At the troubled Max L. Beidelman Zoo in Washington State, the zoo isn’t the only thing failing. Mild-mannered elephant Hannah and her elderly keeper, Samson Brown, are struggling with their own ailing health issues. Sam is more than ready to retire but refuses to leave the zoo until a proper replacement for Hannah’s care can be found. Enter young, ambitious Neva Wilson, who not only brings new experiences into Hannah’s existence but also a chance at a new life. Quickly realizing Hannah’s health issues will never improve in the zoo’s inadequate conditions, she hatches a plan to get the poor pachyderm accepted into an elephant sanctuary.
But Harriet Saul, the zoo’s headstrong director, is determined to bring the zoo back to its former glory with Hannah as the star attraction. Without the beloved elephant, she fears the zoo cannot survive. By dressing up and performing in the role of the zoo’s founder, Maxine Beidelman, Harriet sets her plan in motion. Quickly declaring war against Neva, Sam and a group of other likable elephant supporters, she unwittingly puts Hannah’s fate in overdrive. But who will win, and what will become of the gentle giant?
Hannah's Dream is author Diane Hammond’s third novel. Drawing from her own heartfelt experiences working as spokeswoman for the famous killer whale Keiko of Free Willy fame, Hammond weaves a heartwarming tale of the bond between man and animal. It is a story of love and mercy, friendship and loyalty, and as a bonus, it contains a lesson of compassion.