Evie and Rhino
Neridah McMullin, Astred Hicks (illus.)
Evie and Rhino
Neridah McMullin, Astred Hicks (illus.)
Shortlisted for The Readings Children's Prize 2023
A young girl with a tragic past and a rhinoceros facing life in captivity form an unlikely and magical bond after a fateful storm and a shipwreck bring them together. A moving tale about love, connection and the healing power of friendship.
On a stormy night off the coast of southern Australia, a ship transporting a cargo of exotic animals tosses and turns in enormous seas. Rhino senses they are in grave danger…
Not far away, ten-year-old Evie and her grandfather shelter in their crumbling, once-grand old home. They know too well how deadly storms can be. When all is calm, Evie treks over the dunes to the sea and makes a discovery that will change her life, and Rhino’s, forever.
Will the tragedies of their pasts finally be put to rest?
Review
Athina Clarke
Set in 1891, this enchanting story was inspired by a real event: the stranding of a steamship and its cargo of exotic animals, bound for the Royal Melbourne Zoo. What actually happened is well documented but Neridah McMullin reimagines history into a captivating tale of a young rhinoceros and his rescue and care by the kind and gentle Evie.
Evie’s discovery of the shipwrecked Rhino is a salve to her wounded spirit, her interminable, silent grief over the loss of her parents. By pushing her personal woes aside to care for Rhino, she nurses her own injured soul. The gentle Rhino seems to find a kindred spirit in Evie; there’s an unspoken understanding and a deep, unbreakable bond between them.
I cared deeply for these two incredibly endearing characters whose fates are inextricably linked. Rhino’s multiple escapades made me laugh out loud and the seemingly insurmountable challenge they face brought me to tears. The writing is beautiful, the sentiments profound; the restorative love possible between human and beast shines a beacon of hope throughout this unforgettable tale. This perceptive and poignant story of hope and ultimately joy will strike a chord with independent readers ages 9+.
Athina Clarke is from Readings Malvern
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