Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

I just read this book and really enjoyed it. It starts out right off the bat with a scene that gets your attention. The story is set in the Depression and the main character finds himself just short of his veterinarian degree and working with the circus. The "bad guy" is really hate-able, especially for animal lovers. There's a love story involved too... it's just an all around good read! The title is an Alex Award winner, meaning it is an adult book that young adults would enjoy.