Saving H'non: Chang and the elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung

Chang, the intrepid young student and conservationist of Saving Sorya, returns and this time she's involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of H'non, an abused and elderly elephant. The journey of Chang - and H'non - is a complex one, ranging from Chang's research into the evolution of elephants to an honest look at the complexities of using elephants for labor and as tourist attractions. There are graphic images of the abuse H'non suffers and the cruelties of her owners, but also a realistic appraisal of the struggles of the local families to support themselves and the relationship between them and the elephants. Chang faces her own prejudices and feelings as she is put in charge of supervising a local trainee to care for H'non and the story ends in a joyful and upbeat moment as H'non is fully returned to the wild.

The art is meant to be Chang's notebook and it is very similar to a nature journal with lots of individual illustrations, little asides, facts, and more. In general, it's a watercolor wash of sandy browns and pale greens. Every page is a beautiful surprise, from a reflective view of a starry night to an explosion of green vegetables at the market. The intricate art matches the story, exploring the emotions, heartbreaks, and challenges the conservationists face as well as the feelings and struggles of the local townspeople and their relationship with the elephants.

I loved Saving Sorya, but I was sad that it didn't fly off the shelves as I'd confidently expected. However, it did circulate reasonably well and I still think the unique collaboration of these creators is worth adding to library shelves and promoting to readers as well as their new creation. It's worth considering that it might find more readers in the nonfiction area (and by nonfiction circulation standards, it has circulated very well) and I'll also make it a point to promote these books more in the near future.

Verdict: If you can purchase only one of these titles, I think the newest one is more accessible, featuring a more familiar animal, the elephant, instead of the sun bear. Promote to readers who love animals and graphic novels, to those interested in animal welfare, and to teachers introducing their students to global issues and wanting to use high-quality graphic novels in classroom study units.

ISBN: 9780593406724; Published October 2023 by Dial Books for Young Readers; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library