Singing with Elephants, written by Margarita Engle. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2022. $22.99 ages 8 and up

 

"OUT LOUD

Hand in trunk with the elephant, 
I recite poems, and together
we sway as if dancing, 
not mourning. 

Elephants seem to understand 
the part of poetry that has no words
just music that echoes
like wind chimes 
or bells." 

The year is 1947. Oriol and her family are living in Santa Barbara, where her parents run a veterinary clinic. Their move from Cuba was made to find medical help for her grandmother's diabetes. When the treatment fails and her Abuelita dies, Oriol wants to move back home. She is grieving, and not happy at school where she feels detached from her studies, and is being bullied because of her accent and her love for the animals at the clinic. 

Finally, it is summer vacation and Oriol can spend her days being with the animals she so loves. It is difficult to let her family know how she is feeling. Neither Spanish or English make it easier. When she meets her neighbor, Gabriela Mistral, she finds a mentor. Gabriela helps Oriol find her voice through poetry. A crisis at the clinic, when a baby elephant is taken from its family to entertain a rich actor, gives her further reason to use her voice to make change happen. 

Oriol creates a petition to have the elephant family reunited. Her hard work and strong feelings lead to a hopeful and happy ending to the story. As she is celebrating the joy that comes from using her voice, she learns that her lovely friend must leave for another assignment. While there is much sadness in saying goodbye, Oriol knows that she is a stronger version of herself due to Ms. Mistral's tutelage. 

Margarita Engel has such a gift for telling powerful stories in free verse. She chooses perfect words to convey clear feelings of humanity, tenderness, integrity, and true friendship. Using Gabriela Mistral - the first Latin American winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature - adds depth to this imagined story of her role in helping a young girl use poetry to express herself. 

Back matter includes an author's note providing information about Gabriela Mistral, elephants, one of her poems and a list for further reading.