Sila Tekin has so much going on in her life right now. Her precious mum has left their home in Oregon to travel to Turkey because there is a problem with her immigration paperwork. She expects to be away for eight days but the eight days have now turned into eight months. Sila and her dad are trying to cope but Sila desperately misses her mum.
Sila is a good student at school but she seems to have withdrawn into herself and this does not go unnoticed. The school counsellor sets her up with another student Mateo Lopez. Mateo is also a quiet kid but this is because he finds life so confusing due to his autism.
Meanwhile Sila and her mechanic dad head out of town to the property of Gio Gardino. Gio worked all his life on a production line but some months ago he and his work mates won an enormous lottery prize. Gio has lost his wife but because she always wanted to live somewhere with land he now lives in a large house, on a large estate, with a huge barn and high walls.
Sila is a beautiful soul. She chats with Gio while her dad works on the truck repairs. Gio talks about his wife who was actually Sila's Grade Two teacher. As dad and Sila head home Gio tells them that tomorrow is his birthday so Sila suggests they should meet for donuts.
The next morning while they sip their drinks and munch their donuts several huge lorries pull into the car park of the Hole in one Bakery. These are circus lorries and the circus is about to close down. Gio knows Sila loves elephants and in the back of one of these trucks there is a real elephant. Her name is Veda.
I am not going to say much more. I am sure you can do the maths think about the way these story elements might add up - new friends; an elephant, that has been badly treated by a cruel circus owner, in need of a new home; a lonely man with lots of land and money; and a powerful lesson in kindness. Oh and I should also mention Mateo's mum is a lawyer and her speciality is labour law. She also has a colleague who works in immigration law - again I hope you are putting this puzzle together. I also hope you are wondering how flamingos fit into this story!
Yesterday my computer decided to have a 'go slow' day so while I waited for things to reset I started this book - The Elephant in the Room. About two hours later I finished the whole book and I sighed with happiness. Thank you Holly Goldberg Sloan for this powerful, emotional and heartfelt story.
Here are a few text quotes:
"Veda slowly lifted her trunk and let it sway gently in the afternoon air. The elephant inhaled the sharp, tingling smell of the pine needs from grand fir trees. She detected vine maple. White alder. The pungent smooth madrone tree bark. There was wild ginger growing somewhere. Cedar. Sweet woodruff. Western lark. Osoberry. Englemann spruce. Sword ferns. Golden currant. ... The old man stood motionless alongside Veda, whose trunk was carefully investigating the top of his gray-haired head, strand by strand."
"She was my favourite teacher. But she died and now me and my dad are friends with her husband, but that was a coincidence."
"Mateo seemed different when animals were around. Sila watched as he let go of the side of the seat (of the golf buggy) and his face took on a totally new expression. He was relaxed in a way that Sila had only seem when he'd been playing with his dog."
Click these review comments and then go out and find this BOOK! Do not wait - do it now. Ms Yingling Reads has more plot details.
Companion books:
Other books by Holly Goldberg Sloan:
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