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\u201cSeeing the elephant\u201d was 19th<\/sup>-century slang for a first experience of battle. In Pat Hughes\u2019s Seeing the Elephant: A Story of the Civil War<\/em> (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2007), 10-year-old Izzie\u2019s two older brothers are off to fight for the Union. Izzie wants desperately to go too \u2013 but when he meets a wounded rebel soldier at the hospital where his Aunt Bell works as a nurse, he learns that war is far more complicated than he had believed. For ages 8 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/elephant-in-the-garden-201x300.jpg\") <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n Michael Morpurgo\u2019s An Elephant in the Garden<\/em> (Felwel & Friends, 2011) \u2013 loosely based on a true story – is narrated by Lizzie, a teenager in Germany during World War II, whose mother worked as an animal-keeper at the Dresden zoo. As war approaches the city, Lizzie\u2019s mother brings her beloved elephant, Marlene, home to live in the family garden – and when Dresden is bombed, Lizzie, her mother, little brother Karli, and the elephant all become refugees. They take up with Peter, a downed Canadian parachutist, and the kids from a school choir, are helped by a sympathetic countess, lose Marlene, and ultimately land in a refugee camp \u2013 but there\u2019s a satisfying happy ending in which Lizzie and Peter marry, and they re-encounter Marlene. For ages 10 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/elephant-run-196x300.jpg\") <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n | In Roland Smith\u2019s Elephant Run<\/em> (Hyperion, 2007), set in World War II, 13-year-old Nick is sent to stay with his father on a teak plantation in Burma since his mother believes he will be safer there than in London during the blitz. Instead the Japanese invade, Nick\u2019s father is sent to labor camp, and Nick is forced to work for the plantation\u2019s new Japanese overseer. Nick and his friend Mya \u2013 who wants to become an elephant trainer or mahout<\/em> \u2013 eventually escape into the jungle, riding on Nick\u2019s father\u2019s elephant, Hannibal. An exciting adventure story that takes place against a complex historical and political background. For ages 9-14.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n | | | |