by Kate DiCamillo
Flap Copy description:
When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her?
The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (An elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that Peter can hardly dare to believe it.
My thoughts:
The author, Kate DiCamillo, is truly a storyteller extraordinaire. Rather than be constrained by the writing status quo - the author tenaciously spins her tale, The Magician's Elephant, in her own heart-felt style. Each character is developed with such detail and with such a unique voice - that upon completing the reading of this story, I had to remind myself that the magician had not really caused an elephant to appear! A true treasure for readers of all ages to enjoy.
(Ms. DiCamillo won the Newbery Medal in 2004 for her book: The Tale of Despereaux.)
