ARC Review – The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington

Middle Grade, Magical Realism | 336 pages | 05.19.2020 | Crown Books

4 STARS

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We meet 12 year-old Lex living at the zoo with her foster father Roger who found her in the elephant enclosure as a young child after a big tornado. Lex doesn’t remember anything from before that tragic event. She is finally old enough to begin working with the elephants – an opportunity that will allow her to talk to them again about what happened many years ago. A series of adventures ensues that take the reader through Lex’s past and future.

This was a cute coming-of-age type story in a magical setting with lovable characters. It reads just enough like a fairytale, that this novel should appeal to a wide range of ages. The friendship between Lex and Fisher feels real, the struggles and worries Roger experiences are relatable, and the mystery keeps the reader engaged. All in all, this is a solid debut novel and I am looking forward to more books by Celesta Rimington.

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I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.