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This lovely novel of historical fiction takes place in Belfast, Ireland during World War Two, where we find our 20-year old protagonist, Hettie, escorting a 3-year old elephant from the shipyard to the zoo. Hettie has landed her dream job as a zookeeper, a position usually filled by men. She desperately wants to have Violet the elephant under her watch, which benevolent zoo director Mr. Wright eventually bestows her. The war looms all around with rumors swirling about whether the Germans will bomb Belfast or not. All the while, Hettie lives under the oppressive regime of her mother's iron grip on their household. She sneers at Hettie's dream of caring for the animals at the zoo. Hettie's desire to care and be cared for lands her in the arms of a few male suitors, most of which are not up to the task of caring for such a strong-willed young woman.
Walsh writes all of this with elegance and grace, and creates a cinematic landscape with a bustling city filled with life, music, and passion. When the horrors of the war finally encroach the city limits, normalcy is flipped on its head and Hettie's life will not be the same afterwards. Hettie's relationship with Violet the elephant is beautiful in its simplicity. Her other relationships with her mother and the men in her orbit are not so simple, most of which will leave emotional scars on Hettie's heart, but not Violet. Their bond is elemental and enjoyable to witness. Readers will be rooting for them to the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it. I would give this novel 5 stars.
