An Elephant for the Emperor

About this book

When a young elephant is captured as a gift for the emperor Charlemagne, he becomes the centre of an unfolding adventure involving two boys from very different backgrounds. Farouk is the spoiled, impetuous son of a wealthy merchant from Damascus and Hudayn is a talented but homeless orphan working as a cleaner in Baghdad. 

By a twist of fate, the pair find themselves escorting the elephant all the way to northern Europe as part of a diplomatic mission set by Caliph Haroun Al-Rashid. Along the way they overcome adversity and danger to develop lifelong friendships with each other and with the mischievous elephant Abul Abbas.

This is a fantastic adventure set on a grand scale while remaining accessible and pacey. The story takes place during the Islamic Golden Age and readers are immersed in the culture of the period as we follow the boys’ epic journey. The characters feel well drawn and as they travel over years, they begin to understand themselves and to develop as individuals in a satisfying way. The cheeky elephant Abul Abbas is a brilliant character too. Even though his story is initially sad, he goes on to live a happy life in his new home with his new best friend Farouk.

A gripping historical adventure perfect for middle grade readers.