Chained

by Lynne Kelly

When ten-year-old Hastin’s sister falls ill, he is forced to leave his village in remote Rajasthan to work in a faraway forest as an elephant keeper. He thinks it will be an adventure, but he isn’t prepared for the cruel circus owner, Timir.Thrown together in a ‘chained’ existence, Hastin and the baby elephant Nandita forge a bond of friendship that is stronger than any shackle. Hastin protects Nandita as best as he can when she is punished for not learning her tricks. Yet he wonders-- will they both overcome the odds and survive long enough to escape?
Join Hastin and Nandita on this incredible journey as they discover new meanings of companionship, courage and hope in search for freedom.

Genres: Middle Grade, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, India

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2012

About the author

Lynne Kelly's career as a sign language interpreter has taken her everywhere from classrooms to hospitals to Alaskan cruises. Today, she lives near Houston, Texas with her adorable dogs, Abigail and Eloise. Her 2019 novel SONG FOR A WHALE, about a deaf girl named Iris who forms an unlikely bond with the “loneliest whale in the world,” has been described as “finely crafted,” “important,” and “uplifting” by reviewers from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. SONG FOR A WHALE received the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award and was named one of the best books of the year by New York Public Library.
Her next novel, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF BIRDS, will be released in April 2024.

Reviews

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

You never want to come out too early in review of a book, and CHAINED doesn't release until May of 2012. My apologies--in advance--to not only Lynne Kelly (who--by the way--taught Mr. Hankins how to use a hashtag on Twitter ((just in case you wanted to know who to blame for this)) but to the publisher, Farrar Straus Giroux as well for this early, early review. . .but you see?

I have to be first on this one.

We're always wondering, right? What book will capture our attention in the next year? Pull at us in all of the places a work can pull? Lead us to discussions--not only with our reading community at large--but that community at very, very small--our classroom. Which titles will lead us to deeper understandings of our place in this world and our connection with others--familiar and unfamiliar? Local and global? With our fellow man. . .and with nature? And we ask all of these questions while holding on dearly to those books we have loved this year, right? And finally, what book will fill up the Goodreads feed with the number of times it will be marked "To Read" by the community here?

Out of the gate, CHAINED is one of those middle grade/early YA books we will talk about in the spring of 2012. It has all of elements of a class/student friendly read, and I wouldn't be surprised to see CHAINED adopted not only at the classroom level, but by university professors offering multicultural titles as part of their MG/YA literature survey courses.

When Hastin's younger sister falls ill and has to go to the hospital, Hastin stays behind to take care of the home. His only companion piece in the world now is the small stone that his deceased father left for him along with the story of its coloration and smoothness. An extended hospital stay means that Hastin not only has to stay home by himself even longer, it means that his mother must take on a servant capacity job in order to pay off the rupees necessary to cover her daughter's care.

A chance invitation to go into town to help a friend sell a camel (one of the books early charming moments), affords Hastin a chance to see his mother and her new workplace. When he senses his mother's mistreatment and witnesses the harsh conditions she must endure, Hastin vows to find a way to secure a job to make the payment to the hospital (but not until the camel has eaten part of the master's topiary).

Hastin finds work as an elephant keeper under a seeming huckster named Timir who is planning to re-establish his circus, having had some success as a circus man before. Hastin comes under the "care" of Timir and awaits his duties as a elephant keeper (Timir and his assistant Sharad must first capture an elephant). In the interim, Hastin meets Ne Min (one of the wisest, most tender/gentle mentors you will find in current MG/YA realistic, multicultural literature), a kindly servant who serves in the capacity of cook and general maintenance.

Eventually, Timir captures his elephant and Hastin learns the ways of keeping an elephant. He also witnesses treatment of the elephant, who Hastin names Nandita (which means Joy) that gives him pause for concern. Along the way, Ne Min assists in the care of Nandita making Hastin question how Ne Min knows so much about elephants (one of few times in the past few books I have read in the past year wherein I had that "oh. Gasp!" kind of moments while reading.

Each chapter opens with a quote from a book about the care of elephants. These quotes work so nicely as a pre-cursor for what is to happen in that section of the book and allows Kelly to carry the story with what seems to be veiled evidence of the research she has surely done in the crafting of this story.

As the conditions worsen for Nandita and the threat of sale or extermination loom for her, Hastin must make a decision regarding the disposition of his large, gray friend. But you will have to read that decision for yourself. . .

The moments between Hastin and Nandita are tender and touching. I actually felt like I was in that small sleeping quarter with Hastin, who is tricked into not knowing how long he will have to stay to pay of the debt to Timir, and Nandita. I felt especially close to this book having just finished the newest SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD book about elephants in the past weekend.

The moments between Hastin and Ne Min are of the same ilk. I wanted to know everything about Ne Min right away, but Kelly--in her debut work--let's Ne Min reveal himself in bits and pieces with the touch of a master craftsman writer.

In the end, you will cheer for Hastin and Nandita. Students of the Hero's Journey will not be disappointed for all of the markers in place that will let you follow the circle around.

Themes that come out of CHAINED are worthy of discussion in the reading workshop classroom. Guilt and Shame are covered to the extent that the book makes an interesting ladder to THE CRUCIBLE with Timir and Danforth taking on similar roles in their governance over the disposition of others without any kind of effort given toward their nurture or even basic maintenance (ask Mr. Hankins how this works sometime because the idea is still fresh in my head with possibilities building new rungs and ladders all of the time).

Shorter chapters make CHAINED an excellent choice for classroom read-aloud. As the book releases in May, it would be a nice hit for early fall when the kids come back to the classroom and the summer will afford teachers plenty of time to have the book read and discussed (follow Mr. Hankins at @PaulWHankins and I will personally discuss the book with you).

The multicultural setting and characters will make CHAINED a welcome addition to the reading classroom where more multicultural titles are being sought. The nature of child labor, Indian culture, and elephants just naturally lend themselves to non-fiction texts that would cover the same. Kelly offers some information regarding these in the back of the ARC. And I was so pleased to see that Mitali Perkins (BAMBOO PEOPLE) was one of the authors Kelly sought out to help with some of the details that work their way into the story I read today. Kelly have done her homework as she has written this story, and in a small way I feel as though I have known Hastin for some time--although not by name--from my interactions with Kelly at Twitter and Facebook.

Kelly has a strong inter-web presence already and her advocacy for middle grade/young adult literature as evidenced by her active participation in discussions and forum offered by social media--even before her own book has released--gives her great credibility in this teacher/reader/reviewer/writer's eyes. Here is an accessible, promising, young author who I can only hope has more and more to share by way of story.

As I stated earlier, I had to be the first out on this book. So much, that I am typing and refreshing to make sure that no one else sneaks any stars out there before I have a chance to hit SAVE.

Here is the promise of a super upcoming year of writing/reading. I have read other titles coming out in 2012, but Kelly is one of the first official Class of 2012 title I have read. Her work here in CHAINED allows her to move to the front of the class. And if her work is any indication of what the class of 2012 has to offer us in the new year, we are in for a real reading treat.

Psst. . .if you get to the end of this review. . .Lynne, this is for you. Thanks for everything!

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Linda Sue Park, then you should grab CHAINED with both hands, as soon as it hits the shelves. First and foremost, I loved 10-year-old Hastin. As a mom, I can only hope to raise boys who embody all that this young man stands for. He is compassionate, never looses his ability to love and finds strength beyond his years when he needs it the most. I can't wait to own a copy of CHAINED to share with my own boys.

Hastin isn't the only character that moved me. This is a story of a beautiful friendship between a boy and an elephant. Nandita stole my heart with her playful, sensitive personality. This elephant and young boy have an amazing connection and their relationship will have a lasting impact on me. It doesn't matter if Kelly is writing about gentle giants, adults who have made mistakes, people left without choices or boys who rise to their own occasion, she has a talent for making the characters feel real and for making readers feel.

And just to warn you, after you read this book, you are going to want to go out and hug an elephant. Get in line.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars isn't enough. I feel so privileged to have gotten to read this beautiful and moving story about a boy and an elephant and to have spent a few hours of my life with Hastin and Nandita. Hastin will steal your heart, Nandita will break it, and their story will melt it. I can't imagine a person alive who wouldn't fall in love with this book.

[Jen Bigheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chained is a story about the human spirit and a beautiful relationship between a boy and an elephant, Nandita, who are more alike than different. They are both homeless, alone, lonely, and longing to be with family. Both are in a situation they cannot see themselves out of, and when things take a turn for the worse, they both realize that they are all that they have. Their relationship is the cornerstone to this book. It goes beyond sweet and touching. Their friendship is pure, moving, and undeniable.

Hastin is a brave soul and although he is ten-years old when the story begins, he is wise beyond his years. Hastin has already lost his father and his sister is desperately ill staying in a hospital his family cannot pay for. Hastin hasn't had a picture-perfect childhood even by India's standards. He finds a job working as an elephant keeper to earn money for his sister's care. His time with the cruel circus owner is no picnic either. Hastin, and others, struggle with his hatred towards animals. Why would a man who depends on animals to make a living be so cruel? There is quite a mystery there and we learn what lays beyond the man's hatred.

This book tackles many themes and emotions. Love, honor, guilt, shame, loss...the list goes on and on. We, young ones included, can identify with at least one of the above. Hastin is a shining example of kindness, and when the story comes to a close we can't help but rejoice and wish we could see Hastin and Nandita with their own children.

Not just for kids; Chained is a testament of friendship and a God given right to be loved. Can't recommend enough!

[Diana Renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of CHAINED, and I feel so privileged to have read this amazing book in advance of its May 2012 publication. As soon as it's available for purchase I'll be buying a copy for my son; he's years too young for this middle grade novel, but when he's of age I want it on his shelf alongside other childhood classics. Set in India -- and meticulously researched, to the point where you can smell the mangoes and taste the buttermilk roti -- it's a mesmerizing tale of a 10-year-old boy, Hastin, who must work of a family debt and becomes the caretaker of an illegally captured elephant, Nandita. While caring for Nandita in a far-off jungle village, and trying to save her from a corrupt circus owner and a cruel elephant trainer, Hastin also schemes about how to return to his mother and sister in their desert village. The parallel stories of displacement (boy and elephant are both separated from their families) are poignant and suspenseful. Most touching, though are the evolving friendships between Hastin and Nandita, and Hastin and Ne Min, a wise old man who also works for the circus. Themes of bravery and justice are explored, and the writing is gorgeous.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page you will root for Hastin, a 10-yr-old boy in poor, rural India who tends to his ill sister. When she has to go to the hospital and his mother cannot pay for her treatment, Hastin scurries around looking for a job, but no one seems willing to take him on, despite his enthusiasm. That is, until he meets the charismatic Timir, a circus owner. Timir promises Hastin more than enough rupees for his sister's care if Hastin will be an elephant keeper for one year. It sounds like an adventure, but Timir has a dark side. He is cruel and demanding, and Hastin soon realizes that Timir never intends to let Hastin go.

Hastin does not want to trap an elephant after he witnesses the playful, wild jungle herd. He names the elephants and tries to determine the family hierarchy. When Nandita, the most joyful infant is captured, he at first tries to save her, then he realizes her situation is as dire as his.

The two form a tremendous bond. The details of how Nandita acts and reacts to Hastin versus the circus owner and trainer feel so real and genuine. It's obvious a lot of research went into this story!

Hastin also finds a friend in the circus cook, a wise older man named Ne Min. With Ne Min's help, Hastin learns how to properly care for Nandita, like how to treat her wounds from the sharp hook the trainer uses to punish the animal.

This is a tale of friendship, perseverance and courage. You will be astounded by Hastin's actions in the final can't-put-the-book-down scenes. Astounded by his bravery, but still, not all that surprised, as Hastin matures into a strong young man during his time at the circus.

A unique, gripping middle grade novel that's not to be missed!

[Kerry Cerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are literally millions of great books out there, but every once in a while a special one comes along. A book that simply stands out. I’m never good at explaining what it is that makes a good book so great. It’s kinda like, “You have you read this. You. Just. Have. To!” That’s how I feel about Chained. There are so, so many things to love underneath that sweet cover.

The story is one of an unlikely friendship between Hastin, a ten-year-old boy, and an elephant. Hastin, man of the family since his father’s death, must take a job as an elephant keeper far from home to pay off a family debt. Though he’ll miss his mom and sister, Hastin is excited for the adventure that awaits. But nothing could prepare him for the cruelty both he and the elephant, Nandita, endure. Their bond is tighter than the shackles on Nandita’s feet and their love and friendship allow them to bear captivity and abuse. But Hastin knows neither of them will survive like this forever. They must try to escape.

Author Lynne Kelly uses beautiful language to illustrate a world so vivid and honest; with scenes so deeply created you’ll be able to smell the sweet mangos boiling at breakfast. As I said, there’s much to love, but mostly you’ll root for Hastin and Nandita to finally break free. Warning: this book requires tissues.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a WATER FOR ELEPHANTS for a younger crowd, this book dragged me through an emotional wringer as I read about an elephant and her young keeper at a circus in India. I loved Hastin from the beginning - he is a brave, loyal and strong boy, well beyond his ten years, but he shares the spotlight with an equally brave, loyal and strong elephant, Nandita. To say I loved this book doesn't really do justice to how it made me feel, but throughout I laughed and cried and had my heart broken several times by this boy and his elephant and the situations they faced. But the ending was as it needed to be: bittersweet, but satisfying and enough to mend my torn up heart.

A beautiful book that I think anyone will love.

I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you or order at IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978037...

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is one memorable novel. Poignant and visually beautiful. There are parts where you want to read slowly and just take it all in. And get those tissues ready, as well. As much as I wanted to read the ending, I didn't want it to end. Brava, Ms Kelly! Brava!

[Caroline Rose]

"This must be what Ne Min meant about being brave. Never in my life have I been so afraid, but here I stand."

Beautiful book about loyalty, friendship, trust, and dignity. I am changed because of this story.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of CHAINED (Margaret Ferguson Books/FSG/Macmillan – 5/8/2012) by Lynne Kelly, and I immediately fell in love with Nandita’s sad elephant eyes on the cover. From the first line, I was drawn into the hopeful world of 10 year old Hastin as he tries to be the man of the family and help his widowed mother and critically ill sister by offering his services as an elephant keeper in exchange for five thousand rupees needed to pay for his sister’s medical bill. The deal was to leave home and care for a circus elephant for one year. Using his dead father’s knife that his mother slipped to him when he left, Hastin carves a notch for every day he is gone.

Set in the jungle of India, Kelly paints a vivid picture of childhoods cut short, greed and the power of friendship. Hastin doesn’t realize how a young elephant will be trapped, torn from its family and threatened into submission by the cruel trainer, but he soon realizes he wants nothing more than to return this sweet elephant to her family and to return to his own, but neither of these are possible, as Nandita is kept shackled, the key is kept under close guard, and Hastin soon learns that every time he challenges the cruel circus owner, the punishment is more time he has to spend in his service. Hastin’s only hope is the kindly cook, Ne Min, who knows more about elephants than any cook should know. Beautifully written, CHAINED combines important moral themes, cultural insight and you will want your very own elephant by the time you reach the final page. With its universal appeal to both boys and girls, CHAINED is a perfect addition to middle grade classrooms and libraries.

[Sarvenaz Tash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book in elephant-sized proportions. A gorgeous, timeless story that is so beautifully written, heartfelt and heart-wrenching. I would not be surprised at all if it swept up a ton of major awards next year; it would be extremely deserving of all of them.

If you are a fan of books like "Where the Red Fern Grows" or "Water for Elephants," I think "Chained" will be ranked right up there with them and held up as a classic for generations to come.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHAINED is a lovely, lovely book about the connections between human beings and the people (and elephants) they care about. Beautifully written and grippingly plotted, CHAINED became my world while I was reading it. My children will be moved by this story, and I suspect my children's children's children will still be moved by it ages from now. A classic is born!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had the proper words to express how well-written this book is, and what a powerful story it tells. Other people will write better reviews--of this I'm sure. (And after some time has passed, I will be able to write a much better one myself.)

Just know that it is a book I treasure. It will go on that shelf of much-loved titles that I will return to for years to come.

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book almost made me cry - a few times!

It's one that's sure to touch your heart. As I learned of Hastin's story, of his sister in the hospital, of his mother sent away to work and to be abused, and of Hastin's sacrifices... this little boy goes through so much. And when the whip is cracked harder of his back as he tries his best, it's just heartbreaking to the reader. Those last few chapters are killer to get through, I must say.

At one point, a character mentions how knowing the ending of a story is nothing like knowing the journey of what it took to get to the ending. It's the same as when you look at this book as a whole; the ending is nothing without the journey you go on alongside Hastin.

The story is tightly woven together in a simple format. The author keeps the descriptions and dialogue as simple as possible, while still conveying so much emotion.

I'm keeping a watch out for the release of Lynne Kelly's next book.

[M.G. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

One gorgeous read. If you've ever wanted to befriend an elephant, journey with young Hastin through the pages of CHAINED. Separated from the families they love, Nandita and Hastin are forced to work for a greedy circus owner. This memorable story about loyalty, bravery, and respect for one of earth's finest creatures will stay with me for a long time.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my 10 year old daughter and we loved it. My daughter was so hooked, she read ahead without me several times :) She also bawled and bawled and BAWLED -- but that is a good thing. This book really tugs at your very core and was so very beautifully written. My daughter and I both would give it beyond five stars if we could!

[Vonna Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was ten, I would have read this book a thousand times, hugged it, bawled over it and slept with it under my pillow. With her unforgettable characters, vivid world building and tense plot, Lynne Kelly has created a new classic.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously written, Chained will leave you needing a tissue. Thanks to Lynne Kelly, my students skyped with her halfway through the read aloud lending an air of authenticity to not only the story but also the lengthy writing process an author endures to get a book to print.

Highly recommended.

[Autumn C · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Chained by Lynne Kelly, a ten year old boy named Hastin has to work at an old circus because his family can't pay for his ill sister's hospital bill. He goes to a old rundown circus and is told to trap a young elephant. When he does he is told to train her

[Milton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

To help his family, 10 year old Hastin takes a job far from home as an elephant keeper. He is to work for one year to pay off the family's medical debts, but the experience isn't the adventure that he had hoped for. Hastin's boss, Timir, is a horrible man who is unkind to both people and animals. When Hastin becomes fast friends with Nandita, the young female elephant who is trapped to be part of Timir's circus, he starts stress about how hard Nandita is working and the cruel methods used by her trainer. Now, Hastin feels he must find a way to free himself and Nandita, so they can both return to their families.

Find it today: https://ent.sharelibraries.info/clien...

Jayme A. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[Sue Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Chanda. She is the catalyst for today’s review of Chained, a smart, well-written, and engrossing novel by Lynne Kelly. Chanda is a young girl bitten by fever mosquitoes and now carries a dangerously high temperature. She needs medical help now. With the help of a neighbor, Amma, her mother, takes Chanda to the hospital in the city. Left behind to care for things at home is Chanda’s older brother, Hastin.

Thus begins an engaging story of one young boy’s quest to help the three women in his life, though he has yet to meet the third. Chanda’s care will cost the family 4000-rupee they do not have. Without her husband to help, Amma barters her services as a house cleaner in exchange for the needed money. Hastin does not like the accommodations Amma resides in during her one-year stay and is determined to find a job and send Amma home. Finding a job is no easy task when you are a young boy of ten, with little skills.

Enter Timir, a once prosperous circus owner who is determined to return to his former glory. He needs an elephant keeper. Hastin needs a job. Timir will graciously talk to the rich man and pay off Amma’s debt, and add a salary Hastin will collect at the end of his one-year stint as the elephant keeper. There is a catch. Timir does not own an elephant. He expects Hastin to help trap one in the jungle. Chup! No one should know this, he tells Hastin. Timir promises this job is more adventure than work. Hastin has never seen the jungle, having lived all his life is the dessert.

Two other characters are essential in this story. One is Sharad, the elephant trainer who trained under one of the best elephant trainers, but has forgotten most of what he learned. The other is the circus cook, Ne Min, an older man with much elephant experience. Ne Min is like a wise grandfather, but with secrets that bring him shame.

Fast forward past some wonderful prose and scenes that will throw your emotions topsy-turvy and Timir has his elephant. Hastin names the elephant Nandita and the two become best friends. Hastin must feed, bathe, and sleep with Nandita. He cares for any injuries or ills she may acquire. None of these tasks is easy.
Timir, the once jovial employer-in-need, has chained both Hastin and Nandita. He chains Nandita around the neck and feet, while chaining Hastin to a debt Timir seems reluctant to let the boy work off his debt. Timir is a paranoid and angry man with a cruel streak. Each time he thinks Hastin has broken one of his rules, Timir adds another three months onto the loan agreement. Neither the young boy nor the young elephant think they will ever get out from under Timir’s brutal thumb.

I need to stop here. There is so much action in Chained that I could write twice the normal review. I adore this book. It is one of the, no, it is the best book I have read from a debut author and the best book by anyone so far this year. Chained is a novel all aspiring authors need to deconstruct. It is near perfect execution of craft. Scenes unfold naturally without one unnecessary word and the plot is unusual, well researched, and builds to the perfect ending that will satisfy the reader. The well-defined characters have unforgettable personalities, including Nandita. This is the kind of writing editors and publishers are looking for.

The story is set in Northern India and features two distinct regions: the dessert and the jungle. Important subjects include family, loyalty, honor, and trust. Chained is a good choice for social studies teachers. The story contains many concepts a teacher can use to great success in her classroom. Being well constructed, in addition to being wonderfully told, makes Chained a great choice for a book report. The issue of animal care, wild animal care in particular, can lead off a classroom discussion that will every student interested.

Chained is also a story boys and girls will not put down, if they can get it away from their parents long enough to read it. Yes, Chained is a middle grade book. Yes, Chained could be marketed to adults, it is that good, that engaging of a story. If you can only purchase one book, make it Chained. This one is going to be on every library’s most requested list.

Received book from the publisher, Farra Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers

Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2012/06/12...

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very special read.

A boy who misses his family, an elephant who misses hers.

"Outside, the wind blows toward my home. I hold up the handful of hair and release it to a gust of wind and watch it fly away. I dream that the wind is strong enough to carry it all the way to my village, where it will help make a nest for a bird. And Amma will see the wavy black hair woven into a next and know that I am alright." (p. 139)

A coming of age story in which the boy has to make his own family in a terrible situation, from an animal and an old man who are all bound together by love and regret and hope.

The men in the book are on a spectrum of good but sad, mean but small, and full of regret.

"One who is brave inside does not have to use fear to control others," he says. "You are braver than Timir will ever be." (p. 150)

"A weaker stone would have crumbled away into nothing." (p.230)

[Dixie Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever had an animal friend, a true friend that sleeps with you each night, that reads your mind, that brings you peace during anxious times...you'll love this book. It's a book about such a friendship, but also about trauma, family and loss. Lynne Kelly has done an exquisite job in bringing varied characters together, both protagonists and antagonists, in a journey toward freedom, healing, and letting go of the past. With Nandita, the young elephant, at the center of the story, we learn of the horrible methods used to train elephants to perform in rural circuses in India, a practice Kelly hopes will end as per her author's note at the end. Be prepared for heartbreak and frustration as you lose yourself in this poignant story. A must-have for middle school classroom bookshelves and libraries!

[Oak Lawn Public Library - Youth Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book for young readers introduces us to Hastin and his family who live in the Indian desert. When his sister becomes sick, Hastin must go find work to pay for her care. He ends up as the caretaker of an elephant named Nandita. This is a great story of adventure and all the highs and lows that come with it. Hastin is a brave boy who will do all he can to help, but greedy people and human nature try stopping him at every turn. I believe this story will be enjoyed by a wide range of young readers. ***3 Stars

Reviewed By: Austin L.

[Fatma_Almheiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel has its own unique atmosphere, while reading it you will experience the different emotions that faced every Chained reader.

It is a beautiful and heartbreaking journey and I love the serious issues that were discussed in the novel such as poverty, child laboring and injustice.

Hastin, Nandita, Ne min were my favorite characters. It is a very informative novel; there were many details about the Indian culture and elephants.

I recommend this book to every child, adolescent and adult.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I got a few books for Xander to read this summer, this being one of them. It is a beautiful little story but I think it might be a little too tough emotionally for kids Xander's age (7). It's funny because Xander took one look at the cover and said he didn't want to read it because it made him sad looking at the little elephant chained up - glad I read it first! Definitely a book for kids a little older, like 10 and up.

[Sara-Zoe Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Year of the Elephant books continues (in my life). So many great stories with elephant characters and themes. This one features a kid taken away from his home as he tries to do what is right for his family. He gets a job taking care of an elephant from a very disreputable man, and has to take part in capturing the elephant and has to help heal the elephant when it is treated badly. But he has an ally who helps him be bold and daring. Love the setting of India.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading the book and I did not like it at all. I was drowned in boredom. In my opinion this book was just terrible. I had to drop it because I just knew that i wasn't going to like it. The beginning part really just went on forever. A girl, i forget her name, said really basic things and didn't seem to have any interest. This might have been because she was sick but she just did not really seem into it. This is what got me bored.

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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