This book was amazing.I flew through the pages, because I really wanted to know what happened to Jack and his mother, after she leaves him at a campground in Maine, far away from their home in Boston. Jack refuses to tell anyone what his mother has done, because she has done it before, but always came back. Jack is also afraid that if other people knew that his mother abandoned him, he would be separated from her forever.So Jack decides to find search the state of Maine for his mom, all on his own. With only a backpack, a sleeping bag, 14 dollars, and extensive knowledge about elephants, he begins his search.Jack's adventure involves camping in the woods, collecting trash, sleeping in a store, and hiding from residents searching for him, the missing boy. His love for elephants gets him through the scary, lonely journey, and his one wish to visit an elephant in Maine gets him moving.As a fellow elephant lover, this book captured my heart. Like Jack, I believe elephants are amazing creatures, and I definitely enjoyed the little facts and quotes about elephants in every chapter. Jack's determination to find his mother and make sure no one takes him away form her is admirable. I was interested throughout the entire book and felt a connection to Jack.I recommend this book to readers of all ages, especially elephant fans. Jack has become a pro at making excuses for his mom and taking care of himself. At twelve, Jack has become very self-sufficient due to his mother's mental illness. However, that is all put to the test when Jack and his mom go camping for Labor Day weekend and when Jack gets up Saturday morning his mom is gone. He is sure that she will come back for him because surely she wouldn't leave him two states away from home...or would she? So begins Jack's journey to take care of himself while trying to get back home, while also making sure he doesn't draw attention to himself and get his mom in trouble. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, Jack's story is the story of so many children of parents with mental illness.
What do You think about Small As An Elephant (2011)?
Incredibly heartfelt and touching - so happy to add this to my list of Read-Alouds to the kiddies.
—caitlan
The best-written Sunshine State book I've read so far out of this year's batch.
—hazel
