Synopses & Reviews
The Copper Elephant is the riveting story of 11-year-old Whensday, who lives in The Shelf, a postapocalyptic world of nonstop poisonous rain ruled by the ruthless Aston Loe and his Syndicate men. Whensday is saved from the slave labor of the Pits by a coffin maker who intends to sell her to a childless matron from Top Town. Whensday flees into the Bone Trees. There she meets two other "undertwelves" - Oakley and Honeycut - and, banding together, they learn about love, strength, loss, and survival. The Copper Elephant is surreal, full of compelling action and memorable characters. As in his previous novel, The Buffalo Tree, Adam Rapp's language is original, vivid, and powerful.
Review
"Whensday's distinctive voice, a blend of childish grammar, euphemisms and lyric imagery … cushions the horror … Rapp, a playwright and author of the acclaimed young-adult novels Missing the Piano and The Buffalo Tree, has crafted a haunting and original work that, like The Handmaid's Tale, closes with at least a glimmer of hope for the human spirit." — Washington Post
Review
Book World "Rapp's use of language is masterful ... this raw-voiced story is both distinctive and unique, with Rapp's grim vision brilliantly executed. The fine writing and Whensday's refusal to give in to despair will resonate with thoughtful readers." — Booklist "The matter-of-fact first-person narrative is intense ... While the subject matter is wretched, Rapp's "future speak" becomes almost melodic while describing events, feelings, and actions that are raw, searing, violent, and frightening ... there is a positive message: despite all odds, survival, even in these worst of circumstances, is possible." — School Library Journal
Review
"This raw-voiced story is both distinctive and unique, with Rapp's grim vision brilliantly executed." --Booklist
Review
"This is deftly and convincingly constructed, and young adults who read for the pleasures of darkness will find it grimly satisfying." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis
“I got lucky cause I’m small.” Eleven-year-old Whensday Bluehouse knows that this is why Tick Burrowman chose her. The old coffinmaker saved her from slave labor, but Whensday’s fate in the toxic wasteland called the Shelf is uncertain. In a post-apocalyptic world, Whensday learns about love, loss, and survival.
Synopsis
The Copper Elephant is the riveting story of 11-year-old Whensday, who lives in the Shelf, a toxic wasteland of nonstop poisonous rain ruled by the ruthless Aston Loe and his Syndicate men. Rescued from slave labor to be sold to a childless matron from Top Town, Whensday flees into the Bone Trees, where she meets other renegade "undertwelves"--Oakley Brownhouse and Honeycut. This unlikely trio bands together and learns about love, strength, loss, and survival.
About the Author
Adam Rapp is a playwright and author of two previous young adult novels. Missing the Piano was named a Best book for Young Adults as well as a Best Book for Reluctant Readers by the American Library Association. His second novel, The Buffalo Tree, was named a Best Book of 1997 by School Library Journal. His theatrical work has been produced and developed by the New York Theatre Workshop, Steppenwolf Theater Company, New York Shakespeare Festival, and The Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference. He lives in New York City.