The Great Elephant Chase facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Gillian Cross |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's historical fictionw |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
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Publication date
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1992 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 193 |
| Awards | Whitbread Children's Book Award Nestlé Smarties Book Prize |
| ISBN | 978-0-19-271672-9 |
| OCLC | 473575350 |
The Great Elephant Chase is an exciting adventure novel for young readers, written by British author Gillian Cross in 1992. This book won two big awards: the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Whitbread Children's Book Award. The story takes place in 1881 and follows two teenagers, Tad and Cissie, on an amazing journey across America with an elephant named Khush. The book is mostly told from Tad's point of view, but it also includes letters Cissie writes to her friend Ketty, who they are trying to reach.
The novel was also published in the United States. There, it was called The Great American Elephant Chase.
Contents
The Story of the Great Elephant Chase
Tad's Difficult Life Changes
Tad Hawkins is a 15-year-old boy living in Markle, a mining town in Pennsylvania. After his mother passed away, his aunt took him in. She treats him like an unpaid helper. Tad often feels bossed around by his aunt, Mr. Jackson (a lodger), and Esther (hired help).
One day, Tad's life changes completely. He joins a crowd going to see a traveling elephant show. He sees the elephant keeper, Michael Keenan, perform a "miracle cure" on a young girl. Tad then spots Esther and Mr. Jackson in the crowd. To avoid them, he hides inside the elephant's trailer.
Before he can get out, Khush, the elephant, is loaded into the trailer. Tad finds himself on his way to another town! Michael Keenan soon discovers Tad. Tad learns that the "cured" girl is actually Keenan's younger daughter, Cissie. Keenan offers Tad a job caring for Khush. This job keeps Tad from telling anyone about the trick. Tad quickly grows to love life with Khush and the Keenans.
A Dangerous Journey Begins
However, Tad is not the only one who knows about the trick. Mr. Jackson and Esther are following the Keenans. Tragedy strikes when a train crash kills Keenan and his older daughter, Olivia, on their way to Pittsburgh.
Mr. Jackson arrives, claiming he bought Khush for $500. He shows papers to prove it. Cissie, now the only surviving Keenan, insists the papers are fake. She says Khush belongs to her. So, Cissie, Tad, and Khush begin a long journey west. They are heading towards Nebraska, to the home of Ketty, a friend from the traveling show. Mr. Jackson and Esther are still chasing them.
A kind old man helps them on their way. He disguises Cissie as a boy. He also gives them a boat to sail down the Ohio River with Khush.
Challenges on the River
Khush does not like being in the small flatboat. A few days into their trip, he throws himself and Tad into the river. After they are reunited, Cissie starts to share how sad she is about her father and sister's deaths.
The three travelers find a short rest in a small religious community. This group has heard about Mr. Jackson's claim to Khush. The community leaders agree to help Tad, Cissie, and Khush reach the large port of Cairo. But only if Khush shows he wants to go with the two young people. Khush follows them into the hold of a coal barge, and so they continue down the river.
Khush again becomes restless in the dark, cramped space. He rocks the barge, forcing the Captain to make them get off 200 miles from Cairo.
Close Calls and New Hope
After walking most of the way to the port, Tad leaves Cissie and Khush to rest. He goes ahead by himself. In Cairo, Mr. Jackson and Esther catch him. They try to get information from him. They trick Tad into leading them to where Cissie and Khush should have been. Luckily, Cissie and the elephant have already left. They were eager to reach Ketty in Nebraska. Tad stalls Mr. Jackson and Esther. He then rushes to try and catch up with his friends.
Cissie manages to get passage for herself and Khush on a large boat. Tad, hiding on their pursuers' boat, gets help from a friendly woman traveling in the same direction. Tad sees a sign on the riverbank. It tells him that Cissie and Khush have secretly gotten off the boat. He goes ashore to meet them, leaving Esther and Mr. Jackson sailing past their targets.
Reaching Ketty's Home
The friends are happy to be together again. Cissie tells Tad they are now in Nebraska and close to Ketty's house. However, the plains are empty, with little water for Khush to drink. There is also nowhere to hide from their pursuers. Khush becomes impatient and grumpy as they get closer to Ketty's home.
They arrive just as Esther and Mr. Jackson catch up. Mr. Jackson again claims Khush is his. But Ketty reveals a big secret: the papers Mr. Jackson has are real, but Keenan could not have sold Khush because she owns him! Mr. Jackson tries to convince Ketty and her husband to sell him the elephant. When she refuses, he and Esther finally leave in a rage.
Cissie is upset that Khush belongs to Ketty. She had planned to sell Khush and give the money to Ketty. This way, Cissie could stay in Nebraska with her. Tad convinces Cissie that Ketty will welcome her no matter what. Ketty sees how much Tad and the elephant care for each other. She then makes Tad Khush's keeper in exchange for a share of the elephant's earnings.
