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A review by onceuponacarm
Chained by Lynne Kelly
4.0
Haskin leaves home to help earn money to pay for his sick sister's hospital treatment and to help his mother escape the abusive man she works for. He finds work with Timir, a former circus owner is is trying to get back in the business with an elephant act. Haskin's job is to help catch an elephant and then care for her, while she is trained to perform tricks. Keeping an eye on the elephant trap, he comes to love the herd of elephants that passes by each day and is heartbroken when one is finally caught. He loves this young elephant, whom he names Nandita, but doesn't know how to protect her from her trainer and "owner." How will he escape and can he save Nandita from a cruel fate?
This novel exposes the kinds of methods generally used to train elephants to perform tricks, obey trainers, give rides on their backs, etc.: fear, intimidation, and pain (often inflicted with the use of a bullhook). Elephants are social, emotional, and intelligent, all which Haskin discovers as he observes and takes care of Nandita. Unfortunately, the author only mentions what's happened with elephants and laws in India (India no longer allows elephants to be captured or to perform in circuses, though people do still trap them illegally), but does not mention anything about what's happening elsewhere in the world, such as the U.S. where elephant performances are still legal (though a few cities have banned them!). It's easy to point fingers at other places, but how many "animal loving" kids go see circuses and performances in zoos, aquariums, etc. and don't realize what's going on behind the scenes to make these animals perform in ways that are not natural to them? (Often in the name of "education"--that word so many adults use to justify keeping animals in captivity.)
Recommended for 2nd or 3rd grade and up, especially for readers who love animals!
This novel exposes the kinds of methods generally used to train elephants to perform tricks, obey trainers, give rides on their backs, etc.: fear, intimidation, and pain (often inflicted with the use of a bullhook). Elephants are social, emotional, and intelligent, all which Haskin discovers as he observes and takes care of Nandita. Unfortunately, the author only mentions what's happened with elephants and laws in India (India no longer allows elephants to be captured or to perform in circuses, though people do still trap them illegally), but does not mention anything about what's happening elsewhere in the world, such as the U.S. where elephant performances are still legal (though a few cities have banned them!). It's easy to point fingers at other places, but how many "animal loving" kids go see circuses and performances in zoos, aquariums, etc. and don't realize what's going on behind the scenes to make these animals perform in ways that are not natural to them? (Often in the name of "education"--that word so many adults use to justify keeping animals in captivity.)
Recommended for 2nd or 3rd grade and up, especially for readers who love animals!