The Elephant Thief

Danny has been making his living as a pickpocket on the streets, so when he catches the attention of the owner of the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, he knows it’s the chance of a lifetime. All Mr. Jameson wants him to do is to play the part of an Indian prince reunited with his pet elephant, Maharaja—and ride that elephant across the country to Belle Vue in seven days. It’s a crazy publicity stunt, and a rival zookeeper seems determined to make them miss their deadline, but Danny’s connection with Maharaja will keep him going.

The Elephant Thief is based on historical events, but Kerr livens the story up by adding obstacle after obstacle to the elephant race. Indeed, the book feels almost overly episodic, as the narrative voice keeps noting that peach can’t last, something else is bound to go wrong, troubles are just beginning, etc. However, the constant parade of mishaps does keep the story entertaining. Add a strong cast of characters, from the voiceless but brave Danny to the showy Mr. Jameson to the plotting rival zookeeper, and you get a book bound to captivate readers of all ages.