While ten-year-old Tua is wandering around her local market in Thailand, she stumbles into an area where she has never been. It is here that she comes across a beautiful creature who needs her help. Pohn-Pohn is an elephant living under deplorable conditions, and it is up to Tua to rescue him from his heartless captors. Soon Tua and Pohn-Pohn are on the run, trying their best to escape the bad guys, and finding help in some very unusual, and at times comical, places. In the middle of this amazing adventure, the two find in each other what they each really needed--a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

Tua and the Elephant is a true gem of a book that reads like a children's classic. Tua is a lovable, independent, and brave character. Without much adult supervision, she sees a wrong and decides to right it herself. Set against the backdrop of Thailand, this is truly a magical adventure that sucks you right into the story. The author does touch upon some real and serious issues: animals are abused (prior to the story), and some people live in severe poverty. However, these issues are handled in an age-appropriate manner, and give this charming novel some added depth. Tua's glamourous Aunt Orchid, an especially amusing character, is one of the people who help her. Animal lovers will especially enjoy this heart-lifting tale of the brave girl who saved one remarkable elephant. It is completely wholesome and appropriate for even the youngest tween, and would be a fantastic read aloud.

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