When Lexington was small a tornado ripped through the town of Lexington and she was found afterward, alone except for the elephants. Since then she has been cared for by a zoo employee and has an affinity for the wind and the elephant who was sheltering her. But life hasn't been easy - she is home schooled because of the teasing she received and lately things have gotten weird with her and her best friend Fisher. When she decides to start exploring more of her past she meets a "misplaced spirit" who talks to a missing treasure. This sends Lex on a hunt for the treasure and her past.

This was a solid middle grade book - Lex was a cool character who learns and grows. The few tropes were resolved in unique ways so the book didn't seem "tired" to me. I enjoyed it.

A magical story of a girl trying to find out her identity. After an EF5 tornado devastates Lexington, Nebraska, a small girl is discovered protected by an elephant, Nyah, at the zoo. No one knows who she is where she came from. The train engineer, Roger, gains guardianship and raise the girl as his own. He calls her Lex (ington).

All is safe in her world of the zoo until she is finally allowed to help train the elephants. Nyah rumbles her low rumble and looks into Lex's eyes and shows her a picture, a message, a memory. This sets Lex off on adventure that will change her life.

The author weaves a spellbinding tale of love, loss, belonging and coming into one's own.

This is a sweet little story. Love the characters both alive and not. Nice friendship between Lex and Fisher. I’m glad the author chose not to make the zoo’s manager a totally bad guy. That gets old and this is a nice change. Good group of diverse people. I enjoyed it!

The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington is a wonderful story of loss, love, friendship, and mystery. I loved every part of this book and felt all of Lexingtons emotions. This is a fun and magical book for middle school aged children and I can see this easily becoming a favorite. Great story!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3381940427

** spoiler alert ** From my 12 year old:

I wanted to keep reading this book because I was interested by the idea of Lexington talking to Nyah (the elephant) and the wind. The mystery with the ghost (no, “misplaced spirit”!) and the Fenn fortune kept me guessing and I also wanted to know why Nyah was sending those images to Lex. I wanted the twister scene to be longer because I felt like it happened too fast. But I liked the ending, how we found out about Lex’s real family and Roger adopted her and they built the expanded elephant sanctuary. I think my brother will like it too.

I absolutely love this novel. The story of Lex is one that I want to add to my library cart for students to pick up. Middle school is such a tough time for some kids because they are starting to really flower into young adults. This story would be such a positive one for kids to read. I loved how Lex had to overcome a few obstacles with friendships and bullies. I do think it wrapped up a little too nicely, but that is what middle grade does right?!

The Elephant's Girl
By: Celesta Rimington
Random House Children's
Crown Books for Young Readers
Children's Fiction, Middle Grade
336 Pages
Publish Date 19 May 2020
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This was such a joy to read. I gave it 5 stars. The author draws you into the story. There is a mystery and a girl trying to figure out who she is. She is well loved but doesn't know who she is or where she came from. She doesn't like the other kids calling elephant girl, which doesn't help with her getting along with other children. She really does love the zoo and the animals but she has a special place for Nyah. I highly recommend that you read this book especially if you are into elephants.

Just a sweet middle grade book - I hope there are more from Celesta in the future. I will definitely put on Harlow’s list. Real-life zoo setting with mythical elements - ghosts, talking with elephants. Beautiful story. Even got my eyes watering just a bit at the end. I heard the author say, “real life with whispers of magic” - perfect description!!

Arc copy from Netgalley. All thoughts my own.

With a blending of fact and magical realism, The Elephant's Girl tells an enchanting tale of friendship, family, determination, elephant communication, zoos, circuses, and elephant sanctuaries. It’s about Lex, a girl who lost her family during a massive tornado, a tornado which “dropped” Lex into the middle of the elephants, specifically next to Nyla, the elephant who keeps her safe from the winds. Nyla communicates with Lex through visual images to encourage her to go searching for information about Nyla’s past, a search which takes Lex to a “misplaced spirit” (otherwise known as a ghost.) The result ends with Lex learning about and changing her definition of family.

This is a book that is geared for middle school readers but one that can be enjoyed just as much by adults. It’s a fast and enjoyable read.

The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington is an incredible jewel of a story. The tale of a young girl who’s lost her family and the elephant who sheltered her when she needed it the most is a modern-day fairy tale. Infused with longing, love, and determination the story unfolds to reveal a heart of gold. The author weaves a gentle, yet incredibly moving tale of friendship, perseverance, and found family. Add to that eco-responsibility, a ghost with a mission, and life in and around a zoo, and you have a delicious tale for middle-grade readers

I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Children's for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. At first glance, I was not sure this book would appeal to me. I am very picky about how mystic realism is used in middle level story lines. The author was spot on for this plot. Rimington used mystic realism perfectly to keep the plot going while at the same time did not make it unbelievable. The pace is perfect and readers of all types, including reluctant readers will be engaged from page 1. Willow was found in a zoo after being saved by an elephant during a tornado. Nobody has been able to locate her family and as a result, she has been in the loving guardianship of the zoo's train conductor since that fateful day. Years later, Willow has found herself in the safe haven of the zoo. Escaping the perils of school= bullied as "The Elephant Girl", she has retreated to the oasis of the Lexington Zoo. Her only companion is the son of another zoo employee- Fisher. I love this friendship. I think it is so important for middle schoolers to see that co-ed friendships can be very special without mingling in romance. While the plot and the story are very wholesome-it is far from boring. This is a rarity in middle school fiction right now. There are so many plots that are driving agendas that many in this age group are not emotional ready to deal with- so having a gripping interesting story without any controversial or mature topics is a winner. It does have a ghost and communication with the wind and elephants- I know that sounds hokey- but this author does an amazing job not making the plot and its twists contrived. The author's note is very interesting about the elephant's rumblings and status of captive elephants of today. She has a point of view- but it is stated in a way that is supported with facts and given in a way the is very authentic- not driven. I think students will be lead to do some research about elephants after they read this story. I drew character connections to Three Times Lucky and Beyond the Bright Sea. I highly recommend this book to parents that are looking for a book to keep their children reading this summer and to teachers looking for fall book recommendations. This one is a winner for that hard to fit upper elementary- younger middle schooler- easy to read, interesting topic and setting, mystery intrigue, age appropriate topics and helps relate the perils of captive elephants in the world today. Highly recommend!

The Elephant's Girl is quite frankly the best middle grade novel I've read in years. The pacing is excellent - I know who every is right from the start and there's no lull in the middle. The author wrote an exceptional mystery that is very G rated but still gripping. The book makes you want to learn more about zoos, circuses, and elephants from a conservation and ethics standpoint and is a great intro to the topic for young readers. I have numerous students in mind that I think would enjoy this book. I believe it ended well and at a good pace. The author tackled a difficult genre (magical realism) extremely well. I can't wait to read more by this author and purchase a hardcover copy of this book!

Rimington leans hard into the magical realism, giving us a protagonist who can communicate with the wind and elephants as well as a ghost. The presentation of ghosts in this particular novel is fairly unique and creates a metaphor for exploring the changes to a friendship in adolescence. Lex's devotion to the ghost parallels her changing relationship with Fisher and reinforces the message that one person shouldn't be somebody else's everything. Add in our ties to the past, the ways that the people who came before us influence our present, and we have a solidly interesting read. The metaphors are a bit blunt but this is not uncommon in books for this age group.

A young girl has a special relationship with an animal and discovers it may know about her past. As she follows clues, she and her human best friend will run into ghosts and artifacts from yesteryear, all while trying to evade adults who think they know better. Debut author Celesta Rimington pours her heart and all of her elephant research in the mostly likable novel The Elephant’s Girl.

Lexington Willow, or Lex, has always lived at the zoo. Well, at least the always she can remember. She knows she was found in the elephant enclosure of the Lexington Zoo after the biggest tornado the town of Lexington, Nevada, in 40 years. She knows she loves Nyah, the elephant protecting her during the tornado. She knows Roger, her guardian and the zoo’s train engineer, will do anything for her. She even knows the wind talks to her, teasing and tricking her and making trouble. She just wishes she knew a little more about who she was before she woke up next to Nyah.

She’s not even completely sure how old she is, although she and Roger have figured it’s close to 12 now. That’s how old her best friend, Fisher, is, and she likes being the same age as him. Like her, Fisher lives at the zoo although he lives there with his family. His father is the chief zookeeper, and his mom is homeschooling Lex.

Now it’s summer, and Lex and Fisher finally have permission to start elephant training. Lex tries to spend as much time with Nyah as possible, but with all the rules about kids and animals it’s hard to get close. After her training, she’ll be able to be with Nyah whenever she wants. On her first day, though, Lex has a weird experience. She sees a vision, and when she looks at Nyah she realizes it’s actually a memory the elephant is sharing with her.

The memory brings up all the questions about Lex’s identity that she thought she’d made peace with. Now that Nyah has shown her things, Lex wants answers. She’s just not sure how to get them, and the wind isn’t helping any with its taunts. And lately, even though Fisher has always supported her, he seems distracted with summer baseball camp and new friends.

Nyah’s visions lead Lex to meeting a ghost living on the outskirts of the zoo and clues within the zoo itself. Through her search, she’ll learn how to navigate her fears about leaving her unusual home and how to follow her instincts. Most of all, she’ll learn that home isn’t about the place you live; it’s about the people you love.

Debut author Celesta Rimington shares in her author’s note the time and effort she spent researching the complex societal patterns of elephants, and her time and care show. Nyah and the other elephants in the zoo are described in rich detail, and the nuanced communication Nyah has with Lex could only have come after a careful study of elephant communications in real life.

Target readers will enjoy Lex and Fisher’s friendship. They’re upfront with one another when they disagree yet don’t disrespect one another. Although the entire book is from Lex’s point of view, Rimington does an excellent job of showing Fisher’s discomfort in trying to balance his relationship with Lex and the new friendships on the baseball field. Lex is confused about how to approach this side of Fisher’s life that has nothing to do with her, and Rimington’s depiction of Lex’s emotions is spot on.

If the book can be faulted anywhere, it’s in the rushed beginning. Just as readers might be settling into the idea that Lex was found after a tornado and grew up in the zoo, she’s receives her first vision from Nyah and begins processing all the uncertainty the vision brings. It might take readers a while to settle into the hurried pace. There’s just so much of the story to tell that the opening pages aren’t as fully developed as the rest of the book.

Also missing are more scenes between Nyah and Lex. The young protagonist talks a lot about her connection to the elephant, yet she spends a great deal of the book with Fisher and trying to figure out the mystery of her past. Readers might wish more time had been spent on showcasing Lex’s time with the creature that saved her life.

Still, for readers who enjoy books about relationships between animals and children, this one is a good pick for summer reading. I recommend readers Borrow The Elephant’s Girl.

The Elephant's Girl is a surprising middle grade book that kept me entranced from the first page. The author cleverly uses magical realism to tell the story of a young girl who lives in a zoo, lost her parents at a young age, and struggles to connect to the world outside the zoo walls. Lexington Willow was found as a young child, alone after a tornado, protected by an elephant in the Lexington, Nebraska zoo. Her history has given her an affinity for the elephants, and when she discovers her ability to communicate with one of them, she tries to help. Along with her best friend, who also lives in the zoo, and a "misplaced spirit", Lex goes on a treasure hunt and ends up discovering more about who she is and who she wants to be.

When I began this book, I didn't want to put it down. Some writing is just immersive, something that you can sink into and become a part of. Rimington's writing did just that. It was a lovely story about friendship and family, and showed how "real" families do not always look the way we think they should. I also appreciated that this book had wonderful adult role models throughout. Even the "bad guy", when push came to shove, put the safety of the kids over his own interests. An excellent read by a debut author whom I am excited to see more from!

Solid book that might be a bit more confusing than needed. I like magical realism but this one seemed to cram a lot of it in and might have benefited from a tighter plot. Overall, a good, strange story that will connect with animal lovers.

The Elephant’s Girl is an absolutely beautiful novel, officially middle grade but the kind of story that will move all who read it. I’ve had to sit with it for days after I finished, just turning the story over in my head. Do you remember certain books you read as a child that paint pictures in your head that linger in your memories for a life time? This book is one of those, one that already feels like a classic.

When Lexington was a toddler, a tornado swept through her Nebraska town, separating her from her family and landing her near the elephant enclosure of the zoo where an elephant named Nyah wrapped her trunk around her and protected her from the storm. It was there, huddled with Nyah, that the zoo’s train conductor Roger found her and after failing to find any trace of a family or where she came from, he became her foster father. Now 12, Lexington is finally allowed to help with the elephants. During training sessions Lexington discovers she has a strange connection with Nyah who seems to be able to transmit pictures into Lexington’s mind. With scenes of the woods outside the zoo and her former life as a circus elephant being repeatedly communicated from Nyah, Lexington decided she must investigate and finds herself on an adventure involving ghosts, a lost treasure, and maybe the key to figuring out just who she is and where she comes from.

I was intrigued by the blurb from this book which is why I decided to request IR from Net Galley but I got so much more than I expected and so much more than any blurb can ever do justice. I’d finished a poetry book right before starting this one and was immediately taken by the beautiful writing. The way author Celesta Rimington describe nature, the zoo, the animals, the train Roger runs, it’s all so wonderfully detailed and vivid. There are some magical realism elements to the story which is something I’ve always been a fan of when done well and Rimington does it so naturally that it all seemed almost real to me. In some ways this book was a bit like a modern fairy tale, just the right mix of adventure, emotion, and mystery.

My all time favorite book I read as a child was E.L. Konigsburg’s modern classic From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It’s a book like those I mentioned in my opening paragraph that left me with vivid imagery of what it might be like to spend the night in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Elephant’s Girl is sure to become a classic in its own right because even as an adult I found myself longing to live at a zoo, have a tree house like Lexington’s and get to help care for elephants.

I really can’t praise this book highly enough. It’s a book I would’ve adored growing up and loved every bit as much reading as an adult. This would be such a wonderful pick to read aloud, a few chapters at a time each night before bed to your children, or as a classroom read. And honestly, even if you don’t have kids, I’d recommend picking it up. It’s such a fantastic everybody, everywhere, every age kind of book, truly a classic in the making.

4.5 stars. This was a surprise for me. I wasn't expecting the magical/fantasy elements (a ghost on a quest for missing treasure, and elephant telepathy), but I thoroughly enjoyed them. The characters were great - I enjoyed Lex's personal growth through the course of the novel, the things she learns about herself, as well as the things she learns about her past. The zoo setting was fresh and different. The connection between Lex and Nyah was beautiful. And the ending was supremely satisfying.

Fans of The One and Only Ivan should check this one out, but I really think this is a great book for any reader.

First off, isn't this a beautiful cover!? It is what first drew me to the book.

When she was very young, Lex was found after a tornado being sheltered by a zoo elephant. Nobody every claimed the child, and she was raised at the zoo. As she gets older, she's naturally curious about her parents and what happened, and with the help of the same elephant and a ghost, Lex learns more about her past.

This I really liked about this book: first off - the adults were excellent - I loved how they were involved in Lex's life and supportive, instead of just side characters to be avoided. Lex's friendship with Fisher is also great. Additionally, bullying by some of the kids from town was well portrayed and not one-eimensional.

I'd certainly recommend this to middle grade (and above) readers. It has a lot of positive things to say about home, family, friendship, and finding yourself.

Summary: “An elephant never forgets, but Lexington Willow can’t remember what happened before a tornado swept her away when she was a toddler. All she knows is that it landed her near an enclosure in a Nebraska zoo, and there an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm. With no trace of her birth family, Lex grew up at the zoo with Nyah and her elephant family; her foster father, Roger; her best friend, Fisher; and the wind whispering in her ear. Now that she’s twelve, Lex is finally old enough to help with the elephants. But during their first training session, Nyah sends her a telepathic image of the woods outside the zoo. Despite the wind’s protests, Lex decides to investigate Nyah’s message and gets wrapped up in an adventure involving ghosts, lost treasure, and a puzzle that might be the key to finding her family. As she hunts for answers, Lex must summon the courage to leave the secure borders of her zoo to discover who she really is–and why the tornado brought here here all those years ago. (taken from the blurb on Amazon)

What I liked best about this book: The story has very little down time. There is constant movement which makes for an exciting read.

What I liked least about this book: In a lot of middle grade books it seems one or both parents die or disappear. It might cause undue worry in that age group.

“Because of the wind, I’m the girl without a birthday, without a name, without a beginning to my story.”

We don’t know much about Lexington Willow’s past. We don’t meet her until she is 12 years old. She struggles with that lack of knowledge herself, even though she loves her life at the zoo. Her foster father, Roger, has given her a good life and made sure she is taken care of. She has a best friend, Fisher, who listens to her and pays attention. These are important things to any child but especially for Lex since she has no idea if her parents survived the tornado that brought her to the zoo in the first place.

Lex also struggles with leaving the zoo. It has become more than home now; she’s afraid to leave its borders. I like how Lex has this ability, this intuition, that lets her hear and talk to the wind. I also love her ability to communicate with Nyah, the elephant that protected her from the storm once she landed at the zoo. (I know that communication with animals is very possible, if one only listens and pays attention.) One such communication sends Lex on an adventure that eventually takes her outside of the zoo boundaries. She has to decide if the answers she is seeking are more important than the risk of leaving the safety of the zoo. Her courage comes when she decides to help someone else on their mission instead of focusing on things she may never know.

This book was very timely for me. My house has become my refuge, my safe place. To venture beyond the boundaries of my home has become nearly paralyzing. Lex’s courage in facing her fears has truly helped me realize that leaving the safety net is sometimes the exact thing we need in order to find what we’re looking for.

The story is cute and funny. While it treats serious matters very carefully, there are still moments of sadness. I cried more than once! I also laughed out loud and got angry. The magical realism added to the story and helped to take some of the sting out of the theme of death and loss.

I gave this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who needs to hear a story about overcoming fear and finding what you’re looking for in the most unexpected places, no matter your age. (I received an E-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)