Water for elephants

Jacob Jankowski becomes orphaned and has no way of supporting himself so he hops a train. He joins a second rate circus, taking care of the animals. It is at the circus that he meets and becomes involved with Marlena, a beautiful star of the equestrian act. She is married to the cruel animal trainer. Jacob learns to train an elephant named Rosie that seemed untrainable.

2007
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill