For children navigating complex family legacies and the heavy weight of grief, this magical story explores courage, self-discovery, and the power of ancient family magic.
A parent should reach for this book when their child is navigating the complex emotions of losing a grandparent or close family member. House of Elephants follows eleven-year-old Marisol, who, reeling from the death of her abuela, moves with her family to their ancestral home in Puerto Rico. There, she discovers her family’s ancient, magical duty: helping spirits of the dead cross over. This beautifully written story blends a spooky mystery with a heartfelt exploration of grief, family legacy, and cultural identity. For ages 8-12, it offers a magical and hopeful lens through which to process loss, showing children that the love of family, both living and ancestral, is a powerful and enduring force.
A malevolent ghost haunts the family, with several suspenseful and frightening encounters.
Sensitive Topics
The central theme is grief over a grandparent's death, which is handled directly, tenderly, and is the emotional core of the story. The approach to the afterlife involves a specific, culturally-rooted magical system of helping spirits, rather than a religious one. The resolution is deeply hopeful, emphasizing that memory and love keep our connections to the deceased alive and strong. Family secrets and intergenerational trauma are also explored.
Ideal Reader
A sensitive 9 to 12-year-old reader who enjoys magical realism and spooky-but-not-terrifying stories. It is perfect for a child processing the death of a loved one, especially a grandparent, who needs a narrative that acknowledges the pain of grief while offering a path toward hope and connection. Also excellent for children exploring their Latine heritage.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared for conversations about death, grief, and ghosts. Some scenes with the primary antagonist, the Woman in the Black Veil, are genuinely spooky and might be too intense for very sensitive readers. Previewing a chapter where she appears would be a good idea. The story can be read cold, but framing it as a magical adventure about family love can help set the tone. A parent has noticed their child struggling with sadness or anxiety after a family death. The child might be asking difficult questions about what happens after we die or expressing a deep sense of loss, and the parent is looking for a story to help open a conversation in a gentle, fantastical way.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will likely focus on the magical house, the ghost-hunting adventure, and the mystery plot. An older reader (10-12) will more deeply appreciate the nuances of Marisol’s grief, the weight of her family legacy, and the exploration of her Dominican and Puerto Rican identity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books on grief that remain in the real world, this one uses a vibrant magical realism rooted in Caribbean culture to transform the experience. It externalizes the internal process of grief into a tangible, magical quest, which is incredibly empowering for a young reader. Its specific cultural grounding in a Dominican-American family living in Puerto Rico provides a rich, unique setting that is still universally relatable.
Read plot summary
Following the death of her beloved grandmother, eleven-year-old Dominican-American Marisol moves with her mother and sisters to the family's ancestral home in Puerto Rico. She discovers the Casa de Elefantes is alive with magic and that she is meant to inherit the family's gift of helping spirits pass on. However, a malevolent ghost known as the Woman in the Black Veil is haunting the house, tied to a dark family secret. Marisol must embrace her heritage and her courage to uncover the truth and protect her family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Marisol feels a lot of pressure to become her family's next 'keeper' of spirits. Have you ever felt like you had big expectations to live up to? How did that feel?
2
The Woman in the Black Veil was once a family member who was hurt and misunderstood. Why do you think it was so important for Marisol to learn her full story?
3
Abuela's locket is a special object that helps Marisol feel connected to her. If you could have one object to remember someone special, what would it be and why?
4
The Casa de Elefantes is a magical house that protects the family. If your house had a special kind of magic, what would you want it to be?
