Based on
the true story of an elephant’s journey, this is a delightful book set in
Victorian England. Maharajah the elephant walked from Edinburgh to Manchester
and became a local celebrity. Kerr has mixed fact with fiction to create a
gripping work full of adventure. The fictional rider, Danny, is a young boy who
is mute due to a trauma which is gradually revealed. When he accidentally bids
for Maharajah at an Edinburgh auction his zookeeper employer comes up with an
idea for him to redeem himself. He’ll
transform Danny into a bejewelled Indian prince and set him on a journey with
the elephant to garner publicity. Maharajah creates a great stir and even Queen
Victoria herself follows his adventures. But there are shady people with a
vested interest in making sure that the journey is a failure.
The relationship between the elephant and his young rider
forms the heart of the book. There’s plenty of conflict, an interesting parade
of villains and heroes and enough mystery and adventure to keep you happily reading
along until the very end.
Kerr’s writing style is engaging and her portrayal of the
relationship between the boy and the elephant is believable and charming. The
strikingly simple cover is a great asset too.
This is
Kerr’s debut novel and is published by Chicken House. ‘The Elephant Thief’ is
written for YA but is also a great read for adults.
· Paperback: 416
pages
· Publisher: Chicken
House; 1 edition (2 Mar. 2017)
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