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When Elephants Fight
When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. This ancient proverb of the Kikuyu people, a tribal group in Kenya, Africa, is as true today as when the words were first spoken, perhaps thousands of years ago. Its essence is simplicity—when the large fight, it is the small who suffer most. And when it comes to war, the smallest, the most vulnerable, are the children.
When Elephants Fight presents the stories of five children—Annu, Jimmy, Nadja, Farooq and Toma—from five very different and distinct conflicts—Sri Lanka, Uganda, Sarajevo, Afghanistan and the Sudan. Along with these very personal accounts, the book also offers brief analyses of the history and geopolitical issues that are the canvas on which these conflicts are cast.
When Elephants Fight is about increasing awareness. For the future to be better than the past, better than the present, we must help equip our children with an awareness and understanding of the world around them and their ability to bring about change. Gandhi stated, "If you are going to change the world, start with the children."
When Elephants Fight presents the stories of five children—Annu, Jimmy, Nadja, Farooq and Toma—from five very different and distinct conflicts—Sri Lanka, Uganda, Sarajevo, Afghanistan and the Sudan. Along with these very personal accounts, the book also offers brief analyses of the history and geopolitical issues that are the canvas on which these conflicts are cast.
When Elephants Fight is about increasing awareness. For the future to be better than the past, better than the present, we must help equip our children with an awareness and understanding of the world around them and their ability to bring about change. Gandhi stated, "If you are going to change the world, start with the children."
- GenresNonfictionWarAfrica
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
157 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 23, 2010
It's about time someone did this! True stories about children in conflicting countries, including background info and facts about the countries.
The title is derived from a Kenyan proverb:
'"When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers," signifying the fact that when the strong and dominant-for instance the Taliban and the government of the States-fight, it is the small and weak-the civilians and children-that suffer.'
That sentence right there was my thesis in an essay I wrote last year that later won me an English award. I think everyone should read When Elephants Fight because it is a reminder of how lucky we are and that there is a world outside my school and home, and your home and office.
The title is derived from a Kenyan proverb:
'"When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers," signifying the fact that when the strong and dominant-for instance the Taliban and the government of the States-fight, it is the small and weak-the civilians and children-that suffer.'
That sentence right there was my thesis in an essay I wrote last year that later won me an English award. I think everyone should read When Elephants Fight because it is a reminder of how lucky we are and that there is a world outside my school and home, and your home and office.
May 26, 2013
This book is the powerful story of five children in war-torn countries. The countries range from Sri Lanka, Uganda, Sarajevo, Afghanistan and Sudan. However, the children’s suffering, though in far away lands, is heartbreakingly similar. It is an undoubtedly powerful account to be shared with students. The very personal stories are bound to open the door to meaningful discussions about the geopolitical conditions that cause war and also about the personal responsibility of each one of us, as global citizens, to remain informed and active in issues of social justice and the fair treatment of our fellow human beings from government entities.
April 18, 2022
This book covers 5 children each in different conflict regions. For each child there are two sections in the book, the first section describes the life story of the child. The style of the first section is similar to Young Adult. The second section describes the conflict in adult terms, describing the geopolitics, religions, and environmental factors that play a part in the conflict. This section section is written for an adult.
"When Elephants Fight" the small creatures always lose. The children always lose. This is a sad reality of war, the children always lose. You should read this book. Everyone should read this book.
"When Elephants Fight" the small creatures always lose. The children always lose. This is a sad reality of war, the children always lose. You should read this book. Everyone should read this book.
August 11, 2020
The story itself has good information, but the reader is hard to sustain and makes the topics sound almost as if they were written for young children. It was very hard to get through the audiobook thus it might be better ingested as a paperback/e-reader than audio.
January 17, 2018
provided good context and history of the 5 conflicts. Also compelling to hear the first hand tales of impact to the children.
August 8, 2022
Pretty outdated at this point.
May 6, 2013
Taking its title from a proverb that holds true for the results of conflicts around the world, this book features the brief stories of five children who have somehow managed to survive violence in their homelands. The experiences of Jimmmy, Annu, Nadja, Farooq, and Toma are heartbreaking, and readers will be hard pressed to understand how each of them have kept hope alive even while war ravaged their respective countries of Uganda, Sri Lanka, Sarajevo, Afghanistan, and the Sudan. The book also provides historical background about the wars that cut their childhood short. It also includes a thumbnail sketch with information about infant mortality rates, literacy rates, per capita income, and religions as well as updates on each of the children. The only thing I'd like to see more of would be photographs of the land and the children. This is an important book for those seeking to understand the challenges faced by children outside our continental borders.
July 13, 2013
Walters, E. and A. Bradbury. (2008). When elephants fight: The lives of children in conflict in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Uganda. Victoria, Canada: Orca Books
This book tells the story of five children in war ridden locations. Each section details the life of the child in a third person narrative, with a brief follow up, has geographical details, a small map, then goes on to discuss the history of the conflict, political and religious groups.
This book will be of interest students who are studying world conflict. The narratives focus on children that the students can identify with. It is a quality resource that has harrowing stories and interesting history.
I would recommend this for grades five to eight. The narratives are readable but the history, while briefly written, is complex.
This book tells the story of five children in war ridden locations. Each section details the life of the child in a third person narrative, with a brief follow up, has geographical details, a small map, then goes on to discuss the history of the conflict, political and religious groups.
This book will be of interest students who are studying world conflict. The narratives focus on children that the students can identify with. It is a quality resource that has harrowing stories and interesting history.
I would recommend this for grades five to eight. The narratives are readable but the history, while briefly written, is complex.
June 7, 2013
This book tells the story of a child in one of five different worn torn countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Uganda. It is essential book for American young people to read so they can get a sense of what some of their counterparts around the world experience as "normal everyday life." American media does not commonly cover the conflicts of these countries, let alone the experiences of the most helpless victims, the children. This book is a slender volume and can be read in its entirety or students can read chapters in groups. Although I suspect some of them will not be satisfied with just one chapter.
July 18, 2014
The author’s stated goal is that “Through these very personal accounts we hope you will not only feel the pain these children have suffered, but also both sympathize and empathize with them.” It is ironic that a book that tells of the suffering of children because of the ravages of war and countries’ internal strife would open with a quote by Joseph Stalin, labeled by the author as “former Soviet leader.” Stalin was certainly more than that ---- he was a ruthless dictator who killed millions of his countrymen. The author says in his introduction that you will be reading his bias. And you will--an untrustworthy one.
March 18, 2009
This is an insightful read into five different children from five different countries and the effect of war on their lives. An opening statement in the book and where the title comes from, says, "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers," meaning that when the large and dominant are in conflict, it is the small and weak who suffer. This book documents the devastating effect war has on the innocent, especially children. I liked the format, the child's story first, then history on the areas of conflict.
January 23, 2016
Extremely informative and extremely sad. The 5 children in this book tell of their experiences as children of war. They have all experienced trauma that hopefully none of my students or family will have to endure. Unimaginable! The author does a great job of giving background and the current status of the children. What drew me into this book was the forward by Kim Phuc. She's the little girl during the Vietnam War that was hit with napalm and was running down a road screaming when Life magazine took her photo. It is an image that will stay with you your whole life - believe me!
June 29, 2010
Well done book interviewing kids about their experience in war. It gives you the child's perspective of a traumatic experience and then some history of the country and the conflict. I would have preferred more from the kids and a little more abridged version of the history but this book was well done. It negotiated the line between realistic telling of horrific stories without traumatizing kids well.
December 27, 2012
Five children's true stories of their experiences in war, told in third person omnicient viewpoint (someone else telling the story but giving the child's feelings as if you're in their head) and illustrated with lots of photographs. After each story is an explanation in clear terms of the history of that country and its conflict: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uganda. It's a tough subject but a very necessary book.
February 20, 2014
An interesting blend of narrative and expository nonfiction highlighting the experiences of 5 children affected by conflict around the world. The narrative is definitely targeted for a younger audience (book rating is 10+), but the expository sections are fairly dense with statistics and information. This book is a visually interesting read with more of a magazine style layout and several photographs.
March 8, 2010
Recommended for gr. 6-9. This book tells the story of conflicts in five parts of the world, first with the situation of a real child living in the midst of the fighting, then with a section telling about the history of the conflict. It helps to bring home how innocent people suffer when a war is happening all around them.
December 6, 2013
Describes five children caught in different modern conflicts.
This book's strength is derived from the short synopses of the origin of the war each of the five children were caught in. The stories themselves were moderately interesting but not compelling. This would have made the book much more inviting to tweens.
This book's strength is derived from the short synopses of the origin of the war each of the five children were caught in. The stories themselves were moderately interesting but not compelling. This would have made the book much more inviting to tweens.
October 25, 2009
True stories of children suffering in war-ravaged countries. Heartbreaking and powerful account.
July 20, 2010
I loved this book so much.
It talks about the poor innocent children in the countries that there is war happening or that happened.
It talks about the poor innocent children in the countries that there is war happening or that happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2013
I couldn't get into this one.
May 20, 2015
When sad short stories about children around the world and their stories.
January 22, 2016
A poignant read, very fitting given the global climate that most children find themselves in, today.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews