The Elephant Keepers' Children

Book excerpt: “A delightful novel” and international bestseller from the author of Smilla's Sense of Snow (Guardian) Danish siblings search for their missing parents—eccentric ‘miracle-makers’—in this whimsical tale about faith and the magic of everyday life. Told from the precocious perspective of 14-year-old Peter, The Elephant Keepers’ Children is about 3 siblings and how they deal with their eccentric parents. Peter’s father is a vicar, his mother is an artisan. Both are equally and profoundly devout, known for fabricating cheap miracles for the congregation of the only church on Finø. People of all religious faiths coexist peacefully on the island—yet nothing is at it seems. When Peter’s parents suddenly go missing, Peter and his siblings fear the worst—has their parents’ relentless quest to boost church attendance finally put them in danger? Told with poignancy and humor, The Elephant Keepers’ Children is a fascinating exploration of fundamentalism versus spiritual freedom, the vicissitudes of romantic and familial love, and the triumph of the human spirit.