Michael Morpurgo
With Lizzieâ€™s father fighting in World War II, her mother takes on the job of a zoo keeper to provide for her family. Lizzie, her mother, and her eight-year-old brother Karli have become especially attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene. The bombing of Dresden is imminent and soon, so the zoo director explains that as a precautionary measure all the animals must be destroyed so that theyâ€™re not running wild through the city. Lizzieâ€™s mother persuades the director to allow Marlene, the elephant, to come stay in the familyâ€™s garden.,As predicted, Dresden is bombed, and the family, including Marlene, is forced from the city. Lizzie and her family arenâ€™t alone. Thousands of Dresden residents are fleeing to find somewhere safe to stay. Lizzieâ€™s mother has to find a different route out of the city to keep the elephant and the children safe from harm. Once they reach the abandoned home of their relatives, they come across Peter, a Canadian navigator who, by putting himself at risk of capture to save the family, gains their trust. ,This unlikely grouping of family, elephant, and enemy turned ally come together beautifully to illustrate the importance of love, resolve, and hope.
Historical,Historical Fiction,Young Adult,Fiction,Animals,War,Childrens,Middle Grade,Childrens,Historical,War,World War II,Adventure
An Elephant in the Garden