An Elephant in the Garden: Inspired by a True Story [Paperback]

Lizzie and Karl's mother is a zoo keeper; the family has become attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene, who will be destroyed as a precautionary measure so she and the other animals don't run wild should the zoo be hit by bombs. The family persuades the zoo director to let Marlene stay in their garden instead. When the city is bombed, the family flees with thousands of others, but how can they walk the same route when they have an elephant in tow, and keep themselves safe? Along the way, they meet Peter, a Canadian navigator who risks his own capture to save the family.

As Michael Morpurgo writes in an author's note,An Elephant in the Gardenis inspired by historical truths, and by his admiration for elephants, the noblest and wisest and most sensitive of all creatures. Here is a story that brings together an unlikely group of survivors whose faith in kindness and love proves the best weapon of all.

Young Lizzie's story (differentiated from the framing tale by typeface change) is quick-paced and moving, and her teenage viewpoint is believable& BCCB

Morpurgo crafts a thought-provoking and perilous encounter with an enemy combatant who joins their party and eventually forges a believable romance with Lizzie. Publishers Weekly

Readers . . . can't help but be drawn into the tale of survival told inAn Elephant in the Garden, which is loosely based on a real event from World War II. BookPage

The calm, steady tone is engaging, appropriate, and will appeal to a wide range of readers. VOYA

The occasional interruptions to the story build suspense and add a layer of resonance to Morpurgo's poignant and thoughtful exploration of the terrible impact of war on both sides of the fighting. Booklist

This well-paced, heartwarming narrative by a master storyteller will appeal to readers on several levels& School Library Journal

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