Elephant Touch coming September 17th, 2024 from She Writes Press; 160 pages
Content Warning: Discussion of animal cruelty, death of a parent, discussion of drug addiction
About the Author: “Susan R. Greenway, author of Elephant Touch, grew up in California, where she was fortunate to live in a family that loved books, music, and natural beauty. She lives in Washington state with her husband and dog. In addition to reading and writing, Susan also loves being in the mountains or at the ocean. Formerly, Susan was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist, where she discovered her love of children’s books. Elephant Touch is her debut book, inspired by an experience she had with an elephant in Thailand” (Bio from Elephant Touch).
Find Susan R. Greenway on the following platforms:
After the accidental death of her mother, twelve-year-old Quinn is left reeling. Her devoted aunt, Lizzie, decides that a two-week volunteer trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand is exactly what the two of them need to overcome their grief. Though Quinn is initially reluctant to dedicate herself to the physical and emotional labor of caring for these elephants, many of which have suffered abuse and trauma, she quickly begins to see the elephants as a mirror for her own struggles. After a touching encounter with the twenty-year-old elephant Sumana, Quinn starts to understand the beauty of making heartfelt connections. When a young, motherless elephant named Lee Lawa Dee enters the sanctuary, Quinn immediately feels compelled to do everything she can to help her, even if it means breaking a few rules. In helping Lee Lawa Dee rediscover the joy of living, perhaps Quinn can find some happiness of her own.
The middle grade market currently seems to be flooded with books that revolve around dealing with grief. While Elephant Touch is not necessarily unique in its themes, it effectively teaches kids about balancing empathy with their own struggles, simultaneously acknowledging their own pain and the pain of other people (and animals). However, I found it a little irritating that the protagonist constantly wants to be applauded for experiencing basic empathy. She acts like no one else cares about the elephants, even though there are characters who have dedicated their lives to this sanctuary. Despite Quinn’s pick-me attitude, she was a relatively accurate representation of the constant drama and anxiety of being a preteen. Oddly, the book feels aimed towards younger readers rather than preteens, mostly because the author writes as if children are incapable of understanding or looking up longer words. As a result, the prose frequently read like the author was telling the audience information rather than showing them. That is not to say that this book did not have some appealing characteristics, though. Quinn’s interactions with the elephants are by far the strongest, most natural part of the text. It is easy to picture them playing together and forming bonds. Greenway’s descriptions of the activities at the sanctuary also effectively demonstrate how conservation and sustainability efforts work hand in hand. Children who are curious about elephants and enjoy books about coping with difficult feelings will gravitate toward Elephant Touch.
Elephant Touch releases on September 17th, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley, SparkPoint Studio, and She Writes Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Ashley Amacher, Pine Reads Review Assistant Director & Lead Editor