The Elephant Whisperer (Young Readers Adaptation): My Life with the Herd in the African Wild

by Lawrence Anthony, Graham Spence, Thea Feldman (Adapted by)

Overview

When Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a rogue herd of elephants in his reserve in South Africa, it was the last chance for these elephants. If Anthony didn’t take them, they would be shot. But he had no experience with elephants at all. What was he to do?

Take them on, of course!

What follows is an exciting and heartwarming series of adventures, in which Anthony learns about elephants and becomes part of their family. Full of both triumph and tragedy, The Elephant Whisperer, is a fascinating and unforgettable account of living with the majestic elephant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627793094
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/24/2017
Series:	Elephant Whisperer
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Lawrence Anthony—“The Indiana Jones of Conservation” (The Guardian, UK)—was an acclaimed conservationist who received the UN’s Earth Day award for his work in Baghdad. Graham Spence is a journalist and editor who lives in England. Together they are the authors of the bestselling Babylon's Arc and The Last Rhinos.

Thea Feldman has written many popular children’s books, including Navy SEAL Dogs, a YA adaptation of the bestselling Trident K9 Warriors by Mike Ritland. She lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

"Anthony's patient attempts to rehabilitate elephants—and the ensuing accounts of intelligence and emotional connection from these behemoths—are moving and fascinating." —Kirkus Reviews

"Anthony’s respect and compassion for all living things is evident throughout the narrative, and he pulls no punches when describing the wonders and the sorrows of life on a game reserve. A tender look at unlikely partnerships, and a wildlife adventure that reads like fiction." —Booklist

The Elephant Whisperer (St. Martin's Press Edition):

“In my thirty-five years of studying man/animal communication I have met only a few individuals who have the ability to enter into the metaphysical realm of the exotic animal. Lawrence Anthony has been there and back. His wonderfully written book The Elephant Whisperer is a true reflection of his ability to be one of the pachyderms.” —Ralph Helfer, author of Modoc

“Anthony has made a difference in the lives of many magnificent animals who otherwise would have been lost to the world. When you're feeling down and out and defeated and ready to give up, read this inspiring book and share it widely with others.” —Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals

“A lovingly written tale of close encounters, some beautiful and some frightening, with humans and nonhumans alike. Anthony's story of his trials and tribulations in preserving a herd of African elephants is a parable for the continent.” —Irene M. Pepperberg, author of Alex & Me

“An engaging and vividly personal account, The Elephant Whisperer invites you in, as confidant and confederate, from the first page and holds you rapt to the very last. A compelling reminder of the power and mysteries of the natural world, Thula Thula's elephants are lucky to have a friend like Lawrence Anthony.” —Amelia Thomas, author of The Zoo on the Road to Nablus

“The Elephant Whisperer is every bit as much a page-turner as a novel. … Anyone who remembers Born Free, a personal story of tamed East African lions, will hope this book, too, is destined for the screen.” —San Francisco Book Review

From the Publisher

10/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—In this wonderful memoir of life on a South African game reserve, Anthony tells the story of a group of elephants that he inherited in 1997. The elephants came to Thula Thula, Anthony's reserve, because they had learned to break free of the electric barriers in their previous home. As the author and his staff scrambled to prepare the appropriate enclosure, they also struggled to track down a group of poachers who appeared to have infiltrated his property. Almost immediately after their arrival, the elephants broke loose and began the trek north back to their previous home. Anthony's narrative of tracking and catching these massive creatures is a heart-pumping adventure tale. When the elephants were finally returned, Anthony started on the difficult task of forming a relationship with the matriarch of the group and reaching out through her to the rest of the herd while still maintaining their "wild" character, which is essential to their survival on the reserve. The chapters in this action-packed memoir are brief and numerous, the pacing and complexity of the writing is perfect for middle to high school readers, and the message is heartwarming without becoming bogged down in sentimentality. The deaths of several wild animals and a beloved pet are addressed in the story and the afterword discusses Anthony's own death in 2012, so sensitive readers should be forewarned. VERDICT A highly recommended addition to junior high and high school libraries and a must-read for animal lovers and budding conservationists.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

School Library Journal

2017-07-15
"In 1999, I was asked to accept a herd of troubled wild elephants on my game reserve, Thula Thula. I had no idea how challenging it would be or how much my life would be enriched." Readers wary of nonfiction should be informed that this tale races along like a fictional action adventure; small wonder that its late author was dubbed "the Indiana Jones of Conservation." A herd of nine "tuskers" has been so traumatized by humans that their behavior is deemed incorrigible; if Anthony won't take them within two weeks, all will be killed. Anthony hires large numbers of men to erect essential, electrified fencing at a feverish pace while simultaneously building a holding pen, or boma, for the newcomers—and dealing with game poachers. Seven of the elephants arrive; the matriarch and her baby have been executed. Many breathtaking adventures ensue—some highlighting Anthony's game ranger's loyal, death-defying risks. Most of the 64 chapters end with an enticing cliffhanger. Anthony's goals are not simply altruistic; he and his fiancee earn a living by entertaining game-enthusiastic tourists at their lodge. The specter of colonialism is unavoidable. However, Anthony's patient attempts to rehabilitate elephants—and the ensuing accounts of intelligence and emotional connection from these behemoths—are moving and fascinating. There are hard moments, especially toward the end, but there is plenty of foreshadowing and humor throughout. Save the elephants! (postscript, captioned photographs, glossary) (Memoir. 10-16)

Kirkus Reviews