The Elephant Thief

Gr 5–7—Having spent his life in the slums of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1870s, the orphan known simply as "Boy" doesn't know his name or age or why he is unable to talk. He is at the mercy of the local crime boss, Frank Scatcherd, who forces him to attend an auction in order to look for some money he claims was stolen. At the auction, the boy is caught by Mr. Jameson, a menagerie owner hoping to buy a famous elephant named Maharajah. Mr. Jameson puts the boy on a high pillar and orders him to help his bid be noticed above the massive crowd. Now Mr. Jameson is offering him a new identity as the mysterious Indian Prince Dandip (nicknamed Danny), and a chance to work for his menagerie, as long as he can ride Maharajah two hundred miles in seven days in order to win a bet. The journey is challenging enough already, but it is made even more difficult by obstacles along the way: a thief, a blocked toll gate, a broken bridge, a near-drowning, and, finally, a fire and a trial. But the boy who never had any reason to trust anyone finds himself becoming increasingly attached to the gentle elephant, and even to the other members of the menagerie staff. Loosely based on the true story of Maharajah, an Asian elephant who walked from Edinburgh to Manchester in 1872, this middle grade historical novel is filled with plot twists and mysteries. Danny's transformation from a nameless, helpless orphan to a brave elephant trainer is satisfying, and the side characters (especially Hetty and the elephant Maharajah) are appealing. The story culminates in a tense courtroom trial and an exciting battle with a hardened criminal.