9. Water for Elephants

Gruen, Sara. Water for Elephants.  Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2007. Print.

Annotation: 

During the Depression, a traveling circus, a stubborn elephant and a beautiful equestrian all become a part of putting Jacob Jankowski’s life back together and forcing him to look within himself and heal.

Justification for Nomination:

Water for Elephants is an engrossing page turner that tells the story of Jacob Jankowski.  Water for Elephants switches back and forth between 1930 to present day, where 90-year-old Jacob is now in a nursing home, miserable and alone.  In 1930, Jacob is 23-year-old and one exam away from graduating veterinary school when he learns that his parents are killed in an accident.  Heartbroken, alone and penniless during the Depression, Jacob decides to hop a train.  Unbeknownst to him, the train contains the traveling circus, Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth.  When Jacob is discovered, they learn of his vet experience and he’s put in charge of the circus animals.  It is here where Jacob is introduced to Rosie, an elephant no one has ever been able to train.  The unlikely bond between Jacob and Rosie is like no other.  In addition to the mini storylines of all of Sara Gruen’s authentically freakish and lovable characters of the circus, she also writes a beautifully brave and vulnerable character in Marlena, the circus’s stunning equestrian.  Over time, Jacob falls in love with Marlena, who also happens to be married to the ring leader of the circus. 

Upon seeing out his window that a circus is being set up, a 90-year-old Jacob forgets about how much he hates being in the nursing home and reflects fondly of his time spent being a part of the Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth.  Ultimately, Water for Elephants is a story of love:  a love between Jacob and Marlena and a love between Jacob and Rosie.  Jacob, Marlena, and Rose are learning about themselves and one another along the way, as well as looking for acceptance in society, and most importantly, love.

Water for Elephants has the appeal and developmental resonance to be worthy of being a nominee.  Water for Elephants will resonate with young adolescents and adults alike.  Jacob’s plight to figure out what to do with his life and himself comes all too quickly for him when his parents are killed.  Jacob has his whole life laid out in front of him one minute and upon learning the death of his parents, that plan is shattered.  In a split second, he makes a decision to hop a train and run away from his no longer existent life.  He has no plan.  But, after joining the circus, he must start over and figure out his life, his identity and where he fits into society.  Being a part of the circus, Jacob learns the dark side of humanity, but he also learns about acceptance and love. 

Gruen’s talent as a storyteller is one that will engage and appeal to a great array of age ranges.  Gruen did extensive research for Water for Elephants.  She based some of her scenes on real events which she gathered from circus archives.  The treatment of circus performers – people and animals alike – was poor and Gruen wanted to include that in her book.  Finally, Water for Elephants is a catchy title and gets its name from a story told by an old man at the nursing home.  Jacob overhears this man telling a group of ladies how he used to work a circus.  His job was to get the water for the elephants.  Jacob mocks the man, telling him that that is not true, that carrying water for elephants would physically be impossible as the buckets would be too heavy to carry.  As if everybody would (or should) know that. 

Genre Category: Search for Identity, Romance, 2007 Alex Award Winner