Singing with Elephants by Engle, Margarita

A powerful novel in verse from Newbery and Pura Belpré Award-winning author Margarita Engle about the friendship between a young girl and the poet Gabriela Mistral that leads to healing and hope for both of them.

Cuban-born eleven-year-old Oriol lives in Santa Barbara, California, where she struggles to belong. But most of the time that's okay, because she enjoys helping her parents care for the many injured animals at their veterinary clinic.

Then Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature moves to town, and aspiring writer Oriol finds herself opening up. And when she discovers that someone is threatening the life of a baby elephant at her parents' clinic, Oriol is determined to take action. As she begins to create a world of words for herself, Oriol learns it will take courage and strength to do what she thinks is right--even if it means keeping secrets from those she loves.

A beautifully written, lyrically told story about the power of friendship--between generations, between humans and animals--and the potential of poetry to inspire action, justice, and acceptance.

* "Replete with lovely, nearly magical imagery...Brilliant, joyful, and deeply moving." -Kirkus, starred review

* "Employing immersive free verse that conveys themes of compassion, friendship, justice, and vulnerability, Engle captures how inexplicable Oriol's grief feels, encasing it in a powerful, charitable, and brave young voice." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "A novel written in verse that sings in your heart." -Pura Belpré Award-winning author Marjorie Agosín


Author: Margarita Engle
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/31/2022
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.57lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.80w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780593206690
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 6.6
Point Value: 2
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 515554 / Singing with Elephants


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2022
Publishers Weekly 04/11/2022
Booklist 05/15/2022 pg. 57
Shelf Awareness 06/10/2022
School Library Journal 06/24/2022 pg. 1
BookPage 05/01/2022

About the Author
Margarita Engle (she/her) is the Cuban American author of many books, including the verse novels Your Heart, My Sky; Rima's Rebellion; Newbery Honor winner The Surrender Tree; and Forest World. Her verse memoirs include Soaring Earth and Enchanted Air, the latter of which received the Pura Belpré Award and a Walter Dean Myers Honor, and was a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, among other honors. Her picture books include Drum Dream Girl, Dancing Hands, and The Flying Girl. Visit her at MargaritaEngle.com.