Short novel (94 pages) about group of troubled youth who get lost in the desert and unwittingly attract their rescuers by hanging their wet clothing on an elephant tree to dry. Lots of angst. Writing is kid level and just average. The tree and title are the only reference to elephants ... no actual elephants in the story.

This book was read to me by my seventh grade teacher. When he died and they were selling his books, that was the first one I wanted. This book was good enough to keep a whole class of seventh graders awake. Every book he read was a good one. This book about dilinquent kids who get lost in the desert is definitly great.