Overall, this was a fun and easy read. I didn't connect emotionally with the characters, but it was a great palate cleanser, and I definitely think it would be enjoyable for younger readers. This was a very enjoyable middle grade full of adventure! This book was full of diversity in characters as well as culture, which is always refreshing in any genre—but especially in middle grade books. Our cast of characters, specifically our three main friends, made the story what it was and were pretty well developed. There was also a lot of useful information in this story about the jungle, its inhabitants and their lifestyles. The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is such a great adventure story! Did you always want to write something with loads of action?

Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can’t resist the shiny temptations the king’s palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for her impoverished community doesn’t come without risks, and when Chaya steals the queen’s jewels from a bedside table—a messy getaway jeopardizes the life of a close friend. Chaya, a no-nonsense, outspoken hero, leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant on a noisy, fraught, joyous adventure through the jungle where revolution is stirring and leeches lurk. Will stealing the queen’s jewels be the beginning or the end of everything for the intrepid gang? What I especially like is that people keep assuming that Neel, the boy, has been doing all the thieving, rather than giving her credit. Sometimes this works in her favor, but other times, it just makes those in authority throw everyone into the same kettle of fish, so to speak. Perfect for readers aged 8-12, this is an adventure fans of Middle-Grade reads won’t want to miss. Farook has painted a vivid and entrancing new world for us in The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, and promises more fantastical adventures to come.

Did not take long to read, and I found the setting and characters refreshing, with a 'twist' my son was desperate for me to reach and a satisfying ending. A great read for classrooms with short chapters, strong female characters and lots of action. For an even better way to find KS1 resources, discover tailored suggestions, and much more - visit the KS1 resource HUB! GO TO KS1 HUB A successful juvenile by the beloved New Yorker writer portrays a farm episode with an imaginative twist that makes a poignant, humorous story of a pig, a spider and a little girl. A glorious fast-paced adventure through the jungle. I love Chaya's spirit and determination and the friendships that are built along the way. The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is adventuring at its best; a mystery, a jewel thief, and escape into the jungle with an elephant at your side.” Gill Lewis, author of Sky Hawk The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is an adventure story set in Sri Lanka. We think it is important for children to read books set in various locations – so that they can be aware of just how great and diverse the world is!

Chaya, a no-nonsense, outspoken hero, leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant on a noisy, fraught, joyous adventure through the jungle where revolution is stirring and leeches lurk. Will stealing the queen’s jewels be the beginning or the end of everything for the intrepid gang? With cover illustration by David Dean. There are a lot of beautiful moments sprinkled throughout, and I absolutely love the jungle setting and how Farook pains the picture for us. We learn little bits of information about jungle plants and how the wildlife live. As dangerous as it can be sometimes, it really made me want to explore this jungle myself. This is spoiler-free, but I was pleasantly surprised towards the end of the book about a certain little twist. If you read it, you'll know what I mean.She's mischievous. She's fearless. She's living her life. But she steals! And what we need to know is the reason why she does so and what bigger problems it might be leading to. I love reading Middle-Grade as an adult for many reasons, but the biggest is nostalgia. Some of my favorite formative books are about tweens facing overwhelming obstacles, yet somehow overcoming them. To me, that’s what makes a MG book work. As tweens are facing big changes both inside themselves and the bigger outside world beyond their guardians’ influence, these are the stories that can both encourage and enlighten them most of all. A well-written Middle-Grade novel, like The Girl Who Stole an Elephant doesn’t just transport the reader to another time and place, but challenges them to think. As a grown-up kidlit fan, I don’t face quite the same issues as my younger peers, but I still feel that same sense of adventure, and the same excitement I felt reading these kinds of stories as a tween. I suppose I’ve come quite late to writing, after enjoying it a long time ago during my schooldays. I did have a lifelong dream to be an author, but it was more of a fun thought, not something I realistically expected to happen. When I started to write seriously and aim for publication I didn’t tell anyone. So it was strange that, when I got my book deal and told people about it, nobody seemed very surprised. A lot of people said to me, ‘That was always your thing, wasn’t it?’, even those who haven’t known me that long. So I guess yes, it has always been my thing somehow. What other books or authors have influenced you? The reader can’t help but lose themselves in the vibrant Sri Lankan landscape that the author paints. (Nizarana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka). As the story progresses, the characters personalities really develop.

Chaya is very much an aspirational figure for me. She’s everything I would have found cool and exciting as a child (although not the thief part!). She’s so brave and confident but at the same time highly principled and knows her mind. I would have loved to be her when I was that age. Or if not, at least be her friend. And that’s very much where the character of Nour comes in… Have you always written? For an even better way to find EYFS resources, discover tailored suggestions, and much more - visit the EYFS resource HUB! GO TO EYFS HUBWhen a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day. Chaya, wishing to help her friend get money to recover from his injuries, steal jewels from the Queen. As a result, her best friend gets arrested, a runaway ensues and she befriends the King’s (stolen) elephant. The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is the fantastic debut novel by author, Nizrana Farook. This fast-paced adventure is perfectly suited for use in the Key Stage 2 classroom. in Schools Catalogue 2023–24, 1461 in Education Catalogue 2023–24 and 656 in UK Primary September 2023 Format I also really liked the characters. Chaya is the typical fearless troublemaker with a heart of gold and a fierce loyalty to her friends. Neel is the Hufflepuff, willing to defend his friends and take the blame for anything - even if it costs him his life. And Nour is the clever, rich child - spoilt and cunning, but lonely too, she somehow gets tangled up in Chaya’s adventures just because she has no one else to talk to. Combined they make a great team, and it was nice to see their relationship develop over the course of the novel.