A heartwarming and beautifully written debut novel! Celesta Rimington does a brilliant job covering tough topics and the pure relationship between a little girl and an elephant. The focus on friendship and love is one of my favorite parts about this book. I adored this author's writing style and will definitely be picking up her next book!

This was a sweet and charming story with a perfect ending. I loved the elephants, the magical realism, the ghost story, and most of all, the heart-warming lessons Lexington learns during her journey to find out who she is. The parallels drawn by Lexington to her writing assignment about "The Island of the Blue Dolphins" will resonate for students who are also reading that book. I can't wait to get this into my school library and to share it with my students.

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review.
Seven years ago, an EF5 tornado struck the town of Lexington, Nebraska. After the storm had passed, a 5-year-old girl was found with Nyah the elephant at the Lexington Zoo with no memory of who she is – doesn’t even know her own name. She is taken in and raised by the zoo’s train engineer, Roger, and given the name Lexington, after the town and zoo. Lex is now 12, homeschooled because of merciless teasing at elementary school, and is finally allowed to help in the elephant enclosure with her best friend and son of the chief zookeeper, Fisher. Lex make a mental connection with Nyah, the elephant who saved her. Nyah sends her vivid images that leads Lex to find a “misplaced spirit” who may have the answer to who Lex really is.
What a wonderful combination of realism and mysticism! The facts about elephants are real, based on author Celesta Rimington’s experiences. I was totally engrossed in the story and loved the ending! Fans of Kate DiCamillo and Sharon Creech will definitely enjoy this book. I whole-heartedly recommend this title for readers in grades 3 and up.
#TheElephantsGirl #NetGalley

I love visiting a zoo, so a book about a 12-year-old girl who lives at a zoo sounded like something I needed to read, and I'm so glad I did. The Elephant's Girl is a charming tale of how Lex was found as a toddler on zoo property protected by one of the elephants after a devastating tornado, and how she comes to terms with what happened to her. There is an element of magical realism in this book, and I thought it was done well. I also felt the characters and relationships felt realistic, and certain parts of the story really pulled on the heartstrings. I will definitely be recommending this to middle grade readers, as well as older readers who enjoy middle grade or animal stories.

Lexington Willow can't remember her past. She has a made up name, a made up birthday, and as far as she's concerned, a made up life. She has no family except Roger, her foster father, who found her, and the animals at the zoo, especially the elephants. She is twelve years old and finally old enough to help with the elephants. She soon receives a telepathic message from one of the elephants, and embarks on an adventure full of ghosts, lost treasure and maybe even the key to finally finding her family.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and was very impressed to find out this is a debut novel. The characters were likable and I think it will make many kids want to live at the zoo like Lex and her friends.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This was a really beautiful middle grade novel for lovers of books like The One and Only Ivan or any of Kate DiCamillo’s books. Though it was aimed at children, any age can read and enjoy this story of an orphaned girl growing up inside a zoo. Lex is made fun of by others her age (besides her zoo friend, Fisher) for having a special connection with elephants and hearing whispers in the wind. But when a mystery unfolds at the zoo involving an elephant and a ghost, Lex finds herself in the process.

Really beautifully written. 4.5 stars.

Middle Grade Magical Realism. I was immediately drawn to this book because I love elephants-- their wisdom, their grace, the way it seems like they smile. This book is about Lexington (goes by Lex), a young girl that appeared at the Lexington Zoo in Nebraska during an EF5 tornado. She was found protected by one of the elephants. Efforts to find her family were unsuccessful so the train conductor at the zoo became her legal guardian. The only other child at the zoo is Fisher, the son of the head keeper and Lex's best friend. This summer Lex and Fisher are finally old enough to watch the elephant training up close. When they do, Lex is excited to be reunited with Nyah, the elephant that protected her so long ago. She is surprised to feel a sort of vibrating from the Earth that comes with mental pictures from Nyah. Lex is the only one that can receive these images, and trying to interpret them leads her to befriend the ghost, sneak around on and off zoo property, and find some much needed answers about her own heritage.

This is a beautiful story that defies genre labels-- it is mostly realistic but has elements of magical realism (namely the mental pictures from the elephant and Lex communicating with the wind), but a good portion of the book also reads like a mystery. This story is about getting in touch with the past, the unity between animals and people, and what it means to be a community. Extensive back matter provides additional information about elephants and various conservation groups. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a story I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. I mean, I knew there was going to be some great moments, with what was added to the synopsis, but sometimes it doesn't have much of those feels. But, this one showed me there could be many fun and emotional moments, combined. Plus, talks of ghost are real in here, especially when it comes to one person in particular. That's another part that really peaked my interest, definitely what pushed me to get to know everyone involved with it.

Lex Willow's story here is truly endearing. The reasons why the ghost is there, fits well with her desire to find her place in the world. And the adventures it leads her to are interesting to read and imagine. Yes, the ghost makes many appearances, and not just to one person. It's great getting to see how that becomes incorporated with Lex's search for her "family", what it all means for the tornado that had shown up in the beginning, and what her future holds.

Yes, there were times when I could've done with a bit less, but it didn't take away from what this story had me feeling. I really enjoyed learning all about the creatures in that special zoo, and Lex's connection to them. Along with, Amanda's resilience to resolve her unfinished business. And, everyone that loves Lex enough to help her through those unbelievable, and extraordinary, circumstances surrounding it all and her upbringing. Such a good story!

***I received this copy from Crown Books for Young Readers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

Seven years ago, Lexington was rescued from a tornado by Nyah, an elephant at the local zoo, and now Nyah is trying to tell her something. With a little help from a friendly ghost, Lexington will try to find out what Nyah wants her to know, and maybe even learn something about herself along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book. The story features a perfect mix of magic, adventure, and well-developed characters that are full of heart. I expect this book to be a big hit with the middle grade readers at my library.

This is a well written book that holds your attention. It has just the right touch of adventure, mystery and magic to keep a young girl reading. It has a very uplifting message and is a book I will read again. This book would be a wonderful addition to any middle grade school library. Thank you Random House Children's/Crown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

"The Elephant's Girl" is Lexington Willow. Twelve years ago, she was swept away from her family by a tornado and sheltered by an elephant named Nyah. With no trace of her birth family, Lex grew up at the zoo with Nyah, her foster father Roger, her best friend Fisher, and the wind whispering in her ear. Now, Lex receives a telepathic image from Nyah. Despite the wind's protest, Lex decides to investigate Nyah's message and explore the woods outside the zoo. Here, she gets wrapped up in an adventure involving a ghost, a lost treasure, and a puzzle that might be the key to finding her family.
As she hunts for answers, Lex must summon the courage to leave the secure borders of her zoo and discover who she really is--and why the tornado brought her here all those years ago.
I enjoyed reading this book. It moves at a decent pace and kept my attention. I also appreciated the uplifting message about bullying, animal conservation and animal protection.
Unfortunately, the end is fairly rushed. And the villainous characters miraculously become good.
Overall, "The Elephant's Girl" is an entertaining, educational and inspiring book for readers of all ages.

Tornadoes, a girl with a mysterious past, ghostly visits, and of course elephants combine to bring the most engaging and heartwarming middle grade story of 2020. Elephant’s Girl had me from the beginning then blew me away with its satisfying ending.

Set in an Omaha, Nebraska zoo, Lexington Willow’s first-person narration is honest and emotional. She’s pictured on the cover with Nyah, the elephant who saved Lex from a tornado seven years ago Now, supposed 12-year-old Lex is trying to figure out where she came from and why her unknown parents were never found.

She lives with Roger at the zoo, the compassionate engineer of the the zoo’s train who serves as her guardian. He’s like a father but has never pursued adoption. The ghost is someone who plays a vital role in bringing understanding to Lex’s confusing past. The mystery unfolds with the help of Lex’s only friend, a baseball loving boy named Fisher who also lives at the zoo.

Magical and page turning, this is a story I’ll be reading again when I need a lift.

(See the full review at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE)

This book was absolutely perfect!! Such a cute story that found my heart bursting for Lexington. This story had just the right amount of magic that you could believe without it being “fantasy”-like. This is a book I will definitely push into my students’ hands!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I originally requested this book because I loved the cover. Mix that with the title and I knew I had to read it. And I can honestly say I was not disappointed in my choice. The story is about a little girl who was found alone after a tornado inside the elephant habitat at a zoo. When her family never came forward to claim her, one of the men that worked at the zoo raised her as his own and essentially that is where she grew up. Living at the zoo. Having worked at a zoo, I can tell you that that would be amazing...growing up with the animals and living there at night. She is especially fascinated with one particular elephant...the one who protected her during the tornado. It is through this relationship with the elephant that leads her into a meeting with a ghost...a ghost that happens to know what happened on that night years ago and who she really is. I loved this book, personally. It was a quick and easy read but also engaging at the same time. :)

This book tells the story of Lexington Willow who lives in a zoo with her guardian. Lexington lost her parents and her childhood memories after a tornado ripped through her hometown. Lexington was found in the animal habitat at the zoo she now lives at. Lexington could not find her family with help from those at the zoo. Since then, she has lived at the zoo and grew up with Fisher, the only other child living at the zoo. The adventurous duo come across a mystery and work to piece together clues to discover Lexington's past. Will Lexington find out the truth about her family and her past? The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington is a great story for fans of "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. Readers will want to keep reading to find out the mystery of Lexington Willow.

4.5 strong stars

I absolutely loved this story about Lexington, a young orphan who was saved by a zoo elephant from a hurricane, but remembered nothing about her family or where she came from. She grows up in the zoo with the zoo engineer (he runs the trains) and loves all the animals, but has a special connection with the elephant who saved her life. She can communicate with the elephant, but can also communicate with the wind, both of which makes her stand out at school and teased enough that she is homeschooled at the zoo. The zoo is her safe place, and the setting for most of this book, but it's also the site of a mystery as she meets a ghost and also tries to figure out more about her past. I loved all the characters in this book, and although Mr. Bixly was definitely not likable, I did like that I understood him much better by the end, and so did Lex. This story was definitely a tearjerker at the end, but I didn't feel the intense emotion throughout, the way I do for some other books. But it was a strong ending, and I especially loved the author's note at the end as she explains her motivations for writing this book, and she also bring to light the challenges of caring for wild animals in zoos and making sure they are treated as humanely as possible. I think this would be an excellent book for 4th-6th grade, although it's written in such a way that older kids and adults would enjoy it as well.

Thanks to #CelestaRimington, #RandomHouseChildren, and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington

“The wind and I have a complicated relationship. Because of the wind, I’m the girl without a birthday, without a name, without a beginning to my story. See, the wind took my family away when I was small, and I don’t remember them or where I came from.”

Lexington Willow was found by the Lexington Zoo’s train engineer, Roger, after the biggest storm Nebraska had ever had in a long time. He was her wander into the elephants’ habitat when he guessed she was about 5 years old. A ghost had led Roger to see her and he took her in. Roger lives at the zoo in what was once a county bank in 1907. He is an eccentric type, just perfect to parent Lexington who refuses to go to school having been harrassed there by the kids in kindergarten who used to call her "Elephant Girl.’ He lets her give the train speech to zoo visitors and built her a treehouse so she could watch the elephants since she’s not allowed in their training barn.

Lexington homeschools with her best friend Fisher’s mom, and as the book opens, it’s Fisher’s first day of summer vacation and the day that Lex needs to give Mrs. Leigh her last homework assignment. Much to Lex’s consternation, Mrs. Leigh has one more assignment for her. She wants Lex to determine how she is like Karana in The Island of the Blue Dolphins. Lexington too is a survivor and J like Karana, Lexington lost her family. Mrs. Leigh wants her to find other similarities between them and how having read about Karana, she can apply Karana’s life lessons to her own life.

Lexington and Fisher have made plans to help out in the elephant barn where she is particularly drawn to Nyah, the elephant who took care of her the night of the storm. Lex and Nyah communicate through Nyah’s rumbles and the images Lex sees in her mind. The image Lex receives that first day in the elephant barn set the course for the adventure that will make up the book. She is drawn to the undeveloped forest beyond the zoo’s fences, a lady in fancy clothes, and a herd of elephants. Because Fisher has baseball practice every morning and will be away at a baseball camp for three weeks, she will be on her own. And she won’t be allowed to visit the elephants with Fisher gone. The climax of The Elephant’s Girl is a terrific chase through the town and the zoo as Lexington and Fisher just home from camp, rush to save a mysterious box. The notes at the ending provide information about seismic communication among elephants.

I enjoyed reading The Elephant’s Girl and I think it will appeal to girls who like adventure and fantasy. While I liked the cover, after reading the book, I found it to be a bit young for children up to grade 7.

I read this aloud to my 9 and 12 year old and we all loved it! Packed with adventure, mystery, a friendly ghost and facts about elephants, this book has something for everyone. Great character development and perfect pacing. If you're a fan of "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate or "The Magician's Elephant" by Kate DiCamillo you don't want to miss "The Elephant's Girl".

Thank you to Crown Books and #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Elephant's Girl is an epic tale of one girl's survival and her journey to uncover the mysteries surrounding her past. This magical realism story is about Lexington Willow who was protected during a tornado by an elephant, raised in a zoo, befriends a ghost, and has the best baseball loving friend a girl could hope for!

I absolutely loved this book and recommend it for readers of all ages.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crown Books for Young Readers and Celesta Rimington for the advanced copy of The Elephant's Girl in exchange for my honest review.