The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Synopsis:

“An action-packed, instant best-seller in the UK! Hitch a ride on this global adventure from Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook.

Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can’t resist the shiny temptations the king’s palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for her impoverished community doesn’t come without risks, and when Chaya steals the queen’s jewels from a bedside table—a messy getaway jeopardizes the life of a close friend. After an equally haphazard prison break, Chaya barely escapes on the king’s prized elephant! With leeches and revolution lurking in the jungle, Chaya leads her companions on a thrilling adventure. After leaving her village as a thief, can she return as a hero? Or will Chaya’s sticky fingers be the beginning—or the end—of everything for the intrepid gang?

Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook spins an exciting, page-turning tale in a lush, vibrant, fictional Sri Lankan setting and featuring themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism. A great middle grade escapist novel and readaloud!”

Review:

I read this story in two sittings! And it only took that long because I had to go to work and put it down the first time! I know very little about Sri Lanka and this fictional setting was so descriptively rich, I could picture it all. The palace grounds, the temple Chaya uses to get close to the prison, and the deep and dangerous jungle they are forced into after a somewhat harrowing and yet successful prison break.

Chaya, Neel, and Nour may very well be the most unlikely of friends, but escaping the king’s guards and plunging headfirst into the jungle teaches them to respect and trust each other. Although Chaya is a Robin Hood-esque character, I think she’s very realistic. She’s not always doing good and sometimes is downright mean to Nour when they first meet. Although this doesn’t necessarily make her a likable character at times, I think it’s a more accurate depiction of a character. She wants to do right but doesn’t want other people to mess it up. Even with the focus on action, Chaya’s stubbornness, Neel’s selflessness, and Nour’s bravery are all apparent in the story and as a reader, you understand where they are coming from.

Verdict

With a twist that I didn’t expect and action around every corner, I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes things worked out a little too well, but I liked how fast-paced the story was and that it didn’t get bogged down in the details too much. There are definitely kids out there looking for page-turning adventure stories, and this is one of them! I can definitely see it being an awesome read aloud too!

If you’re interested in purchasing The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, please use my affiliate links for Amazon.com or Bookshop.org. If you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

Need to Know:

Title: The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
Author: Nizrana Farook
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Co. Inc.
Publication Date: March 1, 2021
Page Number: 240 pgs.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.