Lions, Elephants, and Lies
Summary
Lions, Elephants, and Lies is the second book of the high-flying Magnificent Mulligan’s series, written by Bill Myers and published by Tyndale Publishing House. The peril is turned up to 11 in Lions, Elephants, and Lies as the various Mulligan teams encounter the consequences of lying as Jessica and Janelle switch places at school while Dad, Nick, and Lisa all head to Botswana to help an orphaned baby elephant and encounter a team of poachers.
Assessment
Lions, Elephants, and Lies has much of the same, delightful feel as the last book, with two adventurous, animal-centric threads and a more mundane, school drama thread (all told with loving sass by the family chimpanzee, Winona). These three somewhat disparate stories all work to present the same message — lying and the consequences of — in a well-coordinated dance. The message is founded on solid Scriptural truths and is presented in a lighthearted, humorous fashion that takes none of the impact out, while keeping the story from becoming a sermon.
One new addition to the series in Lions, Elephants, and Lies is inside artwork from Greg Hardin (who does the covers). The illustrations are just as wonderful as the covers, even though they are in black and white, depicting the characters, animals, and scenarios in a very expressive and cartoony sort of way. Having the artwork also helps show the fantastic diversity of the Mulligan family, which includes natural, adopted, and foster kids.
Light-o-Meter
Writing Style: 6 out of 7 little Lights
Plot: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Worldbuilding: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Characters: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
Modern kids’ media tends to take two different approaches to parents: first, the parents are these overbearing paragons of legislature that the children must “rise up against” to discover their true selves. Or, second, the parents are bumbling idiots who have no idea how to raise children or behave in an emotionally mature way. While both of these can be useful in storytelling, they can also be incredibly dangerous when those are the only examples of fictional parents that children are given. Stories are how we interpret the world around us, including our closest relationships.
Part of the reason why I really love Lions, Elephants, and Lies (and the Magnificent Mulligans series in general) is that the Mulligan parents are depicted as loving and wise but imperfect. They mess up — perhaps not as badly as the kids mess up — and have to face the consequences of their actions just like the kids do. They’re not flawless or overbearing or bumbling idiots, but they are doing their best to raise their kids properly and with plenty of love.
On a slightly different note, I appreciate how the consequences of the characters’ lies are depicted as both direct (i.e., affecting those they are lying to) and indirect (i.e. affecting those that, at first glance, are not involved with the situation at all). The repercussions for sin are not always what we can anticipate. Sometimes we lose the trust of those around us…and sometimes there’s an almost deadly incident with a pond, a grumpy momma lion, her soggy cub, and a daredevil chimpanzee.
Wrap-up
Lions, Elephants, and Lies is the second book of the delightful and action-packed Magnificent Mulligans series. With as much chaos and fun as the first book, this story ups the ante with a web of lies, a band of African poachers, and an angry momma lion; still delivering an excellent and not-preachy message!
Where to Enjoy
Amazon: Amazon.com: Lions, Elephants, and Lies (Magnificent Mulligans): 0700001002149: Myers, Bill: Books
Barnes & Noble: Lions, Elephants, and Lies by Bill Myers, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
Christianbook.com: Lions, Elephants, and Lies: Bill Myers: 9781646071142 - Christianbook.com
Tyndale: Tyndale | Lions, Elephants, and Lies
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