SINGING WITH ELEPHANTS, by Margarita Engle, Viking Books for Young Readers, May 31, 2022, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl discovers her strengths with the help of a famous poet and a family of pachyderms in Singing with Elephants, by Margarita Engle.
Cuban-born 11-year-old Oriol lives in Santa Barbara, California, where she struggles to belong. But most of the time that’s okay, because she enjoys helping her parents care for the many injured animals at their veterinary clinic.
Then Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature, moves to town, and aspiring writer Oriol finds herself opening up. As she begins to create a world of words for herself, Oriol learns it will take courage to stay true to herself and do what she thinks is right — attempting to rescue a baby elephant in need — even if it means keeping secrets from those she loves. —Synopsis provided by Viking Books for Young Readers
When a novel in verse is written well it can transport you. Each word or phrase is carefully chosen. The prose is smooth, with room to breathe. And it’s in those pauses that the text truly transforms. That is what Margarita Engle does in Singing with Elephants.
At the center of the story is Oriol whose English isn’t perfect and neither is she. When Oriol meets Gabriela Mistral, she learns to think in new ways and to embrace her past while looking to the future. The duo’s interactions are a treat, and Mistral’s lessons can be applied in readers’ own lives.
My favorite moments, however, come when Oriol is with her beloved elephants. She sees them for the graceful, intelligent animals they are, and that love comes dancing off the pages.
Singing with Elephants is one of those books that you feel better for having read it. Though a quick read, there are layers upon layers, making a big impact. It would be a great summer read or as part of curriculum during the school year. I highly recommend it.
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