Skip to content

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

Nizrana Farook

Subjects

  • Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun

Average rating

5 out 5

A thrilling debut, rich in the joyous adventure of friendship, flight and righting wrongs. The first of four stories in an electrifying jungle adventure series! Longlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards and the Jhalak Children's & Young Adult Prize, 2021. Waterstones Children's Book of the Month for January 2020. THIEF. REBEL. BANDIT. HERO? Chaya, a no-nonsense, outspoken hero, leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant on a noisy, fraught, joyous adventure through the Sri Lankan jungle where revolution is stirring and leeches lurk. Will stealing the queen's jewels be the beginning or the end of everything for the intrepid gang? Can Chaya leave village a thief but return a hero? Have you read these exhilarating escapades in the series? The Boy Who Met a Whale The Girl Who Lost a Leopard The Boy Who Saved a Bear ""Farook embeds her message in a cracking narrative ... the pace rarely slackens ... a deceptively dense adventure that will appeal to readers well into their teens."" - Emily Bearn, Telegraph ""Atmospheric, full of colour and passion, Farook is a writer to watch."" - Daily Mail ""Positively rustles with the textures of rural Sri Lanka ... an author keen to write a love letter to her culture, and upend preconceptions."" - Observer ""As rich, dazzling and alluring as a pouchful of royal jewels, and as triumphant as a trumpeting elephant!"" - Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs ""Chaya, schoolgirl by day, thief by night, will steal your heart in this incredibly assured debut"" - Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars ""A beautifully paced story of friendship and revolution."" - i

Reviews

avatars/bird.png

Really enjoyed this adventurous story with a strong female protagonist.

AmyE11

avatars/bird.png

I enjoyed reading this book and was glad there was a happy ending! I really enjoyed reading about their escape through the jungle.

JacquiBoyce

avatars/cat-3.png

This is a very exciting story involving a prison break, using an elephant as a getaway vehicle, being on the run through the jungle and meeting a group of bandits. I liked the character of Chaya, although she was very quick to judge others and leap to conclusions. I especially liked Neelan who tried to protect his friends by taking the blame for them. I would recommend this book: as well as being a very enjoyable read, it challenges ideas about right and wrong and also gender stereotypes.

AnnaReads

avatars/cat-3.png

That is the first book I have read that is set in Sri Lanka! Chaya is like a Sri Lankan Robin Hood - she steals from the rich to help the poor and needy. However, when she steals some of the Queen's jewels, things go horribly wrong and she ends up on the run in the jungle with a death sentence hanging over her. Aimed at confident yr4+

Hutch2

avatars/bird-2.png

A fun adventure story with lots of very tense action scenes. Chaya is a great character, a brave, smart but sometimes reckless girl with a strong sense of morality. This book touches on inequality and social injustice in interesting ways but the payoff is slightly underwhelming.

norathurkle

avatars/bird.png

This story feels like a retelling of Robin Hood but set on an exotic island. Chaya steals from the rich to help the poor villagers of her island which is ruled over by a tyrannical King. She usually manages to get away without being noticed but when she steals the Queen’s jewels it sets off a series of events that lead her and her best friend Neel into danger and a plot to overthrow the King. I didn’t find this book very satisfying as the plot and resolution are extremely implausible. Additionally, the dialogue in parts feels inauthentic i.e., with adults addressing the children as “guys”. The lush landscape is well described. This story will probably be enjoyed by younger primary aged readers who have progressed through the shorter free-readers but who have not yet moved on to more complex well developed adventure stories.

KatieLoo2

avatars/bird.png

An incredible story about a modern day Robin Hood! A girl steals to save those she cares about.

MizzyFry

avatars/bird-2.png

A Robin Hood type story, this book was exciting. The main characters Chaya, Neel and Nour were likeable and I wanted them to succeed in their quest to free their community. I would definitely recommend this book if you like suspense, adventure and a story about friendship.

Melarny13

avatars/cat.png

A great adventure about friendship and bravery.

ClareH

avatars/bird.png

An enjoyable fiction book set in Sri Lanka that tells a story of friendship, fighting for rights of all. Changa the Jewel thief is like Robin Hood, steals from the rich to help the poor. Lovely cultural differences explored and the jungle, animals and tribes all add to this exciting story

sean23_e

avatars/bird.png

A great book with a girl as the hero.

MrsMcMurdo

avatars/bird.png

Great opening, had children hooked. Plot was a great pace so kept moving along well. Characters are strong and sense of justice throughout

CMS1975

avatars/cat.png

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant – a real page turner which is guaranteed to have even the most reluctant reader hooked from the start! The main character, Chaya, is a courageous young heroine who makes so many awful decisions, yet all for the right reasons. She can be likened to a modern day Robin Hood: stealing from the rich to provide for the poor. Throughout the story, Chaya’s antics cause her lots of trouble! Will she successfully escape the realm of the palace after daring to steal the queen’s jewels? Will she be able to rescue her best friend from prison? With the help of the king’s elephant, Chaya embarks on an exciting expedition through Sri Lanka’s jungle – a heart-warming journey filled with culture, trickery, blossoming friendship and of course, adventure! The author, Nizrana Farook, was born and raised in Sri Lanka herself. The beautiful landscape she calls home is intertwined so effortlessly – powerful imagery oozes from every page which really brings the story alive!

SLONGNEY

avatars/bird.png

An exciting and fast-paced adventure that starts with thrilling action from the first page. The tropical rainforest setting really comes to life within this tale of fighting for what is right.

philc1987

avatars/bird.png

I loved the setting and well developed characters. The jungle adventure captured my imagination, tense from beginning to end.

FraserReadingTeach

avatars/bird-2.png

I enjoyed this story of a thief who steals to help the people in her village. I liked Chaya's fierceness, Neel's loyalty and Noor's determination to overcome her fears. I would recommend this to children who like an adventure story with a group of friends.

KirstenF

avatars/cat.png

I really enjoyed this beautifully captivating story about a girl who goes on an adventure with her friends. I initially found Chaya's Robin Hood-like mindset irritating, but my opinion changed as the story gradually developed. Her outspokenness, bold and brave characteristics make her an appealing character to young girls.

Soojungiee

avatars/cat-3.png

I loved this book. Full of excitement and you get attached to the characters.

MissRussell21

avatars/cat.png

A wonderful adventure that excites throughout through the friendships that exist and form, the challenges faced and the family bonds that push the characters to the very edge. A wonderful insight into the landscape of Sri Lanka through the adventure that ensues.

lpwoolner

avatars/cat-2.png

Very similar style to the firework makers daughter but still a good read. Empowering female roles.

Bex72

Back to top