A Perfect Friend

I had just finished reading "Water for Elephants."Water for Elephants: A Novel I decided to search for books by Reynolds Price at my local library. One book which my library has that I had never heard of was "A Perfect Friend," a children's chapter book. I checked it out, read it, then bought it for a friend who loves elephants. A Perfect Friend Both books are set in the 1930's and both focus on small circuses touring small towns. I learned a few things in "A Perfect Friend" that I hadn't learned in the more recent book. One of these was the fact that all elephants, male and female, are called bulls by those in the circus -- or at least in the 1930's they were. I am grateful for the serendipity that lead me to Price's book. I recommend both highly. Both are beautifully written. The protagonist in Price's book is 11. I checked the book's readability and an average reader at age 11 ought to be able to read it, or an advanced reader at a younger age. For sure, the tale and message appeal to all ages. Barbara Morgan

In this sweet children's story, Reynolds Price tackles one of life's most difficult subjects, a youngster's loss of a parent. Ben, who is eleven, after the death of his mother is left alone with only his father and a very old dog Hilda for company. And a couple of friends. "He was the only boy in school who had a girl for his best friend, and he could usually smile at Robin's [his cousin] joking. After his mother died, though, Ben's outlook changed; and he went on feeling sad for a long time." Rather than attempt to answer the unaswerable, Mr. Price lets Ben tell his story. And a fine and moving story it is. In this marvelous little tale, Ben prays for an elephant, the animal his mother has taught him to draw. "See, there's really no question at all that elephants are better than people. They always take care of their young, they never kill anything unless they have to, and they talk to each other over miles of distance in voices so deep we can't even hear them." This lad may be onto something here in my favorite passage from the story.The characters are all well drawn and completely believable-- from Ben's friend Dunk to his father who sometimes handles his own grief by getting drunk. Ater all, malt may do more than Milton cab to justify God's ways. . . Ben's grief for his mother and loneliness are palpable. The story, however, never becomes maudlin. Ben copes and survives; and there is not a "grief counselor" within a thousand miles. No one writing today is better with words than Mr. Price. His evocative, concise language is both beautiful and moving. I bet children love this story. This adult certainly did.

It's been a year since Ben's mother died, but he misses her daily. His only consolation is his love for elephants, which his mother loved too - his involvement in the life of a special elephant who has been a survivor brings a bond to both which can heal in this unusual story.