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One Amazing Elephant

Linda Oatman High

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Mar 27, 2017 Claire Talbot rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-across-the-states, middle-grade

A good choice for people who enjoyed "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. One Amazing Elephant is told from two perspectives - 12-year-old Lily Pruitt, and the elephant, Queenie Grace. Lily's grandfather "Bill the Giant" (he is over 7 feet tall) is Queenie Grace's keeper, and the two have a strong bond. Bill loves Queenie, and she refers to him as her "Mahout". Queenie Grace works in a small traveling circus, and has had other cruel trainers and keepers in her life. She is still heart A good choice for people who enjoyed "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. One Amazing Elephant is told from two perspectives - 12-year-old Lily Pruitt, and the elephant, Queenie Grace. Lily's grandfather "Bill the Giant" (he is over 7 feet tall) is Queenie Grace's keeper, and the two have a strong bond. Bill loves Queenie, and she refers to him as her "Mahout". Queenie Grace works in a small traveling circus, and has had other cruel trainers and keepers in her life. She is still heartbroken over the loss of her only child, "Little Gray" that was seized from her not long after she gave birth.
Lily loves her grandfather Bill, but is rather afraid of Queenie Grace. She blames her for a bike accident when she was six. Lily is struggling with the fact that her mother, Trullia Lee Pruitt-the Girl on the Flying Trapeze-has neglected her since she left there family when Lily was just three years old. Trullia's family are circus people - tightrope walkers, high-flying trapeze artists, tiger tamers, elephant trainers - it is in their blood. Her mom ran off to rejoin the circus and never looked back. Lily's dad is kind and she has a great relationship with him. They live in West Virginia where he is the "go-to" maintenance man for a camping ground.
The story really begins when Grandfather Bill dies, and Lily flies to Florida for the funeral. She befriends a boy named Henry Jack - who has a skin condition that earns him the title of "The Alligator Boy". Together they hatch a plot to protect Queenie Grace from two greedy circus workers who want to profit from Queenie Grace - selling her to a different circus. SPOILER ALERT**** The story has a good resolution for Queenie Grace, and also for Lily. Queenie gets to go to a elephant sanctuary, where she discovers her child - Little Gray. Lily overcomes her fear of Queenie Grace, makes a friend in Jack, and forgives her mother and begins a new chapter in their relationship.

Set in West Virginia, and mostly Florida for "Read Across the States" folks. ...more

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