The Elephant Girl (ToolKit)
James Patterson & Ellen Banda-Aaku with Sophia KrevoyAge Rec: 4th -6th Grades
Themes: Kenya, Elephants, Maasai People, Human-Animal Connections, Animal Conservation
This coming-of-age story follows Jama, a teenage girl living among her Maasai tribe in Kenya. Jama has always felt out of place among her peers, finding it easier to connect with a local elephant herd—especially a baby elephant she names Mbegu. When the head ranger of the neighboring conservancy succumbs to corruption and greed, neglecting his duty to protect the endangered elephants, Jama cannot remain passive. Even though one of the elephants in the herd was responsible for the death of her mother, Jama doesn’t blame the animal. Instead, she holds the poachers accountable for traumatizing the herd by killing one of their own, a tragedy that led to the elephants’ aggressive behavior toward humans.
Determined to make a difference, Jama risks her own life to rescue the injured baby elephant. Both Jama and Mbegu are orphans—two souls bound together by loss. When Jama is offered the chance to accompany Mbegu to an elephant sanctuary, she seizes the opportunity. With her mother gone, there is little left to tie her to her community.
The story beautifully explores the bonds that can form between humans and animals despite the absence of a common language, offering a poignant message of connection, healing, and resilience. The rich backdrop of Kenya’s natural landscape further immerses readers in a new culture, land, and people, making the story even more captivating.
James Patterson & Ellen Banda-Aaku with Sophia KrevoyAge Rec: 4th -6th Grades
Themes: Kenya, Elephants, Maasai People, Human-Animal Connections, Animal Conservation
This coming-of-age story follows Jama, a teenage girl living among her Maasai tribe in Kenya. Jama has always felt out of place among her peers, finding it easier to connect with a local elephant herd—especially a baby elephant she names Mbegu. When the head ranger of the neighboring conservancy succumbs to corruption and greed, neglecting his duty to protect the endangered elephants, Jama cannot remain passive. Even though one of the elephants in the herd was responsible for the death of her mother, Jama doesn’t blame the animal. Instead, she holds the poachers accountable for traumatizing the herd by killing one of their own, a tragedy that led to the elephants’ aggressive behavior toward humans.
Determined to make a difference, Jama risks her own life to rescue the injured baby elephant. Both Jama and Mbegu are orphans—two souls bound together by loss. When Jama is offered the chance to accompany Mbegu to an elephant sanctuary, she seizes the opportunity. With her mother gone, there is little left to tie her to her community.
The story beautifully explores the bonds that can form between humans and animals despite the absence of a common language, offering a poignant message of connection, healing, and resilience. The rich backdrop of Kenya’s natural landscape further immerses readers in a new culture, land, and people, making the story even more captivating.
James Patterson & Ellen Banda-Aaku with Sophia KrevoyAge Rec: 4th -6th Grades
Themes: Kenya, Elephants, Maasai People, Human-Animal Connections, Animal Conservation
This coming-of-age story follows Jama, a teenage girl living among her Maasai tribe in Kenya. Jama has always felt out of place among her peers, finding it easier to connect with a local elephant herd—especially a baby elephant she names Mbegu. When the head ranger of the neighboring conservancy succumbs to corruption and greed, neglecting his duty to protect the endangered elephants, Jama cannot remain passive. Even though one of the elephants in the herd was responsible for the death of her mother, Jama doesn’t blame the animal. Instead, she holds the poachers accountable for traumatizing the herd by killing one of their own, a tragedy that led to the elephants’ aggressive behavior toward humans.
Determined to make a difference, Jama risks her own life to rescue the injured baby elephant. Both Jama and Mbegu are orphans—two souls bound together by loss. When Jama is offered the chance to accompany Mbegu to an elephant sanctuary, she seizes the opportunity. With her mother gone, there is little left to tie her to her community.
The story beautifully explores the bonds that can form between humans and animals despite the absence of a common language, offering a poignant message of connection, healing, and resilience. The rich backdrop of Kenya’s natural landscape further immerses readers in a new culture, land, and people, making the story even more captivating.