Lemuria Bookstore Blog

A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata, author of Cracker and Newbery winner for Kira Kira

Thirteen-year-old Y’Tin wants to be an elephant trainer more than anything in the world. His father has given him permission to train Lady, a wild elephant living with his Dega tribe in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. Not long after Y’Tin begins training Lady, the North Vietnamese attack this village. Y’Tin’s world is shattered, the peaceful countryside as he knew it is gone, he must now face the dangerous situations of living in the jungle, and make decisions on his own. Through all of this Y’Tin is determined to keep his dream alive. (Young Adult, ages 10 and up)