Review of Home for Wayward Elephants

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Laney K
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Review of Home for Wayward Elephants

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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Home for Wayward Elephants" by James Rada Jr..]
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5 out of 5 stars
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Jessie's family died in a fire that was caused by a tragic accident. Jessie, the lone survivor, blamed herself. She was taken to a farm orphanage at the age of thirteen, where she met a baby elephant who had run off from the circus. She desperately wants to help the elephant and tries to care for it. However, the elephant was found and returned to the circus. At age sixteen, Jessie decided that she was going to join the circus to pursue her passion for working with animals. She also no longer felt happy at the orphanage. Pursuing her passion, she is reunited with Myrna, the elephant she had previously met. Will the happy reunion last? Will Jessie find a new home with the circus? Read Home for Wayward Elephants by James Rada Jr. to find out.

The themes of belonging and found family drove this novel. Jessie wanted nothing more than to feel as though she belonged somewhere. When she first joined the circus, she felt like an outcast. She was the only young, single female and had to room with an older woman. The other animal handlers were all male. However, she felt accepted by the elephants she worked with. She also became friends with a clown, Bradley. He, too, felt a bit like an outcast as his family of aerialists looked down on his decision to be a clown.

The book also captures the deep emotions of the characters. Jessie's first meeting with Myrna was a delightful look into the second when a child's life changes forever. There was an adorable moment when Jessie gave her cookie to Myrna. It was clear the care and compassion that Jessie had toward animals in this scene. Throughout the novel, there are other emotional scenes that help to make the characters compelling.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was a delightful read with dynamic characters and highly emotional scenes. I disliked nothing about this book. Home for Wayward Elephants is perfect for fans of character-driven novels who are interested in the circus and enjoy historical fiction. It captured the life of a young orphan living during the Great Depression. Let your imagination soar as you follow Jessie and her quest to find a home and place to fit in.

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Home for Wayward Elephants
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