Reviews: Elephant Tears
“An action-packed journey for young adults through the trials and triumphs of wildlife conservation in the African bush.” Dr. Delia and Mark Owens, Zoologists Authors of the bestselling Cry of the Kalahari and The Eye of the Elephant and the National Geographic film, African Odyssey
Children’s Bookwatch
Richard Trout’s Elephant Tears: Mask of the Elephant is a thriller adventure novel set in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, moves across the wild game parks of East Africa, and ends up at the seaport of exotic Mombasa, when the three MacGregor kids, their mother, and their zoologist father are in search of ivory poachers. Superbly researched and written Elephant Tears is one of those infrequent novels for young readers that are so easy to pick up, and so hard to put down! Also highly recommended is Trout’s first adventure novel featuring the MacGregors, Cayman Gold: Lost Treasure of Devils Grotto. James Cox, Editor-In-Chief
KLIATT • Journal for Librarians • September 2000
“….the author weaves an exciting adventure while stressing the importance of protecting the earth’s dwindling resources and endangered animals. It is a powerful, enlightening novel that remains exciting without being didactic.” Sherri Forgash Ginsberg, Duke School for Children, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kid’s Books • Northwest Metro Times • August 2000
“Trout’s ‘Elephant Tears Will Grab Kids’ Attention”
How does being chased by a mamba (while in a Land Rover), being rescued by a giant secretary bird, having a tire blown out because of a shot from a .375 double rifle, being attacked by wild dogs, spending the night in a Baobab tree and being saved by a group of Samburu warriors grab you for an exciting adventure? Well, that is what is in store for you in Chapter 1 from this great African adventure book, “Elephant Tears.” And there are 17 more chapters. Once again we are following the MacGregor family with Jack and Mavis and their children, Chris, Heather, and Ryan, or R.O. as he prefers. This time they are in East Africa in Kenya where Dr. MacGregor, a noted zoologist, is working with the Kenya Wildlife Service in helping them assess the big game population to see if their efforts, along with the rest of the world, have helped maintain a strong animal population.
However, there are sinister forces at work here. There is still a lot of money to be made on the black market selling ivory, lion skins and skulls, and other exotic animal skins. And there are those in responsible positions within the Kenyan government who are willing to sacrifice the animals for their own personal monetary gain.
All these things and more are at work in this action-filled thriller set in the plains of East Africa. This is a book you will want to read for the excitement factor as well as gaining a lot of insight into the problems of wildlife survival. I certainly enjoyed it, and I think you will also. And yes, there are elephant tears. Dale Knowles
