With this enchanting first novel, R.P. Harris plunges readers into Chiang Mai, Thailand, as seen through the eyes of 10-year-old Tua (Thai for "peanut"). Chiang Mai might be a town bustling with crowds of farangs ("creature[s] from a foreign land"), buses and taxis, but Tua knows everyone in the night market by name, and they in turn look after their "little peanut." Tua's tour of the night market is a feast for the senses, with its stalls selling sticky rice and mango, necklaces of white jasmine, and music from a coconut-shell fiddle and bamboo flute.
One night, Tua comes upon an elephant just outside the night market and feels an instant connection. "All Thais love the elephant, from the beloved king in his palace to the monk in his temple; from the baby in the crib to the granny in the hammock.... And Tua... was no exception." She senses that it's unhappy, and follows the elephant. She discovers that its mahouts, the people who are meant to take care of it ("a master mahout becomes one with his elephant"), are mistreating the animal. She hatches a plan to free the elephant, but what then?
Harris invents a resourceful, intelligent heroine who chooses her allies well, and introduces readers to a tight community that aids Tua in her mission but never takes it over. Tua's Auntie Orchid, an actress, makes the ideal confidante for Tua and injects a heavy dose of humor into the proceedings (as a farmer's daughter, Lady Orchid points out the more practical considerations of harboring a pachyderm fugitive). The author gently raises the plight of Asian elephants, which are extremely valuable and often taken from the wild to be exploited for profit. But the crux of the story is the connection between Tua and the elephant, and their bond drives the action. Taeeun Yoo's (The Little Red Fish) gold and purple illustrations in charcoal and linoleum-block print possess the soft, loose feel of pastels. She's as adept at scenes of the marketplace as she is at conveying the intimate connection between Tua and her newfound four-legged friend.
The plentiful artwork, generous white space and short chapters will invite budding readers, and the sprinkling of Thai words make this a strong read-aloud choice. The exotic setting, foods and fragrances will appeal to adventurous readers, and the suspense of the mahouts in hot pursuit of Tua and her elephant keep the pages turning. Little peanut's story offers a little something for everyone. --Jennifer M. Brown
Shelf Talker: This debut novel--with its resourceful 10-year-old heroine, the abused elephant she rescues, and a tightly knit community in Thailand--will cast a spell over readers.