This story is being told in the eyes of Jacob. This story is being told from Jacobs experiences. The point of view changes from chaper to chapter. Going from the life of the old Jacob from the life of the young Jacob. The first person point of view allows this book to connect with the readers. The book water for elephants is considered a historical fiction book. This book is being told during the time of the great depression and the prohibiton of alcohol. The characters and animals durining this time perod are fictional. An event that happened during the great depression was redlighting. People would throw someone of a moving train. This would cause a person to die. When August and Uncle Al couldn’t afford to pay someone and felt they didn’t need him anymore they were redlight them and throw them off the train. Another thing that was common in this book and in history was animal abuse. Elephants and lions were abused all the time. They use bullhooks to beat and stab the elephants. They were take the teeth out of the lions so humans could stick there head in their mouths. August and the animal trainers were constinaly abusing the