When Elephants Fight

by Eric Walters, Adrian Bradbury

Overview

When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. This ancient proverb of the Kikuyu people, a tribal group in Kenya, Africa, is as true today as when the words were first spoken, perhaps thousands of years ago. Its essence is simplicity: when the large fight, it is the small who suffer most. And when it comes to war, the smallest, the most vulnerable, are the children. When Elephants Fight presents the stories of five children from five very different and distinct conflicts. Along with these very personal accounts, the book also offers brief analyses of the history and geopolitical issues that are the canvas on which these conflicts are cast. When Elephants Fight is about increasing awareness. For the future to be better than the past, better than the present, we must help equip our children with an awareness and understanding of the world around them and their ability to bring about change. Gandhi stated, "If you are going to change the world, start with the children."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554697779
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	10 - 17 Years

About the Author

Eric Walters began writing in 1993 as a way to entice his grade five students into becoming more interested in reading and writing. At the end of the year, one student suggested that he try to have his story published. Since that first creation, Eric’s novels have all become best-sellers and have won over eighty awards. Often his stories incorporate themes that reflect his background in education and social work and his commitment to humanitarian and social-justice issues. He is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 70,000 students per year in schools across the country. Eric lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with his wife and three children.
Adrian Bradbury is the co-founder and director of GuluWalk, a foundation dedicated to supporting the abandoned children of northern Uganda. He is also the founder and director of Athletes for Africa, a charitable organization that uses the power and profile of sport to educate and engage Canadians in Africa's fight against poverty, famine and disease. Bradbury’s writing on northern Uganda has appeared in both the National Post and Uganda’s Daily Monitor, and for the continuing efforts of GuluWalk he earned a 2005 Planet Africa award and was recognized as a ‘Newsmaker of the Year’ by Maclean's magazine. He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife Kim and their two sons Isaac and Owen. For more information please visit www.guluwalk.com.

Read an Excerpt

There has never been a war fought that was started by children—or one that failed to harm them. Children are the grass beneath the feet of the men, the tribes, the armies and the nations engaged in armed conflict. Regardless of the winner—and there is a strong case to be made that war produces no winners—the children always suffer.

Editorial Reviews

"A comprehensive, yet concise, history of the conflicts or wars immediately following each child's story...An eye-opening perspective that is valuable to readers of all ages."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"The writing is accessible, and the kids' stories are compelling. The many photographs of children and landscapes help contextualize their stories."

The Horn Book Guide

"Worth the effort of media specialists and teachers to get it into the hands of students...This would be an excellent supplemental text for a high school geography or world civilization program. Highly Recommended."

Library Media Connection

"This outstanding book...is a recommended purchase for all middle and high school libraries. It is an interesting and powerful read that will appeal to the student interest in global issues, or anyone with an interest in children's rights."

Resource Links

"It should be mandatory reading! Highly, highly recommended."

Tucson Unified School District

"[Walters and Bradbury] provide a thoughtful historical and political analysis to assist young readers - along with many an older reader understandably confused by world events - in seeing how these conflicts arise… The tales provide a fresh and vibrant voice that needs to be heard."

Quill & Quire

"A solid vehicle for discussions about the effects of war on children... Highly recommended."

CM Magazine

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Manitoba Middle Years Association

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