The Ivory Elephant is the story of thirteen-year-old Jabari. He was leading a pretty good life in England with his mom and dad, his best friend Rob, and plenty of videogames, but when Jabari’s parents accept a research position in Africa, his whole world is turned upside down. Jabari winds up in a small village staying with an aunt he’s never met, eating food he’s never heard of, and attempting to make friends with classmates who don’t all speak the same language as him. As Jabari quickly settles into the rhythm of village life, he discovers he enjoys it after all! Bonfire nights and swimming in the river more than make up for not having his Nintendo. But there’s a problem. The river that sustains the village has been drying up, and a visit from a hungry pack of hyenas means that things are only going to get worse. Little does he know, but he’s about to stumble into a mystery generations-in-the-making, and one he’ll have to solve for the future of the village.

This vibrant mystery is a perfect coming-of-age story for middle-grade readers ages 9-12 and explores the concepts of embracing your strengths, building self-confidence, becoming part of a new community, and stepping out of your comfort zone. When Jabari is thrown into a world that is foreign to him and becomes the outsider, he learns how to accept change and tackle challenges, leading to his growth as a person. Gaining a diverse understanding of the world around us and learning how to adapt when faced with change is a crucial part of growing up, and Jabari’s heartwarming adventure is a perfect peek into the process.