The Elephant's Girl

by Celesta Rimington

An elephant never forgets...but Lexington Willow can't remember her past. When she was a toddler, a tornado swept her away from everyone and everything she knew and landed her near an enclosure in a Nebraska zoo, where an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm. With no trace of her family, Lex grew up at the zoo with 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. Can Lex summon the courage to hunt for who she really is--and why the tornado brought her here all those years ago?

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Animals, Fiction, Childrens

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2020

About the author

Celesta Rimington is the author of magical middle grade books including The Elephant's Girl and the forthcoming Reach. The Elephant’s Girl was the winner of the 2020 Reading the West Book Award and has been recommended on several state library association lists and readers’ choice lists for middle grade readers. Celesta holds a degree in social psychology and has presented to thousands of students about resilience, generating ideas, and writing their own stories. Celesta grew up in almost every region of the United States, has southern roots, and currently resides in Utah. She enjoys acting, boxing, and exploring the outdoors with her family and her five-pound Yorkie named Winston. Find her online at celestarimington.com.

Review Policy: I only review books I enjoyed enough to highly recommend, therefore, you won't see any low-star reviews here.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a middle grade book. The main character of this book is a girl called Lexington Willow that lives at Nebraska zoo since she was a toddler a tornado swept her to the zoo. This story has magical realism (ghost and the girl talks to the wind and the wind talks to her). This is a heartwarming story that is about a girl finding where she came from, and who she is now. I loved this story, and I could not put this book down all day. I think even if it is a middle grade adults will love this story to. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have since purchase the hardcopy of this book from my daughter.

[Celesta Rimington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, everyone! I'm the author of The Elephant's Girl. Thank you for visiting! I wrote this magical book for every kid who has ever felt alone and every kid who wants a good friendship story. It's for girls and boys and elephants. It's for kids who'd love the power to talk to the wind and for anyone who enjoys animals, adventure, and a hint of magic. The characters (including the elephant!) were so fun to write and are as real to me as if they told me this story themselves. I hope you enjoy living in their world for a while. This book is for everyone who has ever battled a storm. Face down the wind, my friends!💙

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

!! NOW AVAILABLE !!

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

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a sweet book in many ways. I loved Lexington and the people around her who cared for her after she landed in a zoo from a tornado when she was a toddler. I loved the connection between Lex and the elephants, Naya in particular, and how that took an interesting turn as the story went on. I was not prepared for the magical realism aspect of this story, but thought it was done in a way that kept my interest. I loved the themes of belonging, family and friendship that are woven all throughout this book.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl who solves the mystery of hidden treasure by communicating with an elephant and meeting with a ghost. This new middle grade novel will spark imaginations while reminding readers of the many ways elephants can be mistreated. The zoo featured in this book does not abuse their charges, but some have previously been part of circus acts. Our main character Lexington is 12-years-old. When she was just a little girl, a tornado tore her away from her family and she found refuge with an elephant at the Lexington Zoo. No one came forward to claim Lexington so she has grown up at the zoo. In this story she establishes a connection with the resident elephants and the pictures conjured up by these conversations lead Lexington on a treasure hunt. This book will be appealing to kids who like to read Dusti Bowling's books and, of course, Katherine Applegate's "The One and Only Ivan" and her newest release, "The One and Only Bob."

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about a 12-year old girl named Lexington Willow, who lives at the Omaha Zoo since being found there under the protection of an … elephant named Nyah, following a terrible tornado. Lex has no memories of her life before the storm, and becomes the ward of Roger Marsh, a train engineer, who works at the zoo. Her best friend (Fisher) also lives at the zoo, and like his idol, Johnny Damon, is the product of a mixed marriage and a Thai mother. Lex is homeschooled by Fisher's mom, after being ridiculed at school. With a sweet touch of magical realism, Nyah is able to share memories with Lex, leading to an adventure in the bordering woods outside. Lex meets a friendly ghost, who insists she is a misplaced spirit, who encourages her to look for a hidden treasure. A story of love, friendship, legacy, and belonging, that once again makes the important point that one's family is not always by lineage. 4.5 stars. Recommended.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Betty Culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that feels like a classic.

[Dell Hilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kid Lit (Children’s Literature) has been a favorite genre of mine since I was, well . . . a kid. I guess I never really outgrew it, and that was convenient when I was raising my children—I always had a good book handy for them to dive into. Celesta Rimington’s The Elephant’s Girl is one of those books that I would have been excited to get into my children’s hands. It would actually be a great read-aloud book for the whole family! I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy (it doesn’t come out in bookstores until May 2020, and I’m so sorry you all have to wait so long to read it) and it was a delightful experience. Ms. Rimington has certainly done her research. I learned so much about elephants, tornados, trains, and zoos! The real treasure here, however, is the author’s depiction of a little girl, torn from her family during a tornado, protected from the terrible wind by a zoo elephant, and her struggle to discover her own identity (with a little help from a ghost and an elephant’s telepathic messages.) Lexington Willow (so named by her foster father Roger Marsh, zoo train engineer and the man who found her being sheltered by Nyah the zoo elephant in the aftermath of the tornado) yearns for a family of her own. But to uncover the truth about who she really is will require more than a little courage, determination, and ingenuity. As the story unfolds at an ever increasing pace, we can hardly wait to see what happens next. The pages just can’t turn fast enough! The Elephant’s Girl is a story of friendship and family. It is an adventure and a mystery. It is a ghost story and a coming-of-age story. And all of this is blended together with just the right touch of magical realism to make our imaginations soar. Celesta Rimington’s debut middle-grade novel touches me on many different levels, but it especially touches my heart. It is a story WITH heart for every child heart that has experienced loneliness, fear, and the challenge of being different. The Elephant’s Girl is a book for girls, boys, and grownups alike. I give it my rarely bestowed 5 Stars and recommend it highly. And to Ms Rimington I say, as did Bob Cratchit to Mrs. Cratchit after tasting her Christmas pudding, “A triumph, my dear, a triumph!”

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who is Lexington Willow and how did she come to live at a zoo? Why is she able to communicate with elephants and ghosts? Find out in this story that's for fans of stories like The Secret Zoo or Circus Mirandus.

[Elizabeth A.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although written for the middle-grade reader, this book will appeal to the "child" in every adult who reads it. Well written story with magical realism, including the presence of ghosts and mental telepathy, but also grounded in the reality of discovering who a child is and becomes, memory, family and community ties, feelings of loss and being an outsider to others, true friendship, the invisible but not unheard messages from the wind, and the connections that exist between humans and the animal world. Anyone who enjoys their companionship with an endearing pet can understand the magical experiences that Lexington Willow has with the elephant, Nyah, who protected and saved her when she was a young child during the tornado storm that took away her family and leaving her on the grounds of the Lexington Zoo in Nebraska with lost memories of who she is. The entire Zoo becomes Lex's family after the search for who she is and for her parents is unsuccessful. The author writes the story from now twelve-year-old Lex's point of view and the reader becomes intimately involved in her thoughts and feelings as the magical messages she receives from Nyah's eyes sends her on a quest of discovery. All the characters are well delineated. The setting of the Zoo and the surrounding land is a haven for Lex, but the story also leads her into the outside world to which she is unaccustomed and fearful, but which leads her to self discovery and strength. This is a heart-warming, uplifting story that includes the childhood desire for adventure and mischief on the way to discovering the world about them. In telling this story, the author is also telling the story of the plight of animals in captivity (in this book of elephants) and the need for sanctuaries to provide freedom, space and safety for their continuing existence. At the end of the book the author provides many references to other books about the safety, humane treatment for elephants and includes information about how seemingly wild animals do communicate with each other and with humans - further reading!

[Meg Tome Infinity · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Random House Children's for allowing me to receive this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Elephants' Girl
by Celesta Rimington

This is such a hard one for me to review because technically there is nothing bad about it but I just didn't connect or enjoy my reading experience all that much. I felt like the characters were very generic and didn't hook me into the story and the plot took so long to pick up that I found I wasn't interested in picking up the book which is sad because I had such hopes for a magical cute middle grade with the zoo setting.

I do hope that the children that this is targeted to enjoy it more than I did.

2 Stars / D+

[Izi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet story reminded me of another favorite book - Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. This book is real and heartfelt with authentic characters, meaningful relationships, and a touch of magical realism. I loved it! ❤️

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lex Willow was only a toddler when, seven years ago, she was found inside the elephant habitat at the Lexington Zoo, after a devastating tornado. She was being guarded by Nyah, a young elephant, and was found only because a ghost pointed the way to where she was located. When a lengthy search turned up no family, she was allowed to live in the zoo with Roger Marsh, the zoo's train engineer, as her guardian. Lex's best friend, Fisher, also lives inside the zoo since his parents are both zoo employees. While Fisher attends a local public school, Lex is homeschooled because the school children made fun of her, pointing out the fact that she talks to the wind and by also calling her Elephant Girl. So in the present, Lex discovers a 'misplaced spirit' who has a mystery that must be uncovered. Lex feels compelled to reveal the secrets she uncovers, even if it includes damaging zoo property. But she eventually bites off more than she can chew, risking losing permission to live on zoo property any more.

When I agreed to review this book, I didn't even know it was set in Lexington, Nebraska -- not too far from where I live. So all the references to weather and other local hot spots in the area were spot on! Also worth noting is the fact that Lex's homeschool teacher, who happens to be Fisher's mom, is requiring her to write a paper comparing herself to Karana from the book Island of the Blue Dolphins. So there are a number of ways she examines her experiences throughout that story. I usually examine parent/child relationships in coming of age books, but in this book it's complicated by her unusual circumstances of being taken in by a zoo employee who hasn't officially adopted her. But it's still a beautiful relationship with mutual respect -- the type that I would hope all children have with their biological or adoptive parents.

This book is Celesta Rimington's debut novel, but it certainly didn't read like one. The writing was so beautiful and I easily slipped into the story, admiring her descriptive language and in-depth understanding of Lex. Furthermore, Rimington went to great measures to research elephant communications, zoos, and the circus. Additionally, she worked for Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, so there was plenty of personal experiences to guide her on her research path, leading to this book. I happily recommend this story to young readers who love mysterious adventures. That said, the story will be equally engaging for adult readers who long to remember the feeling of being young, curious, open-minded, and often misunderstood. My thanks to Netgalley and Crown Books for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy so that I could give an honest review. This title is scheduled to be published tomorrow, May 19th.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. But if you want to know...elephants, ghosts, magical elements, weather/tornadoes, conservation/zoos. 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.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's (Crown Books for Young Readers) for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair, honest review.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This book is a wonderful blend of contemporary and mystery with a paranormal twist. Lex doesn’t know anything about her background. At five years old, she was discovered at the zoo with one of the elephants after a tornado, and her family was never found. She’s been raised at the zoo, and ever since has been able to talk to the wind. It took me a little while to figure out if this book was truly a contemporary fantasy or if Lex just thought she heard the wind, but things take an even stronger supernatural turn when Lex starts seeing a ghost who died in the tornado. She needs to unravel the mysteries of the ghost’s past to help make things right for her so the ghost can move on.

I think many kids will connect to Lex, who’s always felt like an outsider. She has her best friend Fisher, who also lives at the zoo, but most other kids and places outside the zoo feel overwhelming to her (kids tend to tease a girl who talks to the wind). The mysteries and the supernatural elements will keep kids turning the pages, and the intriguing cast of characters will keep them engaged. I found myself falling in love with everyone at the zoo, especially Lex’s guardian Roger. Themes of found family and friendship are woven into an intriguing plot, making for a fantastic MG read!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexington Willow lives in a zoo. Safe inside the zoo fence, she knows what to expect. Everything runs on a schedule, and everyone knows her. Leaving the zoo means being teased by other children and facing the unknown. And Lexington Willow's life has a lot of unknowns: where she came from, who her family is, why she is in a zoo. It isn't until her favorite animal in the zoo--the elephant who saved her from a tornado--sends her a telepathic message that Lex realizes that the answers to her unknowns might be out there. Finding those answers will require leaving the safety of the zoo, meeting a ghost, and searching for a hidden treasure. But along the way, Lex will learn the true meaning of family and friendship and courage.
Rimington has written a modern story with the feel of a classic. Her quirky characters and the animals they care for will delight children and adults alike. This book has a place on any shelf, and is one that I will read over and over again.

[Producervan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kaytee Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

You had me at elephant. This touching story takes place in a zoo, centers on family and belonging and friendship, with a bit of bullying and some magical realism thrown in. All in all, really well done.

[Suey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable book about a girl who lives in a zoo and has a cool connection to one particular elephant there. Oh, it's also a ghost story.

[Georgann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much! I loved Lex and how she grew and changed on her journey of self-discovery, and her found family that helped her all along the way. And the elephant, of course! I don't even have words -Just - everything I wanted and could have hoped for.

[Peggy Jean Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a tornado destroys a small Nebraskan town, a toddler is found at the local zoo protected from the storm by a young elephant. With no trace of her family, the girl is given a home at the zoo. Lexington’s past continues to be a mystery until, 9 years later, she is finally allowed to help care for the zoo’s elephant herd. Pictures flash through her mind the first time her eyes meet those of Nyah, her former protector. This link with Nyah intrigues Lex and stimulates latent memories that spur her and her best friend, Fisher, to reckless actions which will hopefully reveal the secrets of Lex’s mysterious history. The characters are fully realized and Lex grows from being a self-absorbed loner to a more accepting and supportive friend of Fisher.

I am impressed with the detail that Ms. Rimington portrays as she draws on her experience volunteering in a zoo to set the scene and imagine the life of the workers and animals. Interested readers can easily follow the web links to Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA.com) to learn more about requirements for zoo animal welfare and care takers safety. Additional information is included in the Author’s Notes guiding researchers to animal activists and welfare expert’s sites. Read A-likes include Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Jacqueline Kelly), Tail of Emily Windsnap (Sarah Kessler), Keeper (Kathi Appelt), Louisiana’s Way Home (Kate DiCamillo) and Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs (Betty Birney).

Peggy Rollins
Youth Services Coordinator, Retired
Yolo County Library
California

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 strong stars

I absolutely loved this story about Lexington, a young orphan who was saved by a zoo elephant from a hurricane, but remembered nothing about her family or where she came from. She grows up in the zoo with the zoo engineer (he runs the trains) and loves all the animals, but has a special connection with the elephant who saved her life. She can communicate with the elephant, but can also communicate with the wind, both of which makes her stand out at school and teased enough that she is homeschooled at the zoo. The zoo is her safe place, and the setting for most of this book, but it's also the site of a mystery as she meets a ghost and also tries to figure out more about her past. I loved all the characters in this book, and although Mr. Bixly was definitely not likable, I did like that I understood him much better by the end, and so did Lex. This story was definitely a tearjerker at the end, but I didn't feel the intense emotion throughout, the way I do for some other books. But it was a strong ending, and I especially loved the author's note at the end as she explains her motivations for writing this book, and she also bring to light the challenges of caring for wild animals in zoos and making sure they are treated as humanely as possible. I think this would be an excellent book for 4th-6th grade, although it's written in such a way that older kids and adults would enjoy it as well.

Thanks to #CelestaRimington, #RandomHouseChildren, and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elephant's Girl is a delightful story about a young girl, Lex, who grows up in a zoo after being separated from her family during a devastating tornado. As a small child, Lex was discovered in the zoo's elephant enclosure in the aftermath of the tornado, sheltered by one of the zoo's elephants, Nyah. Since then, Lex has been raised by the zoo's train engineer, Roger, and has formed special bonds with the people and animals who inhabit the zoo. This is one of those rare gems of a book that can truly be enjoyed by children and adults...10-year-old me would have devoured this story, and reading it now, I was blown away by the attention to detail and careful research that went into crafting Lex's world. While the story touches on elements of cultural identity and animal rights, the message never feels heavy-handed, and the hints of magic interspersed throughout are perfectly placed. I loved Lex's connection with the elephant who saved her, and the story reflects the growing complexities of friendships during the pre-teen years; the relationship between Lex and her best friend, Fisher, was both genuine and dynamic. Above all, my favorite part of the Elephant's Girl was watching Lex grow and mature as she begins to solidify her sense of self amidst change. A magical story that is sure to resonate with readers, young and old alike.

[Sindy Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am amazed of how much I love this book. The whole book descriptions of the zoo, the characters and their own emotions were so real. Oh and beautiful book cover too. When I was reading, I felt like I was a part of Lex and her adventures. I liked the magic aspect in each part of the book and how connected Lex was with Nyah. Never read a book like that before. I also really enjoyed the friendship of Lex and Fisher. Fisher always protecting Lex and being a great friend "future boyfriend". But Roger and Lex was just special and well done. It made me cry in the end when Roger gives Lex the special gift. Beautiful story I will buy and share in my classroom with my students to read.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an advance copy for my honest review.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book! I really enjoyed reading this book! The story of Nyah and Lexington captures the reader and makes you want to keep turning the pages. The genre of magical realism is not something I normally read but I still enjoyed it! It also gave me a different perspective on elephants and the care they receive!

[Arianne Costner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot recommend enough! I was swept up in this magical mystery. As a ghost, a treasure, a girl who can communicate with the wind, an elephant that misses her family, and so much more. The ending will have you crying happy tears. Thanks to the author for creating such a beautifully written, poignant, and intriguingly mystical book

[Kendra Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story, the characters are easy to know and love, their insecurities, and Hope's. I couldn't put the book down, an easy read that dropped you right in the middle of the action. I'm reading it again!

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so stinking sweet, I almost cried. That last scene went straight to the heart (and I still might cry if I think about it too much longer).

Elephants are so special to me, for very personal reasons, so the title of this book was an auto-listen (audiobook). I had to read the story about The Elephant's Girl and I'm so glad I did because I think this is a new favorite.

I haven't read very many Magical Realism books, but one of my other favorite middle-grade books (Winter of the Bees by Angela R. Watts) is also a magical realism story, so this may be a genre that I dive into headfirst. So far, my experience with the heartwarming stories of kids and their adventures with magical animals that help them discover truths and treasures is just unmatched and I want all books similar to this.

Lex is so sweet. Like, my heart just melted at her thoughts, actions, and experiences. She has a heart of gold and I loved how her adventure happened around her without turning her into a troublesome menace like so many middle-grade books do to their main characters. She truly meant well in all of her decisions and I loved her all the more for it.

The adults in this book are also incredible! Roger *cue teary eyes* is actual gold. Adoption is a topic so near and dear to my heart and oh my word, the way he loved Lex like his own daughter just made me want to cry every time. He was so understanding of her little twelve-year-old way of processing things and allowed her to be independent, while also always providing a safe space for her to come back to. Just, such a sweet relationship and bond and I'm here for it.

As for the storyline, it was exciting and mysterious. I thought it was the perfect balance between real life and magical realism!

I would caution some parents/guardians that ghosts are a prevalent part of the story, as I am aware that many parents/guardians may wish to filter ghosts out of stories for kids, but it isn't in a spooky way--no jump scares. The ghosts are just characters in the book and are accepted as completely normal, so it isn't like they're haunting anything or trying to scare the kids (she's very friendly and loveable even haha). Also, on this topic, Lex deals with the wind "speaking to her" and I viewed this as a personification of anxiety and anxious thoughts since everything she identified as the "wind's words" was something cutting her down or berating her. I thought this was a very creative way to identify anxiety for middle graders and I loved how Lex constantly fought back against them and encouraged herself whenever the wind said something rather than believing what the wind told her.

Everything about this book is gold, and I'm so happy that I impulsively listened to it!

[Tiffany Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, the things we think are missing from our lives, aren’t missing at all. We have simply misplaced our ability to see what is right in front of us.

Lexington (Lex) is different from other kids her age for two main reasons. First, following a major tornado, she was found at the zoo being sheltered by an elephant named Nyah. Secondly, she lives at this same zoo with her foster guardian, Roger.

Nyah and Lex share a special bond and communicate on a deep level. When this sends Lex into the woods, she meets a ghost seeking help to find a lost treasure and things get dangerous.

This was such a fun, adventurous, and extremely touching novel! The fantasy elements flowed so well with the everyday goings on at the zoo. I never knew what was going to happen next! I loved it!

However, the real beauty of this story lies in coming to understand how our family can extend to be more than just a bloodline. Your home is where you choose it to be. Our family can be found among our closest friends and those who are our caretakers. It is the people who love us the most and those we love the most in our lives. And it is our realization of this, and our journeys to get to this point, that is beautiful.

With their uncanny ability to remember, impeccable communication skills, and incredible family bonds, the elephant was the perfect animal for this magical story. As the saying goes, “The elephant never forgets”. Nyah and the other elephants are a lovely use of memory for the story.

In the end, you have an extremely imaginative middle grade fantasy that is about friendship, loss, family, self confidence and love. The characters are all relatable and I found myself saddened to see it come to an end.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for this Advanced Reader’s Copy.