THE GIRL WHO STOLE AN ELEPHANT

A robbery leads to a jungle adventure set against a backdrop of political upheaval.

Chaya, about 12 years old and daughter of the village headman, spends her free time stealing from the rich people in the King’s City in order to help villagers who have fallen on hard times. When a boy in her village desperately needs medical care, Chaya pulls off her biggest caper yet: stealing jewels from the queen. Unfortunately, her escape is not so clean, leaving her best friend, Neel, who supports his family through carpentry, standing accused of the theft and sentenced to death. Chaya sets about making things right, leading to further complications. Ultimately the two friends escape to the jungle, accompanied by Nour, the curious and slightly naïve daughter of a merchant, and Ananda, the king’s elephant. Things go from bad to worse as the children trek through the island’s jungle, learning to face their fears and rely on each other, with the threat of the king’s verdict always looming. Chaya continues to make mistakes, never quite learning to think before acting. Though the pacing is somewhat uneven, the lush descriptions of the dense, beautiful jungle and a South Asian–inspired kingdom that evokes Sri Lanka shine through. The elephant, in particular, is a delight. All characters are South Asian; in this Buddhist country, Nour is Muslim.

A lush wilderness adventure story.