Summary

The novel-in-verse is narrated by the protagonist, Ruby, who narrates her story in first-person present. She starts by telling the reader that her big problem is that nobody ever listens to her since she is the littlest elephant. All her aunts call her “Tusky” because she is getting her tusks, but she hates the nickname. She has a secret that she does not want to tell the rest of the family—she hates her tusks.

Ruby explains that tusks are much bigger and made from different material than regular elephant teeth. Elephants use their tusks for eating, digging, playing, and fighting. However, she also says that humans are very interested in elephant tusks.

Whenever elephants start to grow their tusks, a special ceremony is held to celebrate the occasion. Aunt Akello tells Ruby that the ceremony is a way of honoring an elephant...