This book takes a different spin in the paranormal and mysterious way. The writing is very easy to read and gets you pulled in very quickly. Each chapter gets more mysterious and intriguing as the plot slowly starts to unveil itself. As one goes further into the story it gets more exciting and the anticipation rises as new information is revealed. I highly recommend this book for adult as well as the youth. Very enjoyable to read and I look forward in what this author will write next.

A heartwarming journey for a young girl from loneliness to finally belonging, THE ELEPHANT’S GIRL by Celesta Rimington is filled with magical friendships, majestic animals and true adventure!

Written for middlegrade readers, this book will draw in all ages and make for a valuable addition to any reading collection! Perfect for family reading and discussions, this wonderful fantasy is filled with imagination, emotion and heart as one young girl searches for her past, her family and a place to belong. Could it be that home is where the heart is?

Beautiful descriptions, filled with characters that come alive and something for every reader to relate to as adventures come to life!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Crown Books for Young Readers! This is my honest and voluntary review.

What a beautiful story! Undoubtedly one of my favorites and one that my middle grade readers will cherish! Ordering immediately for my classroom!

4.5 Stars

A charming, beautifully shared story of a young girl who has few memories of her past, or the family she was born into, her earliest memories being those of a girl too young to remember the day a tornado took her family away, leaving her to be found inside the zoo, beside Nyah, an elephant who wrapped her trunk around the young girl and protected her from the raging winds. Since that day, she has lived at the Lexington Zoo in Omaha with Roger Marsh, the zoo’s train engineer, as her guardian.

With no one to share the details of her life before she came to live in the zoo, no one knows her real name, or her age. Since there is a young boy, Fisher, also living at the zoo that seems about her age, they decide she must be the same age, five years old. And, without a name, Roger names her Lexington.

Lexington, or Lex as she prefers to be called, goes to school for a while, but when the other children begin to mercilessly taunt her, calling her ‘Elephant Girl’ and teasing her for talking to the wind – the wind that took her real family away, the wind that knows her true story, that whispers things to her, things only she can hear. Eventually, Lex refuses to return to school and so she spends her days at the zoo, being tutored, doing chores and homework, with Nyah, with her human best friend Fisher, listening to the wind, and searching for answers.

In her free time, now twelve-year old Lex wanders about the zoo and surrounding areas and eventually, perhaps inevitably, meets Miss Amanda who resides in a small trailer just outside the zoo’s fence. A woman who is looking to regain something that once belonged to her, something she would like to make sure ends up in the right hands - after all, Miss Amanda, being a ‘misplaced spirit,’ has no need for things of earthly value. And Lex might be just the person to help her find what is missing, along with some help from her best friend Fisher.

The way this story flows, a story written ostensibly for Middle Grade ages, but one that is equally engaging for adults, this story, and the style of the writing, reminded me of Kate DiCamillo’s stories, which I’ve loved. A welcome respite from our current state of affairs with a little bit of mystery to be solved.

Another book where I highly recommend you read the Author’s Note at the end, which includes some of the fascinating things the author, Celesta Rimington, learned about elephant communications.



Pub Date: 19 May 2020

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Children’s / Crown Books for Young Readers

I tried so hard to like this book and continue reading it with my daughter. We just couldn’t finish it. I am sure other people will love it, though.

I enjoyed this book. The story is lovely and fun! If you have a middle grade reader, I would highly recommend this book!

The Elephant's Girl is the story of Lexington Willow, a young girl that was discovered at the zoo in the protection on an elephant after a tornado. As the summer begins, Lexington is put into contact with the elephant that saved her years ago. She begins to see visions that send her on a quest to uncover her past. Lexington must figure out how she fits into life at the zoo while also uncovering the story of her past. An interesting read that keeps the reader wanting to know how it will all fit together.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's Publishing for letting me read and review this wonderful and uplifting book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's my favorite kind of story, uplifting, feel-good and a great story that touches on some difficult things and addresses the transitioning as you're growing up and learning things for yourself. This story reminds me of other stories I love and enjoy like Because of Winn Dixie and quite a bit about Bridge of Terabithia especially similar with the dynamics/friendship between the kids - Lex and Fisher and as Lex branches out and learns to put herself out there and get new friends also.
This story is about Lex and her journey of self-discovery and learning about herself, her past and her background. She was found alone with an elephant protecting her and then one of the Zoo employees - the Zoo train conductor, Roger, took her in to care for and raise her. During this summer, Lex and Fisher - best friends go on an adventure together to solve the mystery connected to Lex and her origins, where she came from, what happened when she was left, what her connection to Nyah, the elephant in the Zoo is, who protected her from the tornado she was in as a baby/small child.
As they go along on their adventure during the summer, both Lex and Fisher grow, learn and change each in different ways and also similar ways. They grow together and individually as Fisher goes off by himself to do his own thing with baseball for the summer that he wants to do and Lex does her own thing with the Zoo and figuring out more about herself.
They meet, find out and learn things about Lex and everything through ghosts, clues, the elephant, Nyah and lots of other things as well. This is really a story about individual growth and growing up while also having a fun, memorable summer and about figuring out who you are and what you want, which Lex and Fisher do finally find the answers about Lex, her origins, her past and Lex realizes and decides what she wants and who she is and who her family is too.
This is an extremely heartwarming and loving story that gave me all kinds of warm fuzzies and I love it! It also has some interesting info in the back of the book about elephants if you want to learn more about them too.
If you like books like Bridge of Terabithia or stories with mysteries, adventure and such, then you'll love this story. Make sure to put this one on your list, pre-order and get it because you're not going to want to miss out on this new favorite wonderful story to add to your collection!

I truly enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend this book to my students. It has all the items on their checklist, danger, ghosts, mystery, adventure, family, and friendship.

The plot was well developed and the book kept you wanting more. I had trouble putting it down. I am so impressed with this and am excited to share it with my students!

I read through The Elephant's Girl pretty quickly, however it was hard for me to write the review because I didn't
have a lot of reaction and feeling towards the book. Here are my thoughts!

What I liked:

I really loved Lexington's connection to Nyah. It is so beautifully written and told, it is just a really meaningful and sweet addition to the book. I found that how Lex connects with Nyah, and how she finds comfort in Nyah, is beautiful.

I also really enjoyed how ghosts were portrayed throughout the book. Or, misplaced spirits, as one of them often reminds us. Amelia's character was interesting, well written, and also kind of creepy. I am not a fan of creepy stuff, and although this is not at all a creepy novel, there were a few parts of the book that gave me the shivers.

Another thing that I really enjoyed reading about was how Fisher's mom's character was developed throughout the course of the book. She is not only Lexington's teacher, but also instrumental to how Lex views herself, and helps Lex become braver. I thought it was really interesting how Fisher's mom assigned her to comparing herself to Karana, in Island of the Blue Dolphins. That whole part of the story was one of my favorites.

What I didn't like:

There wasn't anything in the book that I explicitly didn't like. I just didn't really completely enjoy the book. After reading some books, you get the reaction of "oh my gosh, that's the best book I've ever read", some books you get the reaction of "that was a pretty good book" others are "why did I even read this thing" and this one was more of an "oh. I'm done now. Thats nice. The ending was ok. It's over.

Like I said, I didn't hate anything. But I didn't love that much. This book, I feel, could have gone a little further, a little deeper into Lex's past, brought that together more with the present, and possibly woven a few of the loose ends together into a bit more of an intriguing story of a girl wondering about her family's past.

Conclusion:

This book was an average book that I enjoyed while reading but did not have a lot of after thought about. The plot was fine, and the writing was pretty good, but this book didn't really pop out to me.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

To who? Fans of middle grade fantasy

MY RATING: 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to four stars

I am not usually quick to grab YA novels, but after reading Jodi Picoult's "Leaving Time" and falling in love with the elephants, I just had to give Celesta Rimington's "The Elephant's Girl" a try. I am so glad I did!! Lexington's story was captivating from the start and I often fount myself staying up way past my bedtime to keep reading just one more chapter!!! I am not quite sure I believe in ghosts but this book was so believable, I never once doubted what Lexington was seeing or who she was interacting with. The Elephant's Girl was a wonderful book I will definitely be shelving for my daughter to read once she's just a little bit older. Thank you so much to Celesta Rimington and Crown Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Such a fun, sweet story. It hits so many elements I love in a story which I won't list here so as not to spoil anything but they were great additions to the tale. I love elephants so I was initially drawn to the book by the beautiful cover but I was hooked from the first sentence/paragraph by the captivating writing. It sets the mood and tone immediately and it's just so good. I loved the setting as well, both in and out of the zoo. There were a few elements that were a little unrealistic towards the later part of the book but those in no way ruined anything for me, I just noted it and moved on. I'm not usually one to read middle grade books (although it's usually a win when I do) but this was wonderful and one I'd recommend for all ages.

The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington. Random House Children’s. Crown Books for Young Readers. Children's Fiction, Middle Grade. Publication date: 19 May 2020. 5 Stars.

Follow the fantastic journey of a highly intuitive twelve year old girl that leads to knowing who she truly is. If you love elephants, ghosts, zoos and mysteries—with a healthy dose of magical realism—you won’t be disappointed in this entertaining and informative fiction book. Highly recommend for readers of any age. This book is truly something to look forward to.

Thanks to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing this ebook for review.

I was pulled into this book by the description, but stayed for the wonderful writing, and engaging characters. This book, aimed at upper elementary school children is appealing to not only them, but older students, and adults alike. The mystery of where Lexington Willow originated will excite those who enjoy mysteries; the interaction with ghosts will pull in those who enjoy the supernatural; and the interaction, and growth to Lexington’s search for her roots will give those of all ages something to empathize with as they turn each page.

The interaction with the elephant was not as much as I had expected, given the example, but, the teasers with Nyah and the telegraphic images she sends are appropriate for the development of not only Lex’s mystery, but also for the relationships of Lex with her guardian Roger, and her best friend Fisher.

I am very pleased to recommend this book to my students and my family, as well as to those who are reading this review. A winner for sure. This is a debut novel for this author, and I am excited to see what other novels she will be writing. I certainly have become a fan.

I loved reading The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington. Ghosts, an elephant that is able to communicate with Lex, the main character, and a missing treasure to be found all go to make this a wonderful book. But the real story is how a young girl is able to regain her memory after the trauma of a deadly tornado which blew her to a Nebraska zoo where she was protected by an elephant who started life in a circus. Years later, Lex lives at the zoo with her guardian, and also her best (and only) friend, a boy about her age who dreams of being a star professional baseball pitcher.

I was given a copy of this book through NetGallery. #TheElephantsGirl #NetGalley I am voluntarily posting an honest review.

Lexington Willow is quite an unusual name and its owner earned it by even more unusual circumstances. Seven years ago a great tornado hit Lexington, Nebraska wrecking havoc and changing people's lives. That day in Lexington's zoo, Roger Marsh - one of the employees - found in an elephant barn a young girl displaced by the destructive wind. And since her parents couldn't be found, Roger gave her her name and invited to his home.

From the very first page, Lexington (Lex) seems to be a very unique girl. If her appearance at Lexington's zoo in bizarre circumstances isn't enough magical, I'd just add that she also can understand the language of the wind and shares a mysterious and found bound with one of the zoo's elephants - Nyah. The was the elephant, who took care of small Lex during the night of the horrible storm and even if Lex doesn't remember much from that night, she knows that she and Nyah are somehow connected.

I like how the story slowly unbounds giving the reader just crumbs at the beginning, leading to bigger and bigger developments. <I>The Elephant's Gils</i> is perfectly balanced, the plot gets thicker with every chapter steadily and constantly without action <i>jumps and freezes</i>. I could enjoy origin stories of each character without unnecessary rush but I also felt an action rush when the mystery was unfolding. I was likewise amazed by multilayered characters and some interesting facts I learned about elephants. Celesta Rimington, the author, really impressed me as a writer.

Overall is a lovely contemporary book with a great dose of mystery and magical realism. A story about families - the one we were born into and the one we chose. And all the people who make our lives better - or worse, since the book also deals with bullying and its effects on a person. <i>The Elephant's Girl</i> is a great book for young readers that offers not only grand entertainment and likable characters but also learns to be kind and more respectful for both people and animals.

I have long been a lover of elephants; their intelligence and family structure is fascinating. The Elephant’s Girl is a great look at the meaning of family, connections, and how loss affects all creatures. I highly recommend. Delightful!

Loved this story! Lexington Willow remembers nothing of her life before a tornado swept her into the elephant area of the Lexington Zoo and a killed her family. She’s raised in the zoo with the head engineer acting as her guardian and the cast of characters is varied and intriguing. Lex talks to the wind and can communicate with the elephant who protected her the night of the storm that changed her life. She sets out on a journey in the company of her best friend, a ghost, and at the whim of an elephant to solve a mystery and figure out who she is along the way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

Okay so I liked it, I didn't love it. I didn't buy into the magical realism but see how it can be used as a plot device (even as Rimington alludes to in her end notes, etc.) She had a few purposes for writing the story, namely elephant conservation which is nice, but she also suspended so much disbelief in that fact that Lexington was essentially a ten year old elephant whisperer living at the zoo with one of the zookeepers who had found her wandering in the zoo after a terrible tornado hit their area. They did a story on her when she was found and no one can find her family so it was just easy for the man who found her to let her live with him and stay on at the zoo.

Then another tornado hit again too.

So while I am a big elephant fan, this didn't do any justice to understanding elephants in a realistic way but did bring in an element of circus life for elephants. So my read of it seemed jumbled and unfocused even though the story's trajectory was solid. In the neat and tidy way that middle grade operates, it's true to form and will have plenty of fans.

Tornadoes, a Zoo, Misplaced Spirits and a spunky girl on a journey to solve a mystery, this book had me in happy tears by the end. As you go on a journey with Lexington Willow, you will find yourself trying to solve the mystery with her. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate’s “The One and Only Ivan” and “Louisiana’s Way Home” by Kate DiCamillo. If we ever get back to school, I will be purchasing several copies of “The Elephant’s Girl” by Celesta Rimington for my elementary library. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this wonderful read! #elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #elementarylibrarianlife #middlegradebooks #middlegradereads #netgalley