sc104906's review against another edition
5.0
Lily has an overwhelming fear of elephants, especially Queenie Grace, who almost stepped on her to death when she was young. Yet this tragic day was truly an accident, and Queenie Grace would never hurt a fly. She was really trying to save Lily that day. The tenuous relationship between Lily and her grandfather's circus act elephant is put to the test when he unexpectedly dies. Lily travels to her grandfather's home and circus town. She begins to confront her grief alongside Queenie Grace. The two find true connection through their painting, which they both enjoy.
One of my favorite novels of the year. It will appeal to those who like the One and Only Ivan and Charlotte's Web. This book hits you in the feels, while also adding the lighthearted circus aspect. I love that retired lions are walking loose around town, that Lily makes friends with the Alligator Boy, and that acrobatic lessons are taken instead of karate. This novel deals with tough issues in a sweet way.
One of my favorite novels of the year. It will appeal to those who like the One and Only Ivan and Charlotte's Web. This book hits you in the feels, while also adding the lighthearted circus aspect. I love that retired lions are walking loose around town, that Lily makes friends with the Alligator Boy, and that acrobatic lessons are taken instead of karate. This novel deals with tough issues in a sweet way.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
This story is going to find a place in reader's hearts who love animal stories.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
We picked up this heart-string tugger at our public library recently. The MC is 11 and the cover is gentle and soft. The story, however, does an excellent job of juxtaposing the cruelty of adults with the kindness of children.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
ajacks's review against another edition
3.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
mctmama's review against another edition
4.0
A good choice for people who enjoyed "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. One Amazing Elephant is told from two perspectives - 12-year-old Lily Pruitt, and the elephant, Queenie Grace. Lily's grandfather "Bill the Giant" (he is over 7 feet tall) is Queenie Grace's keeper, and the two have a strong bond. Bill loves Queenie, and she refers to him as her "Mahout". Queenie Grace works in a small traveling circus, and has had other cruel trainers and keepers in her life. She is still heartbroken over the loss of her only child, "Little Gray" that was seized from her not long after she gave birth.
Lily loves her grandfather Bill, but is rather afraid of Queenie Grace. She blames her for a bike accident when she was six. Lily is struggling with the fact that her mother, Trullia Lee Pruitt-the Girl on the Flying Trapeze-has neglected her since she left there family when Lily was just three years old. Trullia's family are circus people - tightrope walkers, high-flying trapeze artists, tiger tamers, elephant trainers - it is in their blood. Her mom ran off to rejoin the circus and never looked back. Lily's dad is kind and she has a great relationship with him. They live in West Virginia where he is the "go-to" maintenance man for a camping ground.
The story really begins when Grandfather Bill dies, and Lily flies to Florida for the funeral. She befriends a boy named Henry Jack - who has a skin condition that earns him the title of "The Alligator Boy". Together they hatch a plot to protect Queenie Grace from two greedy circus workers who want to profit from Queenie Grace - selling her to a different circus. SPOILER ALERT**** The story has a good resolution for Queenie Grace, and also for Lily. Queenie gets to go to a elephant sanctuary, where she discovers her child - Little Gray. Lily overcomes her fear of Queenie Grace, makes a friend in Jack, and forgives her mother and begins a new chapter in their relationship.
Set in West Virginia, and mostly Florida for "Read Across the States" folks.
Lily loves her grandfather Bill, but is rather afraid of Queenie Grace. She blames her for a bike accident when she was six. Lily is struggling with the fact that her mother, Trullia Lee Pruitt-the Girl on the Flying Trapeze-has neglected her since she left there family when Lily was just three years old. Trullia's family are circus people - tightrope walkers, high-flying trapeze artists, tiger tamers, elephant trainers - it is in their blood. Her mom ran off to rejoin the circus and never looked back. Lily's dad is kind and she has a great relationship with him. They live in West Virginia where he is the "go-to" maintenance man for a camping ground.
The story really begins when Grandfather Bill dies, and Lily flies to Florida for the funeral. She befriends a boy named Henry Jack - who has a skin condition that earns him the title of "The Alligator Boy". Together they hatch a plot to protect Queenie Grace from two greedy circus workers who want to profit from Queenie Grace - selling her to a different circus. SPOILER ALERT**** The story has a good resolution for Queenie Grace, and also for Lily. Queenie gets to go to a elephant sanctuary, where she discovers her child - Little Gray. Lily overcomes her fear of Queenie Grace, makes a friend in Jack, and forgives her mother and begins a new chapter in their relationship.
Set in West Virginia, and mostly Florida for "Read Across the States" folks.
backonthealex's review against another edition
3.0
Lily Pruitt, 12 almost 13 and already over 5 feet 7 inches tall and an asthmatic, has been living with her father in the Magic Mountain Campground in West Virginia. Her mother, Trullia Lee Pruitt, left them a number of years ago to return to the circus and her trapeze act. Lily’s grandparents are part of a small traveling circus, he is 7 feet tall and has an act called The Amazing Queen and her Best Friend Bill the Giant. Queenie Grace is a 9 foot 3 inch tall, 58 year old elephant, but has only been owned by Bill for 28 years. Before that, Queenie was owned by people who treated her cruelly. And Bill is married to Violet, 4 feet 9 inches, who has an act of her own.
Lily has always been afraid of Queenie Grace, much to her grandfather’s unhappiness. More than anything, he would like them to get along. When Grandpa Bill dies suddenly, Lily travels to Gibtown, Florida, where the circus stays when not traveling, for his funeral. Over the course of time she is there, she meets a boy, Henry Jack, who is part of the circus, billed as the Alligator Boy because of a skin condition he was born with. She also meets her chain-smoking mother’s boyfriend, Mike, also a smoker. who dislikes Queen Grace and wants to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Until then, he puts her in chains, even though in Gibtown, animals are chained or caged, and then burns her with a cigarette.
Slowly, and with the help of Henry Jack, Lily begins to overcome her fear of Queenie Grace, and even to feel rather protective of her. In fact, Henry Jack helps Lily overcome a lot of her fears and find strength within herself to try new things. In the end, Violet decides to send Queenie Grace to a elephant sanctuary, where there is a nice surprise awaiting her. And there is a nice surprise awaiting Lily in Gibtown, as well.
This was a well-written coming of age novel, alternately narrated by Lily and Queenie Grace, so readers get to see Lily’s transformation from both points of view. The descriptions are clear and easily envisioned; Trullia is distant to Lily, but not so distant that a mother-daughter reconciliation is impossible to imagine; Mike the smoker is just despicable; and Henry Jack is ultra sweet and kind. Lily, on the other hand, is unlikeable from the start. She seems to be consumed with self-pity which dissipates over the course of the story, but really goes on for too long to be a sympathetic character for me.
In the end, I really disliked this novel. I had so much trouble with the freak show element to it, and the idea that a 12 year-old boy would be put on display for having a skin disease that had killed his twin brother. But as Lily explains: “Not a lot of circuses still have ‘freak shows’ these days, but the Hass-Millard circus does.The ‘freaks’ are a big attraction for this little circus.”
The best part of the novel, for me, is when Queenie Grace discovers her surprise at the elephant sanctuary - keep tissues handy.
I was rather curious about Gibtown and found an article about it in The Guardian from 2015. It was written for adults, so I would be careful about sharing this with students, but it is informative.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss Plus
Lily has always been afraid of Queenie Grace, much to her grandfather’s unhappiness. More than anything, he would like them to get along. When Grandpa Bill dies suddenly, Lily travels to Gibtown, Florida, where the circus stays when not traveling, for his funeral. Over the course of time she is there, she meets a boy, Henry Jack, who is part of the circus, billed as the Alligator Boy because of a skin condition he was born with. She also meets her chain-smoking mother’s boyfriend, Mike, also a smoker. who dislikes Queen Grace and wants to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Until then, he puts her in chains, even though in Gibtown, animals are chained or caged, and then burns her with a cigarette.
Slowly, and with the help of Henry Jack, Lily begins to overcome her fear of Queenie Grace, and even to feel rather protective of her. In fact, Henry Jack helps Lily overcome a lot of her fears and find strength within herself to try new things. In the end, Violet decides to send Queenie Grace to a elephant sanctuary, where there is a nice surprise awaiting her. And there is a nice surprise awaiting Lily in Gibtown, as well.
This was a well-written coming of age novel, alternately narrated by Lily and Queenie Grace, so readers get to see Lily’s transformation from both points of view. The descriptions are clear and easily envisioned; Trullia is distant to Lily, but not so distant that a mother-daughter reconciliation is impossible to imagine; Mike the smoker is just despicable; and Henry Jack is ultra sweet and kind. Lily, on the other hand, is unlikeable from the start. She seems to be consumed with self-pity which dissipates over the course of the story, but really goes on for too long to be a sympathetic character for me.
In the end, I really disliked this novel. I had so much trouble with the freak show element to it, and the idea that a 12 year-old boy would be put on display for having a skin disease that had killed his twin brother. But as Lily explains: “Not a lot of circuses still have ‘freak shows’ these days, but the Hass-Millard circus does.The ‘freaks’ are a big attraction for this little circus.”
The best part of the novel, for me, is when Queenie Grace discovers her surprise at the elephant sanctuary - keep tissues handy.
I was rather curious about Gibtown and found an article about it in The Guardian from 2015. It was written for adults, so I would be careful about sharing this with students, but it is informative.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss Plus
jillcd's review against another edition
4.0
A glimpse into animal empathy and the realization that fear can lead to friendship. This is an unusual story about a girl, her family, and two unlikely friends who forge a peculiar bond. I read this in one sitting and would recommend it to students who love animals.
mctmama's review against another edition
4.0
A good choice for people who enjoyed "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. One Amazing Elephant is told from two perspectives - 12-year-old Lily Pruitt, and the elephant, Queenie Grace. Lily's grandfather "Bill the Giant" (he is over 7 feet tall) is Queenie Grace's keeper, and the two have a strong bond. Bill loves Queenie, and she refers to him as her "Mahout". Queenie Grace works in a small traveling circus, and has had other cruel trainers and keepers in her life. She is still heartbroken over the loss of her only child, "Little Gray" that was seized from her not long after she gave birth.
Lily loves her grandfather Bill, but is rather afraid of Queenie Grace. She blames her for a bike accident when she was six. Lily is struggling with the fact that her mother, Trullia Lee Pruitt-the Girl on the Flying Trapeze-has neglected her since she left there family when Lily was just three years old. Trullia's family are circus people - tightrope walkers, high-flying trapeze artists, tiger tamers, elephant trainers - it is in their blood. Her mom ran off to rejoin the circus and never looked back. Lily's dad is kind and she has a great relationship with him. They live in West Virginia where he is the "go-to" maintenance man for a camping ground.
The story really begins when Grandfather Bill dies, and Lily flies to Florida for the funeral. She befriends a boy named Henry Jack - who has a skin condition that earns him the title of "The Alligator Boy". Together they hatch a plot to protect Queenie Grace from two greedy circus workers who want to profit from Queenie Grace - selling her to a different circus. SPOILER ALERT**** The story has a good resolution for Queenie Grace, and also for Lily. Queenie gets to go to a elephant sanctuary, where she discovers her child - Little Gray. Lily overcomes her fear of Queenie Grace, makes a friend in Jack, and forgives her mother and begins a new chapter in their relationship.
Set in West Virginia, and mostly Florida for "Read Across the States" folks.
Lily loves her grandfather Bill, but is rather afraid of Queenie Grace. She blames her for a bike accident when she was six. Lily is struggling with the fact that her mother, Trullia Lee Pruitt-the Girl on the Flying Trapeze-has neglected her since she left there family when Lily was just three years old. Trullia's family are circus people - tightrope walkers, high-flying trapeze artists, tiger tamers, elephant trainers - it is in their blood. Her mom ran off to rejoin the circus and never looked back. Lily's dad is kind and she has a great relationship with him. They live in West Virginia where he is the "go-to" maintenance man for a camping ground.
The story really begins when Grandfather Bill dies, and Lily flies to Florida for the funeral. She befriends a boy named Henry Jack - who has a skin condition that earns him the title of "The Alligator Boy". Together they hatch a plot to protect Queenie Grace from two greedy circus workers who want to profit from Queenie Grace - selling her to a different circus. SPOILER ALERT**** The story has a good resolution for Queenie Grace, and also for Lily. Queenie gets to go to a elephant sanctuary, where she discovers her child - Little Gray. Lily overcomes her fear of Queenie Grace, makes a friend in Jack, and forgives her mother and begins a new chapter in their relationship.
Set in West Virginia, and mostly Florida for "Read Across the States" folks.
what_katie_read_in_ca's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely lovely! Switches between the perspective of its female protagonist and the elephant!
triscuit807's review against another edition
3.0
As a child I gravitated to animal stories. Thinking about my favorites I would have to say my preference was for stories told from the animals POV - which is probably why I prefer SF alien contact novels today. That child would have adored the chapters from Queenie Grace's POV, rushing through Lily's chapters (they alternate) to get to the next elephant bit. As an adult I still had that tendency at least until the appearance of Henry Jack, the Alligator Boy. Okay, backing up a bit. Lily lives in WV (my original reason for picking the book up) with her dad. She's 12, they were abandoned by her mother when she was 3. Except her mother didn't completely leave, she just went home to the circus where her parents worked and which was where she grew up. Lily adores her dad and grandparents, thinks very little of her mother Trullia, and is terrified of her grandfather's elephant, Queenie Grace. That's the setup for the human bit. Queenie Grace is 58. She's been with Bill and Violet for over 30 years and loves them. She had a hard life before coming to them, but is allowed to roam free when the circus is in winter quarters. Bill has a heart attack and dies at Christmas, an event which affects both Lily and Queenie Grace. The entire novel is set in the week after Bill's death. I read this for my 2017 Reading Challenge "read a book with multiple points of view" (Around the World in 52 books) - this had two.