An Elephant in the Garden - Inspired by a True Story

Long before, I had a stereotype about all the Germans at the WW2 being the very source of evil and injustice. I did think of the civilians with no weapon of any sort, but I usually had a "they are the troublemaker" to Germany considering the WW2. However, as I got older and learned more and more, I knew that it not entirely Germany's fault, or al lest not all the citizen's. After I finished "An Elephant in the Garden", I was well aware of the suffering innocents took in the horrible war.
First of all, I did not witness the war: I was born quite after it. Second, I was grown in environment of not-German's-team-in-WW2, so I was thought in the perspective of the person who suffered from the Germany's side. This book really reminded me again of how the environment could totally disturb a person from the truth, and condition their feelings toward such.
The actual story of the book is told by an old lady whom the first viewing character calls "Lizzie". She tells the first viewing character and her son the story of her WW2, and here and there the book zooms in and out of the story of Lizzie and the real world where Lizzie is actually narrating the story.
THE real story in this book is about Lizzie's younger days of teen life, when the WW2 started (Lizzie was Elizabeth then). She is a German, about 16 years old, with a good family. However, the war erupts and after her father is sent into the battle, things begin to reshape. As more and more cities of Germany is bombed, her mother's workplace, the zoo in Dresden, gave orders to prepare to shoot all the animals for the worries of dangerous carnivores escaping. Despite the risk, her mother convinces the director to let her have one of the lonely orphan elephant named Marlene, whom she loves so much. As Dresden is bombed, they flee to their uncle& aunt's farmhouse to stay there as long as possible, and to also find a safe place. On there, they meet a Canadian navigator RAF named Peter Kamm and at first, they did not like him, but after a while and him saving Elizabeth's younger brother Karli from his death. Afterwards, they altogether travel to the American army and take refugee, and later begin new life in Canada....
If you read this book, and I HIGHLY recommend to, read it again, and I highly recommend to do it as well, to get all the emotions the author has magically locked into the words. You will love this book.

I'm not sure why I hadn't found this one before-I loved it. Based on a true story of a zookeeper who saved an elephant from air raid bombings during WWII- this story is told as a memory from an elderly woman recalling her childhood to a young boy visiting her in a nursing home. So many wonderful themes of courage, hope, loss, survival, and love are woven into this story of war. It challenges our definitions of allies and enemies on many levels.

This book is perfectly wonderful! My 13 year-old son and I just got done reading it. We would have read it in one sitting, if we could have. It covers such good ground, on so many topics, in so many ways. The story is being told by an elderly woman and the author is very authentic with presenting her physical and mental limitations and her dislike for living in a nursing home. The content is written in such a way that you really do feel that you have become the family in Germany, fleeing danger for the unknown. Warning: early on in the book, the word "bastards" is used by a character and near the end, a soldier yells, "What the hell is this?" If you don't want your child to read this, you could read it aloud and skip that. You can read it aloud, if you aren't crying too hard! Enjoy this good literature together; you will enjoy it as much as your child will!

Michael Morpurgo OBE MBE has written a tale about animals and children. In this story, Karl gets to visit his mother's workplace, a nursing home in England. There he meets Lizzie better known as Elizabeth. She wants to tell him a story about an elephant in the garden.

Well, Elizabeth or Lizzie tells her story about her life before World War II in Dresden, Germany and during the bombing and afterwards. She had a younger brother named Karli and lived with both her parents in Dresden.

Elizabeth is a German girl during the war but her family didn't believe in war even though her father was sent off to war. Her mother remained at home where she worked at the Dresden Zoo where she met Marlene (named after German singer/actress Marlene Dietrich). When the bombing of Dresden occurs, Elizabeth, her mother, brother, and an Elephant named Marlene must escape.

This novel is a great read for children and adults as well. I found it quite interesting and wanted to compare this book to the War Horse. If you want to read another Morpurgo novel, this book would be next on the list. It's less than 200 pages and is an easy read.

This book is so beautifully written. The imagery that Mr. Morpugro paints is one of hope and change. I could picture the bombs raining down toward their houses and destroying everything in their path. The story of never giving up and being kind tho others, no matter the difference, is one all teens need to read.
I recently recommended this book to my fifth grade class, as I feel its one of the most amazing books out there.

Dying in a hospital bed, Lizzie tells her story to a nurse and her young son. During World War II, Lizzie's mom brought home an elephant, Marlene, from the local zoo. Karli, Lizzie's brother instantly fell in love with Marlene. Forced to flee the city when it was destroyed by bombs, the family takes the elephant with them. Often, the elephant acted as an ice breaker between the family and other refugees.

This was a fast paced quick read. I think it is perfect for pre-teens and young teenagers. The characters were well designed and were very realistic. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

This book will forever be one of my all time favorites. I love World War Two and hearing different stories of people's life's. This story caught my eye, because of the elephant. You would never think that there is a World War Two story involving a elephant. I fell in love with the main characters. I always felt like I could relate to the characters. However sometimes I do feel that the book was a little slow at times. But over all I felt it was great. It's a super easy read and you can read it in a couple of days. I would highly suggest reading this book!

I enjoyed reading this, but I wouldn't hold it up as an example of fantastic writing. The story was interesting, albeit predictable. The characters were a little two dimensional, but appealing. I loved the elephant. I would happily recommend this book to middle-grade readers, but I wouldn't put it on my list of "must reads".

(Note: I received a free advance reading copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association Annual Conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Feiwel and Friends!)

This book was about a family's love for an elephant they cared for at the zoo. It is wartime and they take the elephant home so she can be kept safe. They must leave their home after awhile and so take the elephant on the road with them and try to avoid the soldiers. It is about kindness for this animal and the friendships that can be formed between humans and animals.

I think other kids like me would enjoy this book because it is inspired by a true story and most kids like reading about animals also.

My favorite part was when they decided to save the elephant from the bombing and the war - it was the right thing to do.

I think both girls and boys would like reading this book because both a girl and a boy are in the story. Kids in 3rd grade and older would be able to read this book. I would rate it a 3.5-4.
Review by Young Mensan Tristan age 8

I only got this book on a whim. My wife read it first and told me what an enjoyable story it is. I have to agree that it is one of the most interesting and entertaining stories that I have read in months.

I loved this book. I try to read books I receive before I put them in my classroom library so that I can recommend them to students. This one was so good that I am considering using it as a book study for my fifth graders and tying it into a history study on WWII.

I enjoy reading stories with factual elements. This one was truly inspirational. A mother's love and a family relationship that was difficult to maintain, but did. The story that seemed impossible, became possible. Would like to read to my "little people."

If the young readers in your life enjoyed WAR HORSE (whether the book, movie, or play) then they will also want this novel. Morpurgo is a master at making war and its sadnesses accessible (and appropriate) for younger readers, but adults will be moved by this as well. As in WAR HORSE, the elephant is gentle, noble, and will touch readers' hearts. Highly recommended.

Being an avid bibliophile, it is with tremendous enthusiasm that I recommend An Elephant in the Garden. A five-star rating is nearly impossible to obtain in my world of book requirements. If I have to suggest an audience for this deeply thoughtful tale, I would offer the following: IF you have a teen or teach a sixth, seventh, or eighth grade class, THIS would be an insightful read. Not only is it suspenseful and enticing, but the characters are believable, the descriptions imaginable, and the heartfelt warmth palpable. Being a short read, not a tome, it captures the spirit of the times from the Non-American side of war. As an educational instructor I can say it is a well-rounded depiction of a young person's view of war, without allowing for the gore and true horrors associated with battle. My only regret was that it ended too soon. Should you desire a quick read in between trilogies and large novels, then this should be your choice. Despite its brevity, it amazingly pulls you on a journey that you didn't expect to travel. Congratulations to Michael Morpurgo for creating such a significant peephole into the truth-based story of a gentle elephant and its loving caretakers who must forge through existence during a time of extreme chaos.

This was a very good book andit showed a different view of the war. It was a very emotional read but was very good. I felt that this book really pertraded the war in a differnet way as the main characters are germans. Very eye-opening

Karl's mother works as a nurse at the local nursing home. She is a single mother and often works late. After school he stops by and ends up visiting with some of the patients. He become friends with an old lady, Lizzie, that says he reminds her of her brother, She tells stories of how her family had a pet elephant. Most folks think that she is just losing her mind but as Karl and his mother take the time to really listen they find out that it is true. Lizzie tells them of her childhood in Dresden. And of the journey her family and their pet elephant took to safety after their home was bombed in World War 2.
The book is based on a true story. I would recommend this to kids and adults that enjoy historical fiction.

This book is a sensation. It is a story from a mothers point of view, listening to a a old women telling a story about an elephant in her garden when she was young. It is a great way of saying how people suffered in the war and lived up to it.

I loved the book. Michael Morpugo has amazing author skills. I would highly recommend this book to people of all ages. I have read Private Peaceful and Warhorse. This book was absolutely amazing!!!?

… or an old and a little bit weird lady we met in a house for an aging people. She finds the connection with a young boy and his mother (working there) and tells them a story about an elephant in their garden. At first they do not believe her. Then everything changes…

A novel is rather for younger readers and in a beautiful way tells them about the friendship, nazis, war (IIWW) and the life people led there. Great to read!