The Elephant Whisperer (Young Readers Adaptation)

August 1, 2017
"In 1999, I was asked to accept a herd of troubled wild elephants on my game reserve, Thula Thula. I had no idea how challenging it would be or how much my life would be enriched." Readers wary of nonfiction should be informed that this tale races along like a fictional action adventure; small wonder that its late author was dubbed "the Indiana Jones of Conservation." A herd of nine "tuskers" has been so traumatized by humans that their behavior is deemed incorrigible; if Anthony won't take them within two weeks, all will be killed. Anthony hires large numbers of men to erect essential, electrified fencing at a feverish pace while simultaneously building a holding pen, or boma, for the newcomers--and dealing with game poachers. Seven of the elephants arrive; the matriarch and her baby have been executed. Many breathtaking adventures ensue--some highlighting Anthony's game ranger's loyal, death-defying risks. Most of the 64 chapters end with an enticing cliffhanger. Anthony's goals are not simply altruistic; he and his fiancee earn a living by entertaining game-enthusiastic tourists at their lodge. The specter of colonialism is unavoidable. However, Anthony's patient attempts to rehabilitate elephants--and the ensuing accounts of intelligence and emotional connection from these behemoths--are moving and fascinating. There are hard moments, especially toward the end, but there is plenty of foreshadowing and humor throughout. Save the elephants! (postscript, captioned photographs, glossary) (Memoir. 10-16)

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October 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-In this wonderful memoir of life on a South African game reserve, Anthony tells the story of a group of elephants that he inherited in 1997. The elephants came to Thula Thula, Anthony's reserve, because they had learned to break free of the electric barriers in their previous home. As the author and his staff scrambled to prepare the appropriate enclosure, they also struggled to track down a group of poachers who appeared to have infiltrated his property. Almost immediately after their arrival, the elephants broke loose and began the trek north back to their previous home. Anthony's narrative of tracking and catching these massive creatures is a heart-pumping adventure tale. When the elephants were finally returned, Anthony started on the difficult task of forming a relationship with the matriarch of the group and reaching out through her to the rest of the herd while still maintaining their "wild" character, which is essential to their survival on the reserve. The chapters in this action-packed memoir are brief and numerous, the pacing and complexity of the writing is perfect for middle to high school readers, and the message is heartwarming without becoming bogged down in sentimentality. The deaths of several wild animals and a beloved pet are addressed in the story and the afterword discusses Anthony's own death in 2012, so sensitive readers should be forewarned. VERDICT A highly recommended addition to junior high and high school libraries and a must-read for animal lovers and budding conservationists.-Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017
Grades 4-7 This posthumous memoir, adapted by Feldman from the 2009 adult title of the same name, propels readers straight into uncharted territory: the Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa. In the late nineties, conservationist Anthony, who owned Thula Thula, was asked to take in a herd of elephants that had been labeled troubled if Anthony did not take them, or if he could not contain them, they would be shot. What began as a rocky relationship blossomed into a truly spectacular bond. The goal was not to tame the herdthey were, and remain, wild elephantsbut they had to learn to tolerate humans, and the connection they forged with Anthony in the process was singular. Anthony's respect and compassion for all living things is evident throughout the narrative, and he pulls no punches when describing the wonders and the sorrows of life on a game reserve. A tender look at unlikely partnerships, and a wildlife adventure that reads like fiction, perfect for readers who have graduated from Suzi Eszterhas' Moto and Me (2017).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)