âEach plotline has something in it to challenge readers . . . Cliffhangers and elephants will keep readers engagedââfrom the award-winning author (Kirkus Reviews).
We Bought a Zoo meets Jurassic Park in a gripping story featuring the evergreen appeal of human-animal friendships and set in an elephant sanctuary, about a thirteen-year-old girl, a cast of elephants, and a surprising new arrivalâa woolly mammoth.
Sam was born and raised in an elephant sanctuary. When a beloved elephant dies giving birth, Sam develops a connection with baby Woollyâwho isnât actually an elephant but was cloned from woolly mammoth DNA. And the billionaire genius behind the cloning experiment will stop at nothing to protect his investment. Smart, determined, and loving, Sam stands up to this powerful adversary to protect the sanctuary and her herd. In the best tradition of child-animal friendship stories, Elephant Secret explores the strong and complex bond between Sam and her elephants while offering a fascinating, authentic glimpse into elephantâand humanâbehavior.
âWaltersâ depiction of the bond that exists between Sam and her elephants is captivating. The elephants, who are presented as majestic and intelligent creatures with humanlike characteristics and rich emotional lives, will leave readers awestruck.â âSchool Library Journal
âWalters interweaves his beautiful family story with a thorough description of elephant behaviorâtheir intellect, compassion, and loyaltyâand factual scientific possibilities of cloning an extinct species . . . A must-read for anyone with an interest in elephants and their welfare.â âBooklist
âWalters packs in numerous details about these magnificent and highly intelligent creatures while raising complex ethical questions regarding humansâ relationship with animals.â âPublishers Weekly