Preparing for transport: 3…2…1… You have arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland in October of 1940, immersed in the life of the first female Northern Irish zookeeper: Hettie Quinn. Get ready to meet a three-year-old elephant, Hettie’s journey to care for her, and the challenges World War II poses on her efforts. Based on a true story, The Elephant of Belfast will take you for a ride with its historical relevance, exploration of perfectionism, spot-on fashion choices, and, of course, complicated romances.

Hettie Quinn is twenty years old, and rather than start a family, she chooses to work at the zoo. However, doing so is not an easy feat. Between the death of her sister, Anna, the absence of her father, and being the only female zookeeper at the Belfast Zoo, Hettie struggles to build stability and confidence. She works hard to live up to her sister’s successful legacy and process her longing for her father. At the same time, Hettie labors to please her boss and win his trust to care for the new elephant, Violet.

To Hettie, Violet is a star in the unpredictable night sky. With the war, such a night sky might literally include German bombs, which landed during a forgotten part of history known as the Belfast Blitz. In the midst of all this, Violet provides refuge for Hettie, turning her focus away from her grief and the civic challenges of war to the beauty of animals. Violet gives Hettie a purpose, but also non-judgemental love. Hettie cares for Violet, eventually taking dangerous risks for her, while Violet supplies Hettie with warmth, joy, and comical shenanigans—a welcome distraction. The relationship between Hettie and Violet is unbreakable and only strengthens with each trial life throws their way. Hettie shares her fear with Violet during the bombings and confides in her during romantic turmoil.

This historical fiction comes packed with historical romance (including a love made for 1940s music)—and this romance is complicated for Hettie, who has three love interests. The nature of these relationships is ambiguous on both sides, but they remain exciting, especially when the war intervenes. Each of these relationships also comes with its own set of difficulties, which Hettie attempts to navigate (sometimes through a rosy, clouded lens).

Kirk Walsh, the author of the Elephant of Belfast, beautifully intertwines Hettie’s romantic life, her relationship with Violet, her experiences of grief, and the events of the war. She pays careful attention to detail in character development, historical accuracy, relationships, and imagery, all without overwhelming the reader. To keep the reader’s attention, Walsh tunes into the timeless feelings of hope, the desire to be resilient, perfectionism, grief, and love. Walsh cared about representing these emotions within the context of the Belfast Blitz so deeply that she conducted years of research, interviewed survivors of the event and their descendants, and spent quality time with elephants. As a result, her work is a raw example of what it means to be a young adult, a lover of animals, and someone simultaneously processing personal, domestic, and international challenges.

Rating: 5/5 Snails in a Pocket, a difficult feat for a debut

Note: If you would like to know more about the novel, you can let Mr. Dolan, Walsh’s husband, know 🙂