The Elephant Girl - James Patterson

Jama is a clever and sensitive young Maasai girl who likes elephants better than people.She decides to escape the classroom gossip about the new boy, Leku, by going to the watering hole outside her village. There, she befriends a baby elephant that she names Mbegu.When Mbegu's mother, frightened by poachers, stampedes, Jama and Mbegu are blamed for two deaths - one elephant and one human. Now Leku, whose mysterious and imposing father is the head ranger at the conservancy, may be their only lifeline.A beautiful, heart-pounding story of a girl, an elephant, and their life-changing friendship.