was willing to give his own life to save it. Just an all around feel-good and nourishing read for younger readers, although I feel 3rd grade might be a tad too young for this novel...but I could be wrong.

[Virginie (chouettblog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. I didn't know it was based on a true story. Review up soon.

[Saar Steverlinck · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

Spannend verhaal over de vriendschap tussen een straatboefje en een olifant. Gebaseerd op een waargebeurd verhaal. Spreekt tot de verbeelding!

[Hanneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geweldig meeslepend, spannend en ontroerend avonturenverhaal. Geen seconde saai of langdradig. Een heerlijk dik boek! Gebaseerd op enkele waargebeurde feiten.

[Inge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een spannend en ontroerend verhaal, gebaseerd op waargebeurde feiten. Boy wordt aangenomen door de eigenaar van een ménagerie om met olifant Mahardja binnen 10 dagen van Edinburgh naar Manchester te reizen. Dit is een reis voor een weddenschap, dus onderweg wordt er flink wat sabotage gepleegd. Ondanks dat, is dit vooral een verhaal over vriendschap, afkomst en je eigen plek in de wereld vinden. Mooi beschreven en boeiend tot de laatste letter.

[Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als een kinderboek ook volwassenen in zijn greep kan houden dan is het een goed boek

[Carl Lens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heerlijk kinderboek (voor 10-12).

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book...adventure, historical, orphan, elephant, character growth... so much to enjoy!

[Maaike de Vries · Rating 5 out of 5]

De olifantendief - Jane Kerr
Houd jij van avonturenverhalen die zich afspelen in een andere tijd, op een andere plaats? Houd je van lezen over dieren, zoals olifanten en paarden? Dan raad ik je dit boek van harte aan. Terwijl ik het las kwamen er beelden van andere boeken die ik eerder las boven. Maar betekent dat dat het geen origineel verhaal is? Integendeel: het is een heel spannend boek dat je niet weg kunt leggen!

In De olifantendief leren we Boy kennen: een gewiekste zakkenroller die woont in een achterbuurt in Edinburgh, Schotland. Het verhaal speelt in 1872. Het is een harde tijd. Boy heeft geen vrienden of familie, hij heeft enkel vijanden die hem klusjes laten opknappen. Totdat Boy op een veiling van dierentuindieren terecht komt. Daar ontmoet hij de reusachtige Maharadja, een Afrikaanse olifant waar hij direct een diepe connectie mee voelt.

Boy wordt door de nieuwe eigenaar van de olifant, meneer Jameson, ontdekt en krijgt een bijzondere positie: hij wordt ‘gekroond’ tot Indiase prins (wat hij natuurlijk niet is!) die op de olifant een reis gaat afleggen naar het circus in Manchester. Meneer Jameson is er alles aan gelegen om veel aandacht te trekken met de olifant en de trip: op allerlei manieren laat hij de pers en de inwoners van de dorpen en steden weten dat ze naar het circus moeten komen.

Voor Boy, die nu Danny of prins Danjat genoemd wordt, wordt het steeds ongemakkelijker: hij moet het spelletje meespelen en meedoen met de leugens, terwijl hij ondertussen steeds bang is dat zijn oude vijanden hem achtervolgen. Wat het extra ingewikkeld maakt, is dat Danny niet kan (of wil?) praten. Hij begint zijn reisgenoten te wantrouwen, of is dat ten onrechte...?

Het verhaal deed me terugdenken aan een van mijn favoriete boeken van afgelopen jaren: Het mysterieuze horloge van Walker & Dawn van Davide Morosinotto. De karakters, de sfeerbeschrijvingen en het ‘harde leven’ worden prachtig verwoord. Beide boeken lezen heerlijk, omdat er lekker veel actie is.

De dreiging die in het hele boek voelbaar is, herinnerde me aan het boek De juwelendief van M.G. Leonard en Sam Sedgman. Dit boek is een detective voor kinderen en ook in De olifantendief wordt je gaandeweg in een ingewikkelde ‘puzzel’ getrokken. Wie is de saboteur? Wie kun je vertrouwen en wie niet?

Tot slot moest ik ook denken aan de film Enola Holmes (te zien op Netflix), dat zich ook afspeelt in het Engeland van meer dan 100 jaar geleden: met paarden en wagens, onhandige stijve kleding, straatschoffies en duidelijke klassenverschillen. Hoewel het een tijd is waarin we niet meer zouden willen leven, gaat er ook iets romantisch van uit.

Een lekker dik boek om in te verdwijnen, het houdt voortdurend je aandacht vast en het bevat steeds weer een verrassende wending. Het ideale boek om nu lekker te bestellen bij je boekhandel dichtbij, een cadeau voor jezelf of voor een jonge lezer. Geschikt voor 11 jaar en ouder om zelf te lezen. Voorlezen kan al vanaf 10 jaar.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a 3.5 for this one, and I raced through it in a day to see what was going to happen to the boy and the elephant. Based on true events back in 1872, the book describes the walk of an elephant named Maharajah from Edinburgh to Belle Vue where his new owner has a menagerie and displays various animals. A young pickpocket happens to be present at the auction and is enlisted by the new owner, Mr. Jameson, to ride the elephant along its journey, posing as a prince from India. Danny becomes Prince Dandip, and with a turban, some finery, and dye, he joins the entourage. After all, it gives him a chance to escape from the evil Scatcherd who rules the streets and has it in for Danny. But the trip isn't going to be a leisurely one since there is a bet riding on whether the elephant and company can reach their destination within the allotted time. Along the way, Danny comes to care for the elephant, and the elephant also bonds with him. He also makes friends with Hetty Saddleworth, the daughter of the vet who is traveling with the group, and must make some tough decisions as everything seems to be intended to prevent Maharajah from reaching Belle Vue. There are various disappointments and betrayals along the way, and readers will be quite concerned about Maharajah. But there are also several humorous scenes including one in which Queen Victoria intercedes on behalf of the elephant that has caught everyone's fancy. The fact that Danny doesn't speak until near the end of the story adds to the book's intrigue and suspense. Although some of the events in the book are hard to believe, others such as the elephant's several mile walk are just as hard to believe but actually happened. Once again, truth is stranger than fiction. Readers might find it interesting to consider the treatment of animals then and now since there are several different reactions to training and caring for Maharajah and other animals mentioned here. The chilling way in which some animals were hunted only for trophies is certainly disappointing at best, and one would hope that we've made some progress in that respect, but for some, perhaps not. At any rate, this was an enjoyable read, and my interest never flagged in the plot or the characters despite my initial reluctance to start the book.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Boy” (we never learn his real name) is a young, mute thief and pickpocket from the slums of 19th century Scotland. One day he meets up with a menagerie (old time word for traveling circus) that has been sold to an outgoing, friendly showman, James Jameson. Suddenly his whole life changes. Boy is renamed "Prince Dandip" and has the task of walking, Maharajah the star elephant, 200 miles from Edinburgh to Manchester in one week to settle a bet. If they make it, Maharajah stays with his new owner. If they don’t Jameson must turn his entire menagerie to his evil rival, Walter Albright. Boy, masquerading as Prince Dandip, has numerous adventures along the way, makes new friends gains self- confidence and the strength to deal with hidden adversaries who try to sabotage the race and old enemies from his previous life.

The entire race is in reality mostly a publicity stunt but that doesn’t detract from the adventure that’s filled with mishaps, drama and danger. Even Queen Victoria gets involved. There is an interesting cast of secondary characters, both good and bad that keeps the plot moving along and the readers’ interest peaked.

The author, Jane Kerr, has taken an actual event from the mid-19th century English history and turned it into this unusual adventure story. The setting, for a children’s book, is unique. This is Dickensian England (Scotland). The author's descriptions of the kind of life led by many children of the time are intense and accurate. She shows a gift for storytelling by drawing together a PT Barnum type showman, a despicable rival ready to do anything to win an unwise bet, notorious and evil criminals who take advantage of street urchins.

While the book has describes some violent confrontations in some detail, this is not gratuitous and should not be a problem for most children in the targeted age range, which is listed in Amazon as 8-12. In even for some younger readers the book is unlikely to be disturbing. And, spoiler alert, there is ultimately a happy ending.
Best for boys and those who like historical fiction. Recommended for grades 3-7

[Book Gannet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loosely based on historical events (the elephant walk was real, Danny and his adventures were not) this is an exciting tale of a street orphan, an elephant and a rather foolish bet, with danger, friendship and plenty of twists along the way.

Our hero, Danny, starts off as a lowly street thief who doesn’t even have a name, but through the story he learns not only that he has value as a person, no matter where he started, but that there are good people in the world that he can trust. The most important being Maharajah, the elephant, who is great and grand but also gentle. I loved the relationship that grows between the two of them and it’s easy to want them to win the race.

Except this story isn’t just about these two – there’s also Mr Jameson, Maharajah’s new owner, and Arthur Albright, the rival zoo owner who wants to take everything away from him; Sandev, the man who has looked after Maharajah for years and teaches Danny everything he needs to know in order to care for him; Mr Saddleworth, the vet who helps Danny along the way and his daughter, Hetty, a smart girl who might just become a friend – if she ever stops talking first. There’s also the ever-present threat of nasty people from Danny’s past deciding to come after him, as if he didn’t already have enough to worry about riding an elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester in a week.

Along the way they naturally meet with all kinds of adventures and mishaps, some of which turn out to be very dangerous indeed, and always the worry that they might not make the deadline – and the consequences of if they don’t.

Suitable for both boys and girls, especially if they like adventure or animals, this book is fun at times, exciting at others, with some sadness and a lot of heart. Danny is brave, Hetty is smart and Maharajah is wonderful, and I really enjoyed it.

(Review copy provided by the publisher via Amazon Vine.)

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Elephant Thief begins in the slums of Edinburg with a street urchin, who comes to be known as Danny. He is given the opportunity of a new life when he is drawn into a plan to walk an elephant from Edinburg to Manchester.

The book is based on a true story which happened in April 1872. In the endnotes the author, Jane Kerr, acknowledges that in reality the walk was fairly uneventful however, in the story she has created, it is very eventful. The author does a good job of combining drama, mystery and suspense as the elephant, his trainer, the owners, a vet and his daughter, plus Danny make the long journey.

There are many problems along the way which hinder their progress. Due to a bet, they only have a week to complete the journey or the owners will, not only lose possession of the elephant, but also their other animals. This adds significant tension to the story.

The relationship between the elephant, Maharajah and Danny develops into an important part of the story as Danny becomes emotionally attached to Maharajah. The relationship becomes pivotal in Danny’s life and is a source of healing and comfort to him. The other members of the travelling party also become valuable to Danny and ultimately change the course of his life.

For young readers, please be aware there is some mild violence, references to past violence and the threat of menace. There is also a significant climatic fight scene, other altercations and an incident of animal cruelty.

Overall, it is a well-told, exciting adventure.

Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie's Library Place
Published by Laurie Evans · 3 mins ·
Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.4
​
@kidlitexchange #partner Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

What if you were given an opportunity to get out of a very bad situation? Would you take it? Danny is an orphan that lives a very bad life. He has to steal to live, he is forced to do errands for a very bad man, and if he fails he is punished severely. When he happens upon an exotic animal auction, his life changes forever. He is hired by a very rich man to ride an elephant over 200 miles to win a bet. He is cleaned up, dressed up, and fed very well. Danny thinks he has it made, but the journey will be hard and the criminal life that he led will come back to haunt him. Danny doesn't know who he can trust and he quickly becomes best friends with the elephant, Maharajah. Will Danny safely make it from Edinburgh to Manchester and live to tell about it? Will he win the bet? Or will he be forced to go back to his old life?
​
This book is loosely based off of a true story in which the trip was fairly uneventful, however this book is full of action and suspense. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down, so be ready. This is a must read!!

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[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny is a pickpocket who gets an adventure he doesn't expect when he accidentally bids on an elephant named Maharajah at auction. Danny is mute, poor and mixed-race, but his life changes forever when he is picked up by the staff at Belle Vue and transformed into an Indian prince. When the affection between he and Maharajah becomes obvious, Danny (Prince Dandip now) is roped into riding Maharajah from Edinburgh to Manchester in one week as part of a bet with a rival zookeeper. Along the way their trip is beset with problems and it seems obvious that someone is trying to sabotage their mission. Danny's connections from the past are a problem, as well. Is Danny and Maharajah's connection strong enough to help them win out in the end?

This novel is based on true events, but has been fictionalized for effect. Almost every chapter ends in suspense and students will be unable to stop turning pages to see what happens next. The action is non-stop, especially at the exciting conclusion. Students will love to see the connection between Maharajah and Danny; I would argue this book has one of the best human-animal connections I've read in a while. Finally, Danny's growth as a character is remarkable in this book, especially for someone who (almost) never says a word.


To whom would you recommend this book? Students who enjoy adventures or are big animal love

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Danny, a pickpocket who lives under the rule of a brutal gang leader in Edinburgh, until he meets Maharajah the elephant and is given the chance to become his mahout, provided he can get him from Edinburgh to Manchester on foot in a week in order to win a bet. Of course, that isn`t enough of a feat to pull off, and so someone is attempting to sabotage them. I felt so much sympathy for Danny because of the situations he has been put in during his past and watching him become increasingly confident the closer he gets to intelligent, serene Maharajah is so incredibly special that I welled up during more than one scene between them. Another character I was particularly fond of was Hetty, as she is so unfailingly kind to Danny, and helps him whenever he`s in a bad situation. Speaking of bad situations, there are plenty of heart-stopping moments in this book when Maharajah or Danny are in danger, and I was glued to the page every time I picked this up. On that note, the mystery as to who was causing the disruption to the journey kept me guessing, and I was pretty shocked to the point of gasping when the real culprit was revealed. I think this would be perfect for fellow fans of Emma Carroll. 5/5

[Anais · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book can be summed up with the following: orphan rides an elephant in a race across the English countryside. Based very, very loosely on a historical event, the author does a good job of creating captivating action sequences, but struggles to create believable relationships. Worse, however, are the gaps in the storytelling. For instance, Danny overhears a villainous scheme one night while prowling, then his boss acknowledges this same information the next day. How did he come across the information when Danny is mute and no one else heard it? Similarly, throughout the story Danny becomes aware of incriminating evidence against people, but never attempts to defend himself or others. (Also, a criminal trial of an elephant for attempted murder just pushes the suspension of disbelief beyond what one is willing to suspend in realistic fiction.) The writing style is not very imaginative or interesting but rather basic, as if written for a younger audience. Violent scenes that include broken bones and bloody wounds, or the carving of initials into another’s wrist, however, make the book inappropriate for younger kids. Aside from these cautions, the book is clean, with no language or sexuality of concern.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kerr, Jane The Elephant Thief, 320 pages. Chicken House (Scholastic), APRIL 2018. $17. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some danger).

Boy, a young pickpocket on the streets of Edinburgh, is under the thumb of an evil master. Then one day he gets involved in an auction of wild animals – a private zoo that needs to be sold off. A man talk him into bidding on the elephant for him – and Danny wins! But now he only has ten days to get that elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester England, or more than Boy will be in trouble. Even if he wins the race, can Danny ever really be free?

Here is your next choice for a read aloud, whether for a classroom read or for bedtime. I felt like each chapter ended in a great tension or cliffhanger that works so well in a group setting. Unfortunately most kids don’t seek out historical fiction to read on their own, so that won’t fly off the library shelves on its own. It’s too bad, because Boy’s story is full of action and heart.

EL – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life for Danny on the streets of Edinburgh is pretty tough and it is only going to be a matter of time before he is in very big trouble; either with the gangs or with the authorities. When he is caught thieving he is given a second chance if he takes on the role of Prince Dandip of Delhi and takes over the care of the newly acquired elephant Maharajah. When the fearful Maharaja destroys a train carriage in Edinburgh the rival menagerist place a wager that the elephant cannot walk to his new home in Manchester in ten days. This story is based on true events from April 1872. The elephant, entourage and Danny make the journey with all the accompanying drama, action and publicity on the way. Although this is a fascinating historical story with added mystery the real appeal is in the depiction of the relationship between Danny and Maharajah. Both boy and animal have suffered abuse and benefit from a little kindness toward each other.

Suitable for 9+ - some violence, fighting, mention of animal cruelty, thieving

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest this book was pretty straight forward and I even find myself surprised that I'm giving it such a high rating. From the start everything about it was predictable and it even drags on a little here and there. The characters are forgettable at best and I wasn't captivating from the start. Yet, when I sit and reflect on the pages of this story I realize that hiding somewhere beneath the surface is a little bit of real magic that makes this world a wonderful place. It's the type of story that mixed amongst all the bad and ugly of this world there is a smidgen of love that helps restore your faith in humanity. Living in the world we do today, that world full of constant distractions and entertainment we often lose sight of that "magic", but taking a second to place myself in the time period this book is set I am captivated by how thrilling it would have really been to step outside my door and see an elephant walking down the street and reading all the newspapers following this incredible journey made by the pachyderm and his loveable boy Dandip.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical fiction book is set in the 1872 Scotland when a destitute street urchin, Boy, gets caught up in an animal auction while running from the local gang leader. Boy has a change of fortune when a wealthy man is trying to bid on an elephant and Boy helps get the auctioneer's attention. Boy is awed by the elephant and is further shocked when the man offers him a job - riding the elephant 200 miles as it walks to its new home in England. With no other way out of his miserable circumstances, Boy takes the job and begins a journey that changes his life forever. It is loosely based on the true story of the elephant, Maharajah.

Teaching considerations: AR level 4.7, 11 points. Grades 4 - 6. A great read for boys! Hooks readers from the first pages and keeps them engaged to the very last page. Works for units on historical fiction and overcoming adversity. Could also be used with studies on the history of zoos.

[Linda Hartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Elephant Thief' reminded me of some other book ??
Water for Elephants by Sara Green perhaps, although not set in America and certainly not as murderess.
A genuine feel good book as poor, pickpocket Danny bids unexpectedly for an African elephant. Yet he pretends to be Indian unaware there are two kinds of animal and is swept up in a journey like no other.
From Edinburgh he is employed by a Zookeeper and he becomes an Indian prince with Maharajah the elephant. He rides with his new found friends through Scotland and Cumbria down to Lancaster towards Manchester. Where even Queen Victoria follows his journey with interest. ( My puzzle though how did she not know this elephant is from a different continent. ) As another Zookeeper wagers a bet the journey seems plagued with difficulties. Pitfalls at every turn to stop or hinder.
When I first picked up the book I wondered if it was a children's. But nethertheless after deciding it wasn't I continued to read and enjoy it. 3.5 stars

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This exciting story was based on a true event back in Queen Victoria's day. An elephant was sold from a circus in Edinburgh and then traveled by foot to a zoo in Manchester. In this account, Danny is a petty thief, a homeless waif living on the streets of Edinburgh, when he is noticed by Jamieson. Jamieson gets the bright idea to disguise Danny as Prince Daneep of Delhi and to pretend that Maharaja is his pet elephant. He and another man made a bet regarding how long it would take to get Maharaja to Manchester.Jamieson wanted all the publicity he could get, but the group traveling to the Bellevue Zoo got more than they bargained for. There was a conspiracy of heartless criminals who attempted to stop the journey to Manchester. They did all they could to delay the journey so Jamieson would lose the bet. These unscrupulous men were even willing to kill the elephant if the need arose. Will Danny and his new friends get to Manchester in time as well as save the elephant?