The Copper Elephant - Tapa dura

"This raw-voiced story is both distinctive and unique, with Rapp's grim vision brilliantly executed." --"Booklist" "This is deftly and convincingly constructed, and young adults who read for the pleasures of darkness will find it grimly satisfying." --"Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"

The Copper Elephant is the riveting story of 11-year-old Whensday, who lives in the Shelf, a toxic wasteland of nonstop poisonous rain ruled by the ruthless Aston Loe and his Syndicate men. Rescued from slave labor to be sold to a childless matron from Top Town, Whensday flees into the Bone Trees, where she meets other renegade "undertwelves"--Oakley Brownhouse and Honeycut. This unlikely trio bands together and learns about love, strength, loss, and survival.