I learned so much about circus life from this book. It was a great book about finding yourself and seeing the truth in others. And, being an animal lover, it teaches readers how to respect other creatures. I loved following the characters from beginning to end in this book and recommend it for anyone who is in the mood to laugh, love and cry. A sad but great novel, Water for Elephants is a great book for learning about life in the circus and about finding friends in strange places.