The Girl Who Stole An Elephant

by Nizrana Farook

Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can’t resist the shiny temptations the king’s palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for her impoverished community doesn’t come without risks, and when Chaya steals the queen’s jewels from a bedside table―a messy getaway jeopardizes the life of a close friend. After an equally haphazard prison break, Chaya barely escapes on the king’s prized elephant! With leeches and revolution lurking in the jungle, Chaya leads her companions on a thrilling adventure. After leaving her village as a thief, can she return as a hero? Or will Chaya’s sticky fingers be the beginning―or the end―of everything for the intrepid gang?

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Novels

Paperback

First published January 2, 2020

About the author

Nizrana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the beautiful landscapes of her home country find their way into the stories she writes. She has a master’s degree in writing for young people, and lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable, adventurous middle grade read that plunges you deep into the jungle!

I'm so happy this was such a fun read to kick off Middle Grade Monthly with in 2020. This is fast-paced with short chapters, making it a quick and easy read. Chaya, our heroine, seems to be a bit of a klepto - she steals the Queen's jewels, gets her best friend arrested, then has to work out how to break him out of jail. She makes so many terrible decisions, but for all the right reasons.

I liked Chaya as a character more so towards the middle of the book, when her intentions are revealed. At first, I thought she was a bit of a thrill-seeker who didn't see how her actions would have consequences, but by the end of the novel, she has learned so much. Not only that, but we have her best friend Neelan who is a perfect little gentleman, and Nour, who is the polar opposite of Chaya. Seeing their friendship blossom as the story continues is rather wonderful to watch.

There are a lot of beautiful moments sprinkled throughout, and I absolutely love the jungle setting and how Farook pains the picture for us. We learn little bits of information about jungle plants and how the wildlife live. As dangerous as it can be sometimes, it really made me want to explore this jungle myself. This is spoiler-free, but I was pleasantly surprised towards the end of the book about a certain little twist. If you read it, you'll know what I mean.

The resolution at the end was a bit too quick and easy for me, but overall it was still a great adventure and I'm so happy that I read it!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for the Middlegrade Monthly book club January 2020.

Chaya is a rebellious child. Daughter to the headman of her village, she’s a free spirit who takes trinkets from the rich to help those in need. Except one day she goes too far, and steals the Queen’s jewels - leading to an escape into the jungle with her friends. And the King’s elephant.

I want to start by saying that there was so much to love in this book. The setting is wonderfully lush and vivid in description, and I could almost imagine myself walking in the jungle with Chaya and her friends. There’s great imagery of the temples and the markets and food that really captured the feel of the book and transported me to another place entirely. I also love the diversity representation seen within the children. It celebrates difference cultures and uniqueness and I loved that. We need more of it in children’s literature.

I also really liked the characters. Chaya is the typical fearless troublemaker with a heart of gold and a fierce loyalty to her friends. Neel is the Hufflepuff, willing to defend his friends and take the blame for anything - even if it costs him his life. And Nour is the clever, rich child - spoilt and cunning, but lonely too, she somehow gets tangled up in Chaya’s adventures just because she has no one else to talk to. Combined they make a great team, and it was nice to see their relationship develop over the course of the novel.

However. I would say that this sits on the lower end of the middle grade spectrum. The writing is very simplistic and the plot even more so. It’s fast paced, but all the events seem to come very easily and conveniently to the children without much conflict from the adults they encounter. Arguments are easily resolved with a couple of sentences, with individuals changing their entire mindset and opinions based on the words of a few. It seems a little far fetched at times, and everything is resolved very quickly and tidily.

I don’t think it needs stating, but I’m not the target audience for this, and I think younger children will love following Chaya on her big jungle adventure. I’ll pass it on to my nine year old son (also an avid reader) to enjoy instead as I think this will appeal to his big imagination.

[Pris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this book. But there are things I just can’t overlook. Chaya wasn’t a rebel or hero to me; she was a mean, arrogant girl that treats people who are different from her like shit. The girl on girl hate was so stupid to me. I didn’t feel that there were any consequences for Chaya and her appalling behavior. Furthermore the events in the story were too convenient for me. I found it highly annoying that ‘the good side’ worked together with bandits who kill elephants for their tusks. Nour and Neel were what saved the story some bit for me. Chaya doesn’t deserve them. Overall this was a huge disappointment to me. I wish it wasn’t, but I want to be honest. Ananda was cool though! 🐘

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is so fast paced!

It reminds of that day when I started reading The Lightning Thief last year.

This is the story of a young girl when she stole the queen's jewels for a cause she thought wasn't wrong. Things go out of control because of it but there's a worse lurking problem, adventures follow and, as it always is, the good triumphs in the end.

Chaya is such an adventurous spirit. Her energy! It's so vibrant throughout the book.
Such a refreshing character!

She's mischievous. She's fearless. She's living her life. But she steals! And what we need to know is the reason why she does so and what bigger problems it might be leading to.

She studies people well. She gets a bit obnoxious at times. And she gets a bit problematic towards the end. She's impulsive and a bit rash.

Another character, Neel. He's so soft-spoken and warm. He suffers as he's being falsely accused of something he hasn't done.

Nour's character is almost fluttering like she might disappear anytime. I wish his part was planned well.

There are some repetitive parts in the writing. Wish they weren't there.

I do wish some expressions aren't this stereotypical in describing people.

I wish the adult characters were more present and they didn't take hasty decisions that might hurt the young characters.

I wanted more character development, more plot planning, more depth in the writing. I wish there was more emotional content as the story demanded. It's lacking in the writing I would say.

I feel everything that happened was being too convenient for the main character.

And I really do not like reading a book in which the main character acts as if they have figured out everything and sees everyone as stupid.
It happened in this one.
And I really wish the story had more to do with the title.

The title is still relevant and it has a good part in the second half. The ending was awesome.

But like I said before, this book is a quick short adventurous read.

[Hana Tooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an early version of this book. Aimed at readers aged 9-12, this thrilling adventure through the jungle touches on themes of loyalty, bravery and friendship. Robin Hood meets The Explorer, in the wonderfully vivid/exotic island setting of Serendib, which is beautifully described throughout.

Chaya is an endearingly cheeky, loyal, brave and fierce protagonist who you can’t help but immediately root for, even when we meet her after she’s just stolen a pocketful of jewels. The story gets going very quickly, with Chaya’s (well-intentioned) shenanigans leading to disastrous and deadly consequences for her best friend, Neel. In order to try and set things right, Chaya performs a daring rescue, followed by the very most tremendous getaway: on the back of a huge elephant called Ananda. There is enough peril, adventure, calamity, and wit to keep the pages turning fervently from beginning to end.

Farook is an exciting new author in the middle grade world, with, I have no doubts, plenty more exciting adventure stories to offer.

[Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month January 2020

MY BRILLIANTLY TALENTED AUNT WROTE THIS SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant perfectly recreates the heat and vibrance of a Sri Lankan jungle. From the descriptions of traditional Lankan food to the flora and fauna on the island, it easy to see the genuine nostalgia with which this was written. The characters stood up well as individuals which worked to represent the cultural diversity of Sri Lanka. Also they sounded like the children they were meant to be which is a real failing I have seen in certain MG books where all the 9 years olds sound like adults for whatever reason.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

Chaya, wishing to help her friend get money to recover from his injuries, steal jewels from the Queen. As a result, her best friend gets arrested, a runaway ensues and she befriends the King’s (stolen) elephant.

This was a very enjoyable middle grade full of adventure! This book was full of diversity in characters as well as culture, which is always refreshing in any genre—but especially in middle grade books. Our cast of characters, specifically our three main friends, made the story what it was and were pretty well developed. There was also a lot of useful information in this story about the jungle, its inhabitants and their lifestyles.

However, this book is VERY fast paced, almost too quick for its own good. The resolution is wrapped up in one of this book’s already short chapters and the villain of the story gives in with one sentence. Many of the characters’ mindsets change in a similar manner, their rebuttals taken back after only a few words exchanged. Seeing as I’m not the target audience for this, though, I can look over the quick pacing and easily solved resolutions and appreciate the story for what it was. From that viewpoint, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant was an enjoyable tale of friendship, culture and full of lessons that anyone who reads it could learn.

[Sue Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story starts with much promise, a 12 year old girl protagonist, a thief and savvy enough to talk her way out of danger. The story evokes many sights, sounds and smells of the Serendid, Sri Lanka, and the environments the characters are lead through as they journey through their adventure. This description is interesting to read, but the characters lack sharpness and the plot some depth and intrigue. Nonetheless, for many 8 - 9 year olds, it is a colourful and entertaining read.

[Irfan Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice!

[Reixma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

I read this while visiting family and they had it on their bookshelf, so I thought "Why not!" The cover looked good and I was told it was a good book, so I gave it a go.

The main characters and their backgrounds were well written. The sub and background characters were not as well written, but then it wasn't essential. This allowed more focus to be put on the main characters which was good. Focus was put more on the main character who was a bit obnoxious and the story was told mostly from her point of view with her views on other people around her. The other characters were described well meaning you could see things as they saw it too so you almost feel like you are an observer which was interesting.

The story and the plot were well built, very detailed and it was easy to 'see' where everything was which meant that reading through the story, it was easy to remember where locations were and keep the images in mind.
The situation for the characters later in the book really brought about their strengths and weaknesses. The situation did encourage team building and working together which you could see had an effect on them and how they saw things thereafter.

There were some points where you could easily see what was going to happen, but given the age bracket for this book, that's to be expected. It didn't spoil the book for me.

The story flowed really well and the plot didn't deviate which meant that it was easy to follow and it allowed for more building within the story which was nice. It was interesting how the story and the characters made you think a particular way about them and their actions then went into more detail regarding the reasons for this. The story did seem to rush a bit at the end and finish a bit too cleanly, but again, this is likely due to the age bracket this is intended for.

While there was a political element to the story (this does become evident near the end of the story), it isn't very visible during the most part of the story. The focus is more on how the children live and react to things happening around them and how they understand it.

I do think though that the characters at the end of the book could have a story about them. It was certainly interesting to read that part, but I would like to read more on them. I think that would end up being a book for an older audience though.

Definitely would recommend this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaya, Nour, and Neel are as different as improbable friends could be. Chaya robs from the rich to help the poor people of her village. Her father’s position in the palace allows her to keep a foot inside both worlds. Her best friend, Neel, simply wants to help provide a good life for his family, but his loyalty to Chaya drags him into big trouble. The only hope Chaya has of rescuing Neel, is enlisting the aid of the privileged Nour. Where Chaya is brave to the point of recklessness, Nour is cunning and cautious. The two girls are forced together and, along with Neel, escape with the aid of the king’s elephant into the Sri Lankan jungle. None of the friends are prepared for or can expect the adventures that await them. Or the dangers they now face from daring to defy a tyrannical king.

I love reading Middle-Grade as an adult for many reasons, but the biggest is nostalgia. Some of my favorite formative books are about tweens facing overwhelming obstacles, yet somehow overcoming them. To me, that’s what makes a MG book work. As tweens are facing big changes both inside themselves and the bigger outside world beyond their guardians’ influence, these are the stories that can both encourage and enlighten them most of all. A well-written Middle-Grade novel, like The Girl Who Stole an Elephant doesn’t just transport the reader to another time and place, but challenges them to think. As a grown-up kidlit fan, I don’t face quite the same issues as my younger peers, but I still feel that same sense of adventure, and the same excitement I felt reading these kinds of stories as a tween.

Perfect for readers aged 8-12, this is an adventure fans of Middle-Grade reads won’t want to miss. Farook has painted a vivid and entrancing new world for us in The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, and promises more fantastical adventures to come.

***I was provided an advanced copy of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.***

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaya steals to help others, but she wants to do it all on her own. Even when her friend Neel tried to help her, as does her new friend Nour. At the beginning of the book, I had no sympathy for her.

But as we see why she is doing these things, that this is not just for kicks, do we understand how strongly she is fighting for things to go right.

What I especially like is that people keep assuming that Neel, the boy, has been doing all the thieving, rather than giving her credit. Sometimes this works in her favor, but other times, it just makes those in authority throw everyone into the same kettle of fish, so to speak.

I like that Nour was just as daring as Chaya, though later, when she gets into totally unfamiliar territory, she has to pull back.

A good, daring adventure, for the middle school set written by someone who is familiar with the landscape she is writing about, because she was born and raised in Sri Lanka.

Thanks to Netgalley and Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.

[Elyse (ElyseReadsandSpeaks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. It was like Aladdin meets Robin Hood with a female protagonist.

Chaya is a young girl who steals from the rich to support the poor people in her village. She steals with the best of intentions and even tried to take the Queen's jewels back once she saw the tragedy her actions were bringing down on village. Unfortunately, it was too late and Chaya, along with her friends Neel and Nour, became fast enemies of the king as they staged a jailbreak and stole his elephant.

This story was fun, fast-paced, and easy to read. It dealt with themes of friendship, family, and taking care of one another.

So why only 3 stars then? Although it was cute and I enjoyed my time with it, it's not the kind of story that leaves a lasting impression. It was just alright and I don't think it's one I'll think about again. Good for a one time read.

[Mishma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that I wish I had as a child. This unapologetically Sri Lankan middle grade had me crying because man have I waited forever to see my country depicted this way in a book. The story follows Chaya – a mini Robin Hood – in a thrilling adventure about rebellion and friendship. Chaya was so realistically flawed and I loved that the story let her grow and learn.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read- January 2020 for The Middle Grade Monthly Book Club hosted by Gavin and Jade.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: Solid Book

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is a historical fiction, middle grade novel that follows the escapades of three young children in Serendib, an Old Persian name for what is now known as Sri Lanka. Chaya is the twelve year old daughter of her village's headman who regularly steals from the rich of the city in order to help those of her village who are in need. She steals the Queen's jewels from her bedside table during a festival, setting into motion a chain of events that sweeps up her friend Neel, a woodcarver apprentice/assistant who is supporting his family with his wages, and a new girl to town, Nour, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who recently moved from the desert and is looking for friends. The adventure that follows involves the cascading chain reaction of Chaya's impulsive actions.

What I Liked:
- I thought that at the beginning, Chaya was a very realistic portrayal of an impulsive twelve year old who lacks the foresight to see the potential outcome of her well-intentioned actions. It seems obvious as an adult reading the story, but I felt like the general situation was something that I could see happening with some of my students.
- I enjoyed the lush descriptions of the jungle and the general setting that the trio finds themself in. It was interesting positioning Nour as a newcomer to town, which allowed for explanation of some of the things that Chaya and Neel took for granted as normal.

What I Didn't Like:
- I felt like the ending wrapped up really quickly without the same buildup that the rest of the story got. All of a sudden everything was alright.
- Also, it felt like Chaya all of a sudden became capable of forethought at the end when she was planning how to get back into the good graces of her people. I felt like this was slightly unbelievable given the picture I had of her in my head up until this point.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read. I didn't connect emotionally with the characters, but it was a great palate cleanser, and I definitely think it would be enjoyable for younger readers.

I received a copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion.

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve year old Chaya is adept at stealing trinkets from the rich to help her poor fellow villagers pay for things their tyrannical King should rightly be providing. But when she steals the queen's jewels, Chaya suddenly finds herself in deep trouble. Plus, trouble that involves and endangers the lives of others close to her: her father, her best friend, the apprentice carpenter Neel, and the other villagers of Nirissa. Along with a newcomer named Nour, who hails from the deserts across the seas, Chaya sets off on a wild adventure, on the back of Ananda, the king's own elephant.

This book was given as a gift to my seven-year old daughter, and I found the cover appealing enough to want to read it. For a child, this one's a really good, fast-paced adventure, with lots of twists and turns and hair-raising moments when you think all is over for the heroes. I liked the feistiness and strength of character of the three main female characters (even Nour, who initially comes across as a bit of rather silly baggage), and there's a lot to say for a heroine who keeps having to rescue the hero (if one could call Neel that).

While Chaya did initially strike me as a little too thoughtless and impulsive (the cavalier way in which she goes about stealing), the realization that she has caused so much harm helps redeem her, as far as I am concerned. That still doesn't excuse her last-page theft, though...

Overall, a fairly enjoyable book. I do wish, though, that there'd been some sort of historical note to explain the background, especially the ethnicities that seem to have been part of Sri Lanka's social fabric. The mentions in the book of people named Jansz, Rameez and Tuan indicate a vividly multi-ethnic, multi-religious society I would have loved to learn more about.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure that's verging on political, friends, elephants and excitement share the narrative.

My son made me read this, it was a Year 6 topic book, and he enjoyed it so much he wanted me to read it too. When I finally had a copy, he kept asking me what part I was up to, which I really liked, sharing that with him.

And yes - a good book for primary readers. Set in Sri Lanka, it opens in the middle of a jewel theft, with young girl Chaya breaking back out of the Queen's rooms with her precious stones, to pay a fellow villager's medical expenses. Very aware of the danger she, her family, and all the nearby towns will be in, she hides them with a loyal friend who works in a shop, she can relax knowing they won't be found.... until the box they are hidden in is sold...

It's the beginning of an adventure in which Chaya will show resourcefulness, Neel his bravery and loyalty, and the titular elephant of course makes an appearance as well.

It romps along nicely, with fish-out-of-water, danger, chases, and a good dollop of social conscience and dissatisfaction with poor rulers.

Did not take long to read, and I found the setting and characters refreshing, with a 'twist' my son was desperate for me to reach and a satisfying ending. A great read for classrooms with short chapters, strong female characters and lots of action.

For ages 8-12.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure with a young Robin Hood type heroine, who pilfers from the rich to help the poor. When she goes too far in her pilfering, and takes some of the queen's jewels, she sets in motion a chain of events that involves elephant stealing, danger to her friends and family, a perilous journey through the jungle, and ultimately the overthrow of the tyrannical king. I think this one will have lots of Gen Z appeal--Chaya has identified a problem the adults aren't dealing with, and is plunging in to fix things by redistributing wealth. She is pretty certain she is always right and that her moral compass is the correct one, totally loyal to her best friend, and, of course, young and so not great at predicting long-term consequences.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the adventure that it takes you on. My only dislike is how the story seems to end quite suddenly and feels a little rushed. However, Nizrana Farook tells a beautiful story about adventure, friendship and bravery. To begin with I found Chaya a little annoying but after a while she developed into a more caring and considerate person which was a joy to read. I would definitely recommend this story to children in my class!

[GG_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came for the elephant, stayed for the somewhat in-depth political intrigue?

The twelve year olds who read this are the ones who are gonna understand the Brandon Sanderson universe with practiced ease.

I will say, I think I did prefer The Girl Who Lost a Leopard, just for the stakes and adventure. Though this one wins for characters and cool battle tactics...not things I often say about middle grade books.

[Filipa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and endearing story!
The atmospheric narrative, coupled with a bold girl as main character, spreading mischief tangled with good intentions, kept me entertained throughout. Seriously want to offer this to all the kids out there.

[Tris The Book Whisperer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was every bit as wonderful as I'd hoped. A Utopian combination of adventure, colour, complex friendships, & a wonderfully flawed MC who does all the wrong things for all the right reasons. Perfection. I defy anyone not to love this book!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid adventure novel for 8 to 10 year olds.
As an adult, don't examine it too closely, as there are a few faults which detract for adults.
But, for younger readers just stretching their reading, the pace and straightforward adventure and minimal character development, are perfect.

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bookclub book so I don't want to share too much yet. It started off with all the hallmarks of a great story of adventure and overcoming an oppressive regime. Farook writes well but I felt that she had been pushed to cut the second half of the novel down - it felt a little rushed.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story. I liked it. Not one of my faves, but not bad either.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry this wasnt for me. Whilst the main plot was fine, I really did not like Chaya the main character of the book.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75*
Chaya has no right being this annoying

[Katie Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

My friend put this on hold for me because it's purple and about an elephant 🐘 💜, and I'm glad she did. It was a cute adventure story. And the elephant gets to be the hero! The plot was not very well developed, and the protagonist is pretty static, but it would be a great read for upper elementary or middle school.

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this was cute and a short book to listen to. Zero complaints from me.