Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen

This book is different from anything I've read in awhile, both in plot and characters. It tells the tale of a Depression-era young man who decides to skip town after a family tragedy, and finds himself stowing away on a circus train, where he becomes the vetrinarian for the exotic animals. Along the way he meets characters just as exotic as the animals, and even more engaging.

I wasn't as smitten with the ending as I was with the rest of the book, but it wasn't enough to change my opinion about the book as a whole. Water for Elephants grabs you right away, and takes you down the tracks for a wild ride. It's definitely worth a read!