Y'Tin is brave.
No one in his village denies that--his mother may wish that he'd spend
more time on school work than on elephant training, but still she knows
that it takes a great deal of courage and calm to deal with elephants
the way that Y'Tin does. He is almost the best trainer in the
village--and, at twelve-years old, he's certainly the youngest. Maybe
he'll even open up his own school some day to teach other Montagnards
how to train wild elephants? That was the plan anyway--back before
American troops pulled out of the Vietnam War, back before his village
became occupied by Viet Cong forces seeking revenge, back before Y'Tin
watched his life change in a million terrible ways.
Now, his bravery is truly put to the test: he can stay in his village,
held captive by the Viet Cong or he can risk his life (and save his
elephant's) by fleeing into the jungle. The Montagnards know their
surroundings well. After all, this is why Y'Tin's village had become
loyal US allies during the war, having been tapped by Special Forces for
their tracking skills and familiarity with the jungle. But that also
means that Y'Tin knows how unsafe it can be--and how much danger he is
in if he chooses to head out with no destination in mind.
At once heartbreaking and full of hope, Newbery Medal-winning author
Cynthia Kadohata's exploration into the depth of the jungle and the
not-so-distant past brings us close to a world few people know
about--and none will ever forget. Y'Tin's story is one of lasting
friendships, desperate choices and all that we lose when we are forced
to change.
