A Circle of Elephants: A Companion Novel

by Eric Dinerstein

Overview

From the author of What Elephants Know, a 2017 ALA Notable Children's Book and winner of the 2017 South Asia Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, comes this stunning companion novel about the complex relationship between people and nature coexisting in the Borderlands of 1970s Nepal.

Thirteen-year-old Nandu lives in the newly established Royal Elephant Breeding Center on the edge of the jungle. Here, the King's elephants are to be raised under the protective watch of the stable. Nandu-along with his adoptive father Subba-sahib, his mentors, friends, and the rest of the elephant drivers-is tested by man and nature as earthquakes, drought, wild herds, and rumors of poachers threaten the Center.

When Nandu's world is thrown into turmoil, so, too, is the world of Hira Prasad, the Center's powerful bull elephant. An unbreakable bond of brotherhood drives Nandu and Hira Prasad together as they struggle to maintain the delicate natural order of life in the Borderlands.

Dinerstein's poetic prose and scientific expertise come together in this breathtaking tale that transports the reader to the center of dangerous conflicts and heartbreaking friendships.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368016582
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/22/2019
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	672,546
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Eric Dinerstein, PhD, attended Northwestern University and Western Washington University and did his graduate studies in wildlife science at the University of Washington. He is the Director of biodiversity and wildlife solutions at Resolve, where he devotes his time to the conservation of wild populations of elephants, rhinos, tigers, and other endangered species. He was previously chief scientist and vice president for conservation science at the World Wildlife Fund for nearly twenty-five years.

Dinerstein began researching tigers in Nepal in 1975 as a Peace Corps volunteer. He later continued fieldwork in the region, studying rhinos and tigers for the Smithsonian Institution. Dinerstein's nonfiction works include The Return of the Unicorns: The Natural History and Conservation of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros; Tigerland and Other Unintended Destinations; and The Kingdom of Rarities.

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW

"It is such a refreshing journey into another elephant world, very special to Asia, indeed Nepal, resonant with an afterglow of Mowgli, and Eric Dinerstein's own deep feelings about the jungle, and the people and the wildlife that live there."— Iain Douglas-Hamilton, DPhil, CBE, founder, Save the Elephants, and coauthor of Among the Elephants

From the Publisher

12/01/2018
Gr 5–8—This companion novel to What Elephants Know takes place in the Borderlands of 1970s Nepal. In the new Royal Elephant Breeding Center, 13-year-old Nandu lives with his adoptive father. Nandu and Hira Prasad, the center's powerful bull elephant, forge a bond when they experience an earthquake together. This moment sparks an emotional journey for Nandu as he comes to grips with the reality of the time and place: animal poaching. Nandu, the narrator, is able to relate to the characters in the story on a deep level, having experienced loss among his people and the animals that surround him. Powerful messages resonate throughout the novel, including kindness, empathy, and harmony among individuals practicing different faiths. These messages authentically come through in the actions and deeds of the main characters' and their responses to some of the difficult events of the novel. The author deftly weaves his scientific knowledge with gentle prose to create a heartfelt tale. A glossary of important terms is a helpful reference for readers. VERDICT Highly recommended and a must-buy where there are fans of What Elephants Know.—Selene Athas, Director of Libraries, Roland Park Country School

School Library Journal

★ 2018-09-17

Young Nandu, found in the jungle as a toddler and adopted by Subba-sahib, head of the king of Nepal's elephant stable, is back, now 13 and an accomplished elephant driver in this sequel to What Elephants Know (2016).

It is a year of drought, but Nandu's worries include more than just the lack of water that affects the stable's elephants. There is danger from earthquakes (the story opens with one), wild animals, and humans—both poachers and the corrupt government officials who protect them. Nandu's strong bond with his elephant brother, Hira Prashad, fuels his determination to keep all animals safe and treat them respectfully. There is assistance from old friends—Subba-sahib, the holy Baba, white missionary Father Autry, and young Rita, who cares for the orphaned rhino babies and elephant calves—and new ones: three young Jumli girls and a Raute boy that Nandu and other elephant drivers rescue in the forest. One of the book's strengths is its awareness of the region's ethnic complexity. Nandu himself is well fleshed out, and his joy, sorrow, anger, and struggles are very real and approachable. Conservationist Dinerstein highlights the intelligence of the elephants, the bravery of the young people, and the intimate connections among all living beings in the forest. Enough backstory is provided to make this a satisfying stand-alone; a glossary and author's note are included, but a map is a notable omission.

Heartfelt, compelling, and genuine, this book takes readers to where the action is, in the Nepalese jungle. (Historical fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews