An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

An Elephant in the Garden Reviews

• 
  Reading_ Tamishly

  "We learned that life goes on."
  
  Actually my heart is broken and I cannot stop crying.
  
  The best by the author I have read so far. It's so mysteriously beautiful, heartbreaking as well as heartwarming, hopeful and, yes, romantic.
  
  Me heart feels so wholesome now after reading this book. Everything about this book has got me fall in love with it.
  
  First, the title. Then the cover. Who wouldn't like it?! And it's all relevant. And I really adore the black and white ink illustrations. They are so well done.
  
  The book is so short yet it's packed with emotions throughout. It's one of the most well-written middle grade books I have ever read.
  
  The story talks about
  
  *Disability, bullying
  
  *WWII
  
  *Loss of a family member
  
  *Lizzie's family, war times, the struggles, hunger and pain
  
  And yet the story is beautiful and filled with hope. The romance in there is just too pure.
  
  One of the best reads of the year!
• 
  Ana Ovejero

  The story happens in Germany in 1945. The war is ending and the terrifying Red Army is coming closer and closer to Dresden, the city where Elizabeth, the protagonist, lives. She shares her home with her mum Mutti, her dad Papi and her little brother Karli.
  
  Papi is sent to the front and the family has to survive in a time when food becomes scarce. Mutti works in the zoo and her favourite animal is Marlene, a young elephant, named after the singer Marlene Dietrich, When the bombs of the Allies start falling in the city, Mutti decides to escape to the countryside with Marlene and her children. As Karli suffers of asthma, he rides Marlene most of the journey.
  
  When they get to their uncle and aunt's farm, a surprise that will endanger their lives is waiting for them.
  
  A powerful telling of the lives of the Germans living through the catastrophic ending of the war, escaping the horror the Red Army is inflicting on civilians and trying to survive thinking about their relatives who are fighting in the front.
  
  Abook for middle-school kids, Elizabeth's voice hepls readers to connect with the destiny of this family and the elepanth Marlene, a symbol of the desire to live, even in the darkest day of History.
  
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• 
  La Tonya Jordan

  A delightful read of a German family during the end of WWII. Their city of Dresden was decimated in bombing. They trekked through the countryside with Marlene, a four year elephant, who Mutti saved from the city zoo. This journey bonded them as a family in the struggle against the snow, cold weather, hungry, the sounds of bombing and rifle shots in the distance behind them, and other refugees. First making it to Uncle Manfred and Auntie Lottie's farm and finding Peter, the Canadian navigator. Peter's bomber was shot down. He was the sole survivor when he parachuted from his plane before it exploded. He was hiding for his life.
  
  Second, the final journey to the west to surrender to the allies. Both treks were memorable and let's Elizabeth tell the story to Karl and his mother in her own way. Sit back and listen to an unforgettable journey with Marlene. The journey will make you cry.
  
  Quotes:
  
  "Because I tell fibs sometimes, so I can always tell when someone else is, and she's not. And she's not muddle either, like Gran is. If she says she had an elephant in her garden, then she did."
  
  We were some distance away from the city, but I could feel the warmth of that great fire on my face as I watched.
  
  There was no barn, no shed, only trunkless trees rising strangely out of the mist.
• 
  Karina

  Light and easy YA read. I liked how the story was about an elephant and a family determined to save her. It wasn't a typical WWII story which made it more interesting. It became a sweet love story. Older ppl have fantastic stories of their younger days and we should definitely be better listeners.
  
  My 3.5 stars is only bc I felt there was more details missing. The characters also seemed ignorant in believing they (as in country of residence) can start a war and kill innocent people but when they get bombed to stop Hitler and the atrocities going on then everyone else becomes the enemy. I think authors put forward their own personal feelings or politics into a story instead of being honest to all sides to let the reader determine their truth. Kids are smart so why dumb them down?
  
  Also, when my son reads this I feel like I would have to explain to him that in war everyone is guilty of sin from the rich that start it to the man in the trenches pointing a gun.
• 
  Skip

  Inspired by two true events described the afterword, this novel is narrated by an elderly woman (Lizzie) in a nursing home telling the story of her youth in Dresden Germany during World War II. Her mother was a zookeeper, who brought a young elephant home nightly to their private garden out of fear for the mammal's safety. When the bombing begins on a snowy winter night, Lizzie flees with her mother, younger brother, and Marlene, the elephant. They flee to the country, only to find a Canadian navigator on their family's farm. A seminal event unites these enemies, and together they flee the invading Russians. Heartwarming story of courage, friendships, love, and war. 4.5 stars.
  
  
• 
  Cheryl

  This story is set in Dresden, Germany during World War II. Lizzie’s mother works at the Dresden zoo. As fear mounts about the Allied bombers, Lizzie’s mother convinces the zookeeper to let Lizzie’s family shelter a baby elephant in their back yard.
  
  One winter day the bombers arrive, and as the bombs rain down on Dresden, Lizzie, her mother, and her younger brother flee the city - with the baby elephant in tow! They decide to try to reach the American and British forces who are approaching from the west. Will they make it before the Russian army arrives? Then an unexpected encounter with a Canadian airman complicates their plans.
  
  This book is written for young readers but adults would enjoy it as well. Readers will glimpse life from a young German girl’s perspective as World War II nears its end.
• 
  Book Concierge

  A frail and elderly Lizzie tells the story of her youth in Dresden Germany during World War II. Her father was fighting on the Russian front. Her mother was a zookeeper and fearing for the safety of the young elephant, she brought the animal home each night to their private garden. But the war is taking a toll on everyone and when the bombing begins on a snowy February night the family must flee the burning city. How can they possibly evade enemy troops with an elephant in tow?
  
  What a wonderful and heart-warming story! Inspired by true events, Morpurgo has crafted a tale of courage, perseverance, and kindness in the face of horrific deprivation. The author doesn’t dwell on the horrors of war, but he doesn’t skip them either. He shows that while nations may be enemies at war, individual people can (and do) disagree with their leaders. Morpurgo also takes the opportunity to show people doing what they believe is best and morally right despite the difficulty and even personal danger in doing so.
  
  I had previously read War Horse by the same author, and did not warm to it. So I was a little hesitant to read this one, but I’m glad I did, because I loved this book. I think the difference, for me, was the narrator. The earlier book was told from the animal’s point of view and I found that awkward. In contrast, I was easily able to connect with Lizzie. I’m sorry there are no young children in my life because I kept wanting to read it aloud; I could easily imagine a teacher capturing the attention of a class with this story.
  
• 
  Jammin Jenny

  I really enjoyed this book where a woman relates her story from during WWII (she was a young woman). They were escaping through the countryside with Marlena the elephant. It was a touching and inspirational stories.
• 
  Heather Johnson

  This book should be a movie! I want to see this one in theaters.
  
  What a fantastic read! Before reading this book, the cover art of the elephant is beautiful and serene, quite a contrast to the raging fires of the bombed city in the background. When I read the jacket, I wasn't quite sure to expect, and I judged it from the description on the book jacket ("Oh, another World War 2 novel"), but to readers who think similarly: don't. This book sets itself apart.
  
  This book centers around this young persistent and playful elephant, a symbol of hope during the plights of this family, traveling to meet the American soldiers after their city is destroyed. While the main character annoyed me at times (what teenagers don't), she was real and authentic. This woman's story - ringing with truth from historical events - was enchanting and full of adventures.
  
  Honestly, without the romantic conclusion (the letters, Papi's whereabouts, marriage, circus), I would not have fallen for this book. The happily ever after to the story was a touch that I enjoyed, knowing how everything turned out after the journey. What a touching ending. This book is not littered with facts, which I enjoyed, and develops its characters. Highly recommended for a read.
• 
  Sonja Arlow

  This was a children’s book (probably for ages between 9 and 12) verrrry loosely based on real events during WW2 where an elephant was rescued from a Belfast zoo.
  
  It was a sweet story that only lightly touched on the horrors of the war and gave the perspective of Non-Nazi German citizens and their struggles with becoming fugitives in their own country. The characters felt a little flat and the story predictable but then again I am not the target reader.
• 
  Lucy

  I really hope this was meant to be a kids book.
  
  As a teen who reviews like an adult, I have quite a few things to say:
  1. The plot was rushed. This book could have been 400 pages yet it was under 200. This made me feel like I was skimming and missing details.
  2. The character development and romance were rushed. I could say so much about this, but I won’t.
  3. There were so many unrealistic happy endings in this. There were so many allusions to bad things happening to a few characters and in the end eVeRyOnE wAs HaPpY.
  
  I really liked the premise of the book but felt so let down. I’ve seen a lot of good reviews though so maybe I’m just a reader who is used to dark dystopian books :)
• 
  Anne Hamilton

  Despite the intriguing title and the promise of a mystery revealed, this is a very slow book to start. I've read a lot of Morpurgo and none has the almost interminable creep of the first half of this book.
  
  Morpurgo tries a variation on his usual framing device in this story and, rather than a tale of youth bookended by an adult narrator's musings, the reflections are interspersed throughout.
  
  Lizzie is a solitary old woman in a nursing home who often speaks of the time she had an elephant in her garden. The staff are convinced she is delusional. But one day, a small boy felicitously named Karl winds up in her room. Her younger brother was Karl too and, over sixty years previously, looked much like the little rascal she finds in her bedroom.
  
  And so she tells him the story of Marlene the elephant. During the Second World War, her mother helped at the Dresden Zoo and became attached to a young elephant. Lizzie's mum is determined that, should the allied bombers come to Dresden as they have to other cities, Marlene will be safe. The director of the zoo has decided all animals will be shot in case they escapes and terrify the citizens after the raid. Each day she takes the elephant to the zoo and each night she brings it home to the garden. One bitter winter night, the elephant charges after an alsatian that harasses her and the whole family chase after it.
  
  It is only because they are out near the country that they escape the firestorm that engulfs Dresden when the allied bombing raid begins. They flee on foot, heading for a relative's farm a dozen kilometres out of the city, cutting across country to avoid the refugees on the main road. When they finally reach the farm, it seems to be deserted. Then they find an allied airman, a Canadian navigator, who is hiding out... German soldiers are seeking him and it's unlikely he'll make it to a prisoner-of-war camp. Everyone's seeking vengeance after the firestorm...
  
  As I said, the first half of the book drags. Too much telling. Way too much. Too much reporting. The story picks up immensely with the introduction of the Canadian. For the first time in the story, there's real tension, bubbling conflict and a much smarter pace.
  
  An okay book, but certainly not up to Morpurgo's usual standard.
• 
  The Dusty Jacket

  Lizzie is eighty-two years old and is idly spending her days in a nursing home. But today is February 13th and on this particular day, she has a story to tell. It’s a rather sad story because on this day, in 1945, the bombers flew over Dresden, Germany and set the city on fire. Lizzie, her brother, and her mother are forced to flee their home. The Red Army is coming from the east and the allied forces—the Americans and British—are coming from the west. They would go west, but they would not be going alone. They would be bringing Marlene, a four-year-old elephant that Lizzie’s mother rescued from the zoo. It would be this wonderful, gentle companion that would keep their spirits up, open unexpected doors, and ultimately save their lives.
  
  Michael Morpurgo proves once again what a gifted and compassionate storyteller he is. An Elephant in the Garden is a beautifully told and compelling story that transports the reader into war-torn Germany as thousands of refugees struggle for survival during World War II. His characters leap off the page and we are there to share in their daily quest for food, shelter, and obscurity from the encroaching Russian soldiers. In his Author’s Note, Morpurgo writes that his story was inspired by an actual female zookeeper who saved one young elephant from certain death. The zoo’s director had given orders that all animals were to be killed rather than risk their release into the town should the city fall under attack. If you Google “Belgium, Zoo, Elephant, WWII”, you can see actual photographs and the story which inspired this heartwarming book.
  
  At my library, this book is shelved in the young adult section; however, I think children as young as nine would appreciate and benefit from this story. Stories about war are often dark and bleak, but the overall message of courage, resilience, friendship, and hope spans across all age groups and garners mutual appeal.
  
  When Lizzie was conveying a moment in her youth, she recalled an instance when she was talking to Marlene, desperate to find some comfort and understanding from her silent friend. She said, “For an answer she wafted her ears gently at me, and groaned deep inside herself. It was enough to tell me that she had listened, and understood, and that she did not judge me. I learned something that day from Marlene, about friendship, and I have never forgotten it. To be a true friend, you have to be a good listener, and I discovered that day that Marlene was the truest of friends.” Morpurgo reminds us that true friends not only listen with their ears, but also with their hearts and sometimes the best friends need not offer words in return, but simply just offer themselves.
• 
  Linda Lipko

  I loved this book! It is yet another wonderful example of Young adult genre transcends a specific age category.
  
  During WWII Dresden Germany was blasted/bombed unmercifully. This is a tale of an older woman, now in a nursing home, who recounts the story of her brave mother who worked in the zoo and fearing that an elephant she had tended since its childhood would die in the war, brought the animal home.
  
  When Dresden was bombed the family left the ruined city and made a trek westward with the elephant in tow.
  
  This is an insightful story of an elephant who was saved and in turn saved a family.
  
  Highly recommended.
• 
  Ken

  With Michael Morpurgo you know exactly what your getting, a tale with an animal set around a war. This time an Elephant in Germany during the Second World War.
  As soon as you slip into this tale you know your in great company, a perfect read.
• 
  Connie

  I own this book.
  
  This book is told from the point of view of Lizzie, an elderly woman in a care home who knows nobody but little Karl believes that during the war, she had an elephant in her garden. When Karl's mum allows her to tell her whole story to Karl, she tells a story of her and her siblings and their survival in 1940s German with an elephant in the garden. Like my previous reading of Shadow, this book seems whimsical, but it was actually a thing where elephants lived with their zookeepers during the war to escape being shot. This book also seems like it's going to be a light-hearted story about an elephant but it actually works out to be more of a story of love and loss and survival. It wasn't as harrowing as Shadow but it was definitely still hard-hitting in places, especially when discussing the scene with the British bombers.
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  Meyers Cooper Debbie

  It's always a great day when books unexpectedly show up in your classroom. It becomes an even better day when this book is nestled contently within the confines of that box waiting for you to discover it. The title instantly attracted me to this book. How does an elephant just casually live in the garden? Once I read the brief synopsis on the back, it didn't take much convincing that I needed to read this book. Within the first few chapters of Lizzie's story, I realized that this story needed to be shared with my students. This is a very unique perspective of World War II. This is a family that struggles with the expectations of war - while taking care of an elephant. There are moments of uncertainty that made me feel a little sick to my stomach, but there were moments that restored my love of humanity. I'm never of a fan of "animal" stories because they always end tragically - anyone remember Old Yeller, Marley or Bambi's mother? However, this book gives me hope that not all stories with animals have to rip my heart out. Truly beautiful. Truly magical.
  P.S. I now want an elephant of my own.
• 
  Don

  I had a Barnes and Noble email the other day that mentioned "An Elephant in the Garden" as a listing in the children's books, then went on to say it was by Michael Morpurgo the author of "War Horse." I thought I would check it out. Found it in the children's section at Central Library.
  
  In this story a German family escapes the Dresden bombing with the young elephant the mother has been taking care of at the zoo. The odd group of refugees form a family escaping towards the Americans and away from the Russians. A skillfully told tale that must be entertaining to older children. It was for me.
  
  This wonderful tale is based loosely on two true stories. The first about a Belfast zookeeper who during WWII kept a baby elephant safe during the bombings. The second story was about a German family that became refugees as a result of the Dresden bombings. Morpurgo states elephants are "the noblest and wisest and most sensitive of all creatures". The final words of the Author's Notes are that humans "are often not nearly as noble and wise as they should be, sadly."
  
  
• 
  Alexis Travers

  An Elephant in the Garden is about a family of three that lives in Dresden. Lizzie, Karli and their mom Mutti. Their father is fighting in World War II. Mutti works at a zoo, and has a very close relationship with this elephant. When they hear that Dresden is going to be bombed and they have to kill all the animals, Mutti forces the head of the zoo to let her keep the elephant Marlene in the garden. Unfortonaly Desden ended up getting bombed.Their family escaped just like may other families in their town. Their family and thousands of people head out to try to find their way. When they find themselves at their relatives house which is abandoned they meet a solider which helps them throughout their journey.
  
• 
  Stephi

  A sweet, light story that was quick to get through, but lacked some nuance. It read very slice-of-life for a book that took place during WW2.
  
  3 stars
• 
  Jessica

  A YA WW2 Story with a truly unique POV
  
  The American book market is, its fair to say, absolutely saturated with WW2 fiction for both children and adults. There are many good stories out there - starting with Anne Frank, of course, and moving on through contemporary classics such as Number the Stars and The Book Thief. This sweet tale deserves a junior status alongside the greats.
  Based loosely on the dual true stories of zookeepers who saved their charges during the war and the Feb 1945 devastating fire bombing of Dresden, Germany by Allied forces, The Elephant in the Garden delivers the shattering history of the Allied destruction of Dresden with the sweet touch of an elephant named Marlene. Marlene, orphaned during the war and looked after by “Mutti,” comes home to the spend the evenings in the family garden to help the young (4yo) elephant cope with the loss of her mother. Her handler, known only as Mutti, has two children and has been working at the zoo to help make ends meet while her husband is fighting at the Russian front.
  
  Marlene, with her elephantine wisdom and kindness, brings much joy to the family as 1945 begins, and through a series of events, unwittingly helps her adopted family escape the firebombing of Dresden over the weekend of Feb 13-15, 1945. Now homeless and without any resources, the family begins an astonishing journey across southern Germany as they first try to escape the Dresden attacks and then decide that they would do anything not to fall into the clutches of The quickly advancing Soviet Army. Their flight westward is filled with unexpected adventures, a bit of suffering, and encounters of the most unexpected kind. All along, Marlene provides comfort, friendship, and transport for the youngest child, Karli, who suffers from asthma and a leg deformity.
  
  All in all, this is a sweet but not saccharine tale that introduces a horrific event of the Second World War for which the “good guys” are entirely responsible, offering middle grade students an opportunity to think about the costs of war, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether and how to label “good guys” and “bad guys” even in the midst of the last “good war” America fought. Definitely worth a read and discussion. I do wish there had been more specificity regarding events and timelines - to show where the family traveled and when events occurred would have been helpful - and really brought home the fact that the family fled a great distance fearing not only the bombing runs but also the actions of the Soviets as they advanced towards Berlin, setting up the historical context for understanding some of the key factors that explain how and why the US and the Soviets went from wartime allies to bitter enemies in less than two years.
  
  A well written and engaging tale. Perfect for early middle grade students or those who really want to learn about the war but can’t handle the death and destruction that accompanies most sources; The Elephant In the Garden has a feather light touch when it comes to key moments of death and destruction, which I know will be greatly appreciated by my own middle grade reader.
• 
  Lauren Stoolfire

  During WWII, Lizzie's mother works as a zookeeper to help provide for her family while her husband is away fighting. Lizzie, her mother, and her younger brother become especially attached to a young orphaned elephant named Marlene. With the bombings of Dresden imminent, the zoo animals are going to be put down as a precautionary measure, but Lizzie's mother gets permission to let the elephant stay in family garden. As the bombs begin to fall, city residents, including Lizzie's family along with Marlene, are forced to flee from the city. As they trek to the safety of an family member's abandoned home, they cross paths with the enemy, a Canadian Royal Air Force Navigator named Peter.
  
  Michael Morpurgo's An Elephant in the Garden was loaned to me by a friend who had just stumbled across it and had nothing but great things to say about it. She had never read anything by this author, like me, but was pleasantly surprised by how much she enjoyed it. I've always been intrigued by this time period and just looked at that cover, not to mention the fascinating summary. I'm glad I took the time to read this novel. It's a beautifully written tale of survival, loss, friendship, and hope featuring nuanced characters. I particularly enjoyed how the author weaves the past and present into the novel as a much older Lizzie tells her story to her caregivers at her nursing home. I fully plan on reading more by Michael Morpugo in the future.
• 
  Robinson Y7

  This story is probably a true story. 1940, England, Lizzy, her mother and her eight year old brother, Karli, are in deadly World War ii. They live in a small village, and have experienced various traumatizing bombings from the Nazis. When their village's zoo is getting bombed, no one helps the helpless animals in despair, except for empathetic Karli and his family. They try to save all the animals but they don't manage to save all of them, except an adorable elephant named Marlene! They have to flee, with nothing left, except Marlene... Now only a miracle could save them.
  This book will change you're dimensions and point of views to the world. You will appreciate everything you have in your life in different ways!
  You will enjoy this book always and most probably one of the top books you will read.
  Enjoy
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  Sophie Crane

  This is one of the best Michael Morpurgo's book I have ever read. (though I say that ever time ;-) I would rate this 10/10 and definitely recommend this to a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. the emotions were real and felt true bringing me in to the story and the shoes of the characters. I will read this over and over again and I think Michael morpurgo is amazing ... keep writing !
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  Christy

  A delightful story about escaping their town of Dresden during WWII. The mom is a zookeeper and takes the baby elephant that was imprinted to her. The family escapes and saves a downed navigator. A great story based on true events that middle schoolers would enjoy.
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  Katelyn

  Lovely! I loved everything about this except for one aspect of the ending. No worries--no elephant dies in these pages. Now I must go read all the WWII books I've been avoiding for the past 10 years...