THE ELEPHANT GIRL

A Maasai girl’s bond with a baby elephant catapults her into the world of wildlife conservation.

Jama is a 12-year-old Maasai girl in Kenya who feels troubled by the path to maturity most of her friends seem to want. Jama’s mother remained single after the death of her father and ran the family business alone. However, Jama’s desire for a different version of womanhood, one that includes an education and autonomy, causes her best friend, who dreams of boys and marriage, to slowly begin withdrawing from her. Jama starts to feel isolated as her old friends begin to exclude her. She is hiding near a watering hole, her special secret place, when she witnesses the birth of a baby elephant. Jama immediately feels a bond with the baby elephant and returns to check on her. But when their new wildlife ranger seems to be collaborating with poachers, Jama fears for the elephant herd. Dramatic events lead to tragedy and Jama’s banishment from the village. Poaching, conservation efforts, and elephant behavior are explored through Jama’s experiences with the baby elephant. Creating the life you want from the ashes of your old one is a prominent theme in this narrative as Jama sheds old friendships and becomes a young woman.

Emotionally thrilling and richly satisfying.