  | Singing with elephants Author: Engle, Margarita | |
| Price: $22.38 | ||
Summary:
Cuban-born eleven-year-old Oriol lives in Santa Barbara, California, where she struggles to belong. Then Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature, moves to town, and aspiring writer Oriol finds herself opening up. As she begins to create a world of words for herself, Oriol learns it will take courage to stay true to herself and do what she thinks is right--attempting to rescue a baby elephant in need.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 6.60 Points: 2.0 Quiz: 515554 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (03/01/22)
School Library Journal (06/24/22)
Booklist (05/15/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/24/2022 Gr 3–7—Both engaging and heartrending, this is a beautifully told story of fifth grader Oriol who lives with her older sister, Cat, and her parents, who are veterinarians. The family emigrated from Cuba to California in order to help Grandma find better treatment for her diabetes—alas, there was nothing to be done, and she passed away. Now lonelier than ever, Oriol, along with her pet wolfhound and miniature goat, seeks solace from a neighbor who happens to be a famous poet. Inspired, Oriol begins to write as well, learning a lot from the Nobel Prize in Literature winner. Much to her dismay, a Hollywood actor, who owns an elephant and her twin calves that Oriol's parents are caring for, decides he is going to separate one of the babies and raise it as if it were an orphan in hopes of forcing it to "talk." Oriol must use her newfound writing ability and courage to rally support for reunifying the family of elephants. Sure she can feel the pain of the mother elephant through the singing and humming sounds she makes, Oriol knows she must act fast. Written in poetic verse, this is a book that readers won't want to put down until the last page. VERDICT A strong purchase for all libraries. Compassion and love abound in a tale of animal activism and personal growth.—Tracy Cronce - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 05/15/2022 Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award winner Engle enchants young readers with a novel in verse about a Cuban-born girl discovering her voice. It’s 1947 when Olivia, her sister, Catalina, and her veterinarian parents move to Santa Barbara. Life in a new country isn’t easy for them, and it is full of racial taunts. Still mourning the death of her abuelita, Olivia befriends famous poet Gabriela Mistral, who encourages her to write and express her emotions. Lacking confidence, Olivia finds solace in her cheerful animal friends, who, like her, speak their individual, poetic language. Before long, she befriends two baby elephants, one of whom is taken by an actor and made into a spectacle. Full of anger, Olivia learns to stand up for herself and for those who don’t have a voice. Engle’s writing style encourages young readers to fall in love with poetry. The reader learns along with Olivia about grammar and literary terms (noun, verb, onomatopoeia, etc.). Our young friend comes to discover that language shouldn’t be used to hinder but to create beauty. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
