The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
A Review of a Modern Classic in Children's Literature
Sep 7, 2009
Children's author Kate DiCamillo who is best known for her Newbery Honor book Because of Winn Dixie, and her book The Tale of Despereaux the 2003 Newbery Medal Winner and recently adapted movie, has a new modern, magical fairytale, The Magician's Elephant, that certainly makes her a contender for this year's Newbery award.
A Story of Magic and Mayhem
The ten-year-old hero of the tale is introduced to us by opting to spend bread money on a fortuneteller that has appeared in the town square. The seer's prophecy seems far-fetched - an elephant will lead Peter to his sister, whom he has long thought dead - but Peter immediately feels the truth of the woman's statement and his faith and hope that his sister is alive and will be reunited with him cannot be deterred. A strange invocation at a magic show brings the elephant into the story - and the potential for the siblings to meet.
Although the searching-for-one-lost premise may not be entirely new, DiCamillo's writing is fluid and moody and creates a level of tension that keeps the tale from being stale. There are no huge plot surprises and things proceed as the reader expects based on the set-up but the lack of gimmicks within the story is what lends it such credence. The most stunning thing about the tale is DiCamillo's command of the allegory to make the reader feel the truths of the dichotomies of life.
Young readers will be especially affected by the roles of The Magician and the patron, Madam Bettine LaVaughn, whom the elephant maims. Their routine, nightly exchange is heart-rendingly sad and makes crystal clear on an emotional level what no parent or teacher can explain in plain language.
Although the book is quite short, more a novella than a novel, and does not contain deep character studies, the players that move throughout the tale are charming, quirky and leave the reader wondering about them long after the last page is turned.
From Book Design to the Big Screen
As if the tale couldn't stand on its own if it were printed on toilet paper, Candlewick Press has gone to the trouble of creating a lovely book design. The typeset and the illustrations by Yoko Tanaka, are just as moody as the writing. Just thumbing through the book the reader can feel the magical story that is within.
It will be no surprise that the book has already been optioned for a film and it will surely be an easy job for Martin Hynes who is slated to write and direct the screenplay for Fox. There will be little re-write required since DiCamillo's writing is already very visual and atmospheric and silence will surely pervade the movie as a quiet stillness pervades the book.
Ultimately a book full of hope, readers will find DiCamillo's ability to make the human condition felt fresh and exciting. The combination will surely allow The Magician's Elephant to endure as classic children's literature.
The Magician's Elephant is recommended for 8-13-year-olds but older readers and adults will certainly be charmed by both the story and DiCamillo's incredible writing.
Kate DiCamillo's Bibliography:
Because of Winn-Dixie, Newbery Honor book
The Tiger Rising, National Book Award finalist
The Tale of Despereaux, 2003 Newbery Medal winner
The Mercy Watson series (Mercy Watson To the Rescue; Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride; Mercy Watson Fights Crime; Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise; Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig; Mercy Watson: Something Wonky this Way Comes)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, winner of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award
The Magician's Elephant
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