Small as an Elephant

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

When eleven-year-old Jack Martel crawls out of his pup tent on the first morning of his camping trip with his mom in Acadia National Park, he notices right away that something isn’t right. Where is his mom’s tent, and their rental car? And where is his mom? Any other kid might panic, might even go to the police. But Jack isn’t like other kids. And his mom isn’t like other moms.

Jack knows that it’s up to him to find his mom before someone figures out what’s happened and separates them forever. But finding his mom in the state of Maine isn’t the same as finding her in their neighborhood back in Boston. With nothing but a small plastic elephant to keep him company, Jack begins his search, starting with all the places they’d planned to visit together. But as the search drags on, a dark thought plagues him: once he finds his mom, will he ever be able to forgive her?

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Mental Illness, Adventure, Survival

Audio CD

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Jennifer has spent three decades writing award-winning fiction and nonfiction for children. Amongst her titles are picture books: THIS IS MY ROOM (NO TIGERS ALLOWED) and OH, CHICKADEE!; chapter books: Andy Shane series and Twig and Turtle series; middle grade novels: SMALL AS AN ELEPHANT, PAPER THINGS, THE DOLLAR KIDS, CRASHING IN LOVE; and young adult novels: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF WHY I HATE HER and STAINED. Her awards and honors include ALA Best Books For Young Adults, Publishers Weekly Best Books, NYPL Best Books for Teens, Parents Choice Gold Award, IRA Young Adult’s Choice, ILA Social Justice Award, NTCE Charlotte Huck Honorable Mention, Bank Street Best Books of the Year, and Junior Library Guild Selections as well as many state awards. She lives in mid-coast Maine with her husband.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a beautiful little story. I only read a few children's/YA books each year, and I am so glad that this was one of them.

"Small as an Elephant" is about an 11-year-old boy named Jack who goes camping with his mom in Maine, but when he wakes up in the morning, his mother is gone. She took her tent and the rental car and left Jack all alone at the campsite. A scary beginning, to be sure, but Jack is a very capable boy.

Jack sets out to try and find his mom, and it becomes quite the adventure. Jack is smart enough to collect plastic cans to get a refund so he can buy food, and he finds a public library to look up directions and check for messages from his mom. There is even a fun night spent hiding out in a camping store, which reminded me of one of my favorite children's books, "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," in which two runaway children hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As we follow Jack on his quest, we learn more about his mother, and stories of her mood swings and unpredictability point to some kind of mental illness. Jack's mom has disappeared before, but it had happened when he was at home in Boston and had neighbors who could help. Now he's been abandoned at a campground in Maine, and might have to walk 248 miles to get home. Jack's biggest fear is that the authorities will find him and send him to foster care, and he doesn't want to lose his mother.

We also learn about Jack's obsession with elephants, and hear his trivia about those magnificent creatures. The opening paragraph is lovely: "Elephants can sense danger. They're able to detect an approaching tsunami or earthquake before it hits. Unfortunately, Jack did not have this talent. The day his life was turned completely upside down, he was caught unaware."

Jack's greatest wish is to see a live elephant, and one thing that comforts him on his long journey is a toy elephant that he keeps in his pocket.

Because this is a children's book, you can rest assured that there will be a satisfactory ending. I especially liked the note from the author that she physically traced Jack's route in Maine and tried to picture what it must have been like for him. It really is a beautiful story.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

At chapter 7, I put this book down because I was so angry I didn't want to keep reading. After being away from it for a week and letting my irritation die down, I picked it back up and finished. It did keep me interested until the end, but I still have a problem with it. I found Jack to be portrayed realistically, or at least, how I believe a boy in that situation might think and behave. He was at times strong-willed and at others, broken and helpless like a small child. He was frightened, he was brave, he was angry, he was lonely, he was determined.

I enjoyed seeing how he moved from place to place. Nothing was too far out to believe, although I did expect the church and the sporting goods store to have motion detectors and alarms. I was pleased with the way it all ended, but ultimately, I cannot get past his mother's abandonment enough to genuinely like the book. (And here is where I apparently differ from everyone else on goodreads.) I had a problem with Jack's grandmother calling his mom "a wonderful mother". Umm...No. I understand that she had a medical mental condition, but Jack often mentioned that she would stop taking her meds, and that's when the "spinning" times would come. That's not how a wonderful parent behaves. That's how a selfish parent behaves.

I realize that doesn't necessarily affect the quality of the writing, and there were only a few lines that talked about what a good mother she is and how much she loves Jack, but I can't get past it. Here is Jack, an 11-year-old, struggling with the fact that his mother has completely abandoned him--AGAIN--and this time she's done it in a very, very dangerous place, two states away from home in the middle of a forest, and I feel her character is painted more like a victim of her condition than an adult who intentionally chose (not for the first time) to stop taking the medicine that keeps her stable. That's irresponsible for any adult, but extremely so for someone responsible for the care of another human being, and I was infuriated that Jack was told how much she loves him as she was headed for the Bahamas. Readers are supposed to take the fact that she alerted Grandma to Jack's abandonment as proof of her love. How about she get her butt back to her son and take her meds responsibly? Then maybe I'll buy that line. I'm getting mad again just writing about it.

Is it realistic for a lot of kids in America? Probably. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

Now, all that said, I think kids will like the "Boxcar Children" aspect of the book as Jack tries to survive absolutely on his own. What an adventure, right? But I'm not sure the danger in what he was doing was really represented, as he's never in actual physical danger, not even from untrustworthy people. He's smart, though, and has pretty good instincts. Being left entirely on your own for days at a time over the years will do that to a kid, apparently. (Don't get me started again.)

Kids will like the adventure. I just hope none of mine at school recognize their own mother in the book. God help them.

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 3 out of 5]

اولش نقل قول داره و میگه «عشق قادر است یک فیل را هم از سوراخ کلید عبور دهد.»

اومدم یادآوری کنم که دروغ میگه.
و برم
🧳📚

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven year old Jack wakes up and realizes his mother is gone. They are on a camping vacation in Maine, far from Jamaica Plain Boston. Jack assumes his mom will return soon so he just makes do and keeps the fact that he is alone hidden. When his mom starts "spinning" she sometimes goes off, but she always returns. After several days he realizes that she is not coming back and he decides to try and make his way back to Massachusetts. He is alone, broke and scared. Soon everyone is looking for the missing boy, but Jack doesn't want to be found. He doesn't want to be taken away from his mom.

I couldn't put this book down. I was immediately drawn into Jack's story and his journey. I thought it was a really interesting look at how a child has to deal with a sick parent. His mom is clearly bipolar. I thought it was interesting how his mom made him believe that his grandma was evil and trying to steal him when really she just wanted him to be safe. I thought Jack was really inventive in how he survived. He didn't have any qualms about the things he had to do to survive, but he was always very honorable in his actions. I truly loved the ending and thought it fit the book perfectly.

[Hossein · Rating 3 out of 5]

به دلیل نامعلوم، خیلی انتظار زیادی داشتم ازش.
ولی معیارهای رمان نوجوانِ موردِ پسندم رو نداشت تقریبا.
به نظرم رمانِ نوجوانی که محور اصلی داستانش افسردگی یکی از والدینه، باید مکاشفه و سفر( چه سفر درونی و چه سفر بیرونی) شخصیت اصلی داستان باشه. سفری در باب اینکه یک حقیقتِ بیرونی(مثل افسردگی والد) با نوعی پذیرش وارد جهان درونی نوجوان بشه و این جهانِ درونی رو گسترش بده. اما پرداختِ این سفر باید کاملا منطقی به تصویر کشیده بشه. که به نظرم این کتاب خیلی موفق نبوده تو این زمینه.
تو موضوع مشابه با این کتاب، "قلب، تخم مرغ و چیزهای شکستنی" خیلیییی زیباتر نوشته شده.

[Gypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

کوچک اندازه‌ی فیل رو که می‌خوندم، اوایلش برام خیلی کسل‌کننده و کِش‌دار بود. اون‌قد که بینش وسوسه شدم کتاب‌های دیگه‌ای رو بخونم. ولی همیشه سعی‌ام اینه که کتابو تا آخر بخونم، مگر دیگه چقد ملال‌آور باشه. وسطاش با روشن شدن مشکل مادر جک... خب نظرم خیلی عوض شد. نویسنده آروم آروم اطلاعات می‌داد که ما هم به قدر جک درگیر بشیم. فکر می‌کردم بهتر بود شخصیت اول داستان، دختر انتخاب می‌شد؛ چون کارهاش واسه یه پسر زیادی معقول بود. قصدم توهین نیستا. ولی خب دختر دوازده‌ساله خیلی بزرگونه‌تره تا پسر دوازده‌ساله به هرحال. اما دیدم نه، واقعاً جک با همه ویژگی‌هایی که داشت درست انتخاب شده بود. خیلی از کارهایی که انجام داد، یه دختر دوازده‌ساله انجام نمی‌داد. ولی بازم این همه مقاومتی که طی این مدت کرد، خیلی... نمی‌خوام بگم... زیاد بود. ولی بود. :دی

انتظار نداشتم تا پایان کتاب نمره‌ای بیشتر از سه بدم. ولی پایانش خیلی خوب بود. جایی که لیدیا رو دید... به طرز خنده‌داری اشک تو چشام حلقه زد. : )) دگرگونی افکار جک درباره‌ی شخصیت اطرافیانش خیلی خوب پرداخته شده بود. اینکه آدم دچار سوءبرداشت در مورد بقیه بشه و قبول کنه خودش اشتباه قضاوت کرده، توی اون سن خیلی گام بزرگی هم هست. برای همین به نظرم حقش ستاره‌ی بیشتریه، چون برای رده سنی‌ش خیلی خیلی آموزنده‌ست. به خصوص که به بیماری روانی مادرش خیلی واقعی و ملموس پرداخته بود. اینکه حتی به مادربزرگه هم اعتماد نداشت( چون فکر می‌کنن نزدیک‌ترین آدمای زندگی‌شونم اونا رو اذیت می‌کنن)، اینکه بارها قرص‌هاشو ول می‌کرد و فکر می‌کرد خوب شده( دوقطبی‌ها به کرات ول می‌کنن قرص‌هاشونو وقتی خوب می‌شن. چون فکر می‌کنن خوب شدن و خب... هیچکی دوست نداره تا آخر عمرش قرص بخوره که یه وقت از کنترل خارج نشه...) و اینکه یهو همه چیو ول می‌کنن و می‌رن...

منو خیلی درگیر کرد مادر جک. دلم می‌خواست بدونم واقعاً ازش درست مراقبت می‌کنن و جک رو ازش نمی‌گیرن. می‌دونم اشاره شده بود ولی با این همه درگیریِ جک، پایان خیلی سریع بسته شد. بعد معلوم نشد چرا مامانه به گوشی‌ش جواب نمی‌داده اگه به قول جک‌بزرگه به مادرش زنگ زده و خبر داده چی شده. به نظر نمی‌رسه جک‌بزرگه واسه دل‌خوشی‌ش گفته باشه. نمدونم حالا هرچی. :دی نمی‌دونم جایی تو کتاب اشاره شده بود و من فراموش کردم یا نه. ولی انگار به اینم نپرداخته بود که باباش چی شده. نمدونم چرا فکر می‌کنم بچه‌ی ناخواسته بوده و یارو گذاشته رفته. :دی شایدم این ازون دست سناریوهایی هست که خودم واسه داستانا درست می‌کنم بعد یکی دیگه باید بم بگه اوی داستان که این‌طوری نبود! :/

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small As An Elephant could be a quick, sweet read, but it is so emotionally gut-wrenching, adult and older YA readers will find themselves slowing down to contemplate Jack's trauma and choices. Eleven year old Jack has been abondoned at a state park by his mentally ill mother. Younger readers will most likely focus on Jack's love for his mother, his desire to find her, and his adventures as he tries to get home. Older readers will share Jack's anger at his mother and see themselves in the adults in the story who did not pay careful enough attention to spot a desperate child in need of loving intervention. Jack must find his way home without anyone finding out his mother is gone. Since Jack was very small, his devoted, but dysfunctional mother has taught him not to trust adults and to keep their eccentric lifestyle a secret, or he will be taken away from her. She has isolated him from family and prevented him from establishing close relationships with teachers, classmates or neighbors. This unhealthy upbringing actually helps Jack survive alone as he tries to make his way home. He is self-reliant and knows how to lie. He is also clever and a quick decision maker. Being eleven, however, he does not think his decisions through very well and gets himself in several sticky situations. The climax is exciting, but the ending is a little preachy. Small As An Elephant is a very good example of the best in YA literature. It can be read at many different levels with reluctant and average readers focusing on the events and more mature readers focusing on the relationships. Great and meaningful discussions will result.

[Fahime · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب در مورد یک پسر دوازده ساله‌ست به نام جک، که روز اول تعطیلات آخر تابستون، کیلومترها دور از خونه، از خواب بیدار میشه و می‌بینه مادرش نیست. مادر جک از اختلاف دوقطبی رنج می‌بره و جک که قصد نداره مادرش رو به دردسر بندازه و می‌ترسه اگر کسی متوجه این موضوع بشه، اونو از مادرش جدا کنه، تصمیم می‌گیره بی سروصدا، بدون اینکه توجه کسی رو به خودش جلب کنه، به خونه برگرده. اما نه پولی داره و نه دوستی... داستان جذاب و پرکششه و ترجمه‌ی خوبی داره، و البته برای مخاطب نوجوان نوشته شده. توصیه می‌کنم امتحانش کنید.

پ.ن: من "کوچک اندازه‌ی فیل" با ترجمه‌ی آنیتا یارمحمدی رو خوندم، از نشر پیدایش.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've read some of the reviews of this book on Goodreads, I've pondered on the various comments. Some people loved it, some people didn't. Some thought it was believable and some did not. I guess it just goes to show that few if any books are universally loved.

This is the story of Jack, and eleven-year-old from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, who finds himself alone at a campground in Maine. His mother suffers from mental illness and has abandoned him. Jack knows that if he tells anyone about this, he will most likely be taken from his mother, and since this has happened before, he decides to try to find her before doing anything else. After discovering that his mother is not accessible, he decides to try to make it home. Once he realizes just how far away home is, he decides to do something that he hopes will let his mom know he forgives her. His struggles to get enough to eat, find a decent place to sleep, keep him from admitting that he and his mother need help. But eventually, Jack receives the help he needs.

Some reviewers think the parts about the elephants are not necessary, but I disagree. Jack's love of elephants and the small plastic elephant he carries for most of his journey, help Jack complete his journey. Maybe it's because I have a similar passion for horses that I can understand Jack's passion and his clinging to that passion to avoid thinking about his mother's abandonment and the feelings that go with it. Yes, Jack does sometimes behave both older and younger than his age, but having worked with kids his age as well as younger and older, I can say that while some kids mature faster than others, but they all have moments of contradictory behavior (like many adults, too). In addition, sadly enough there are all to many children in the world who have to learn to take care of themselves far earlier than they should. I found this book an interesting, empathy-inducing read.

[Clea Danaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hero's journey for eleven-year-old boys. Beautifully and honestly deals with the challenges a child faces when dealing with a parent's mental illness. I could picture myself in Jack's shoes as he traveled, really empathizing with him. Jacobsen does an amazing job of pulling us along with him, both hoping he will be found and hoping he will somehow not, and not knowing what will happen in the end.

[Zahra Saedi · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب درمورد پسری به اسم جک است که در اردوگاه تفریحی از خواب بیدار می‌شود و می‌بیند مادرش نیست و از آن به بعد تک‌وتنها دنبال مادرش می‌گردد. داستان برای من پرکشش و جذاب بود و وقتی کتاب را شروع‌ کردم، نتوانستم زمین بگذارمش و دو ساعته خواندمش.
با پیش رفتن داستان می‌فهمیم مادر جک اختلال دوقطبی دارد و بارها جک را ول کرده و پدری هم در کار نیست. مسیر جک و مشکلاتی که‌ برایش پیش می‌آمد چندان دور از واقعیت نبود و نویسنده هم گفته مسیر حرکت جک را خودش طی کرده که همه چیز دقیق باشد. آنچه باورش کمی برام سخت بود وفاداری سرسختانه جک به مادرش با وجود خلق نه چندان خوب مادرش بود. پایان‌بندی هم کمی زیاد خوب و خوش بود اما راضی‌کننده بود.

[Jennifer H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh man, I did not like this book. It started off fine, and it was interesting. His mom abandons him, but it isn't unusual, so he attempts to find her. That part of the story was interesting. The poor kid was wavering in-between coming to that realization that his mom was gone-gone and having an adventure. Even when he decided to go home, that was an adventure. It was funny, but really everything mostly went his way - he got food, he escaped, he got locked into an L.L. Bean without a security system. It was odd. He also strangely adapted - starving and then thinking that he could get food whenever he wanted (maybe that was coping, too). And even as an adult, I get the "if he was extra patient, if he remained calm and hopeful, if he walked slowly enough" what he'd want to happen would happen. It's a good way of tricking yourself (or remaining calm when the computer won't work properly!).

BUT. But the last quarter or less of the book was terrible. Everything just wrapped up and, no, he wasn't mad at him mom for abandoning him....I guess because she was sick. At at 12 he lived with her, so he understood this? Am I supposed to think that he did all this, and went through all this, and the effect on him was little? He's not mad? He's a-ok with going to live with the grandma he didn't like. Though I admit, I did appreciate that grandma was the one who first took him to see the elephant, and she's been loving him. But so with that realization, what he attributed to his mother was not true, he's still cool with everything? Nope. Do not believe. It wrapped up too neatly. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a helpful book for kids in these situations or what, but no. I don't see how it'll help them. What is the author saying? Brush it under the rug? Hide your true feelings? Be magnanimous, because that's not difficult especially for a kid? No. I don’t like it. I don’t buy it. It’s extremely difficult to just brush your shoulder off, even if the person has a mental illness. I don’t think this was a good example for dealing with that, if this is supposed to be more than just a story, or maybe it’s good for dealing with it as long as the reader understands that it’s okay to be mad and to rage, and then to get help and take time to understand how he or she feels and how is best for him or her to deal with it.

[Lisa Nocita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary and heartbreaking! Eleven year old Jack wakes up on the second day of a camping vacation to discover that his mom has packed up her own tent and the camping supplies and left him. Jack sadly seems well-accustomed to these disappearances and is more than capable of fending for himself. At first, he is not very worried but as the day stretches into nighttime and then into the second day, he realizes that he won't be able to hide the truth from nearby campers and the park rangers. Plus, he has no money or food. Jack takes to the road, heading towards home two states away, searching for his mother along the way. The ordeal evolves into a compelling quest for Jack. He manages to evade and outwit plenty of folks as he determinedly makes his way to see Lydia, an African elephant at a wild animal park. Jack has a love for all things elephant. Lydia is symbolic of all that Jack yearns for.

The story is gripping and heartbreaking and a stark portrait of mental illness and the terrible toll it can take on families. Jack is plucky and spunky by necessity and it's clear that he has had to deal with a lot in his short life, much more than any child should. It's written in such a way that all of Jack's actions are completely plausible and utterly believable. You just want to gather him up, smother him in hugs, and feed him! And let him know that there are adults who will take good care of him. Recommend this to fans of Waiting for Normal.

[Cat Fithian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had a VERY hard time liking this book at all. 11-yr-old Jack is abandoned at a public campsite by his mother, who is mentally ill. Jack then fends for himself, on the run, on an epic journey. First he's trying to find his mother and then he's trying to get to a zoo to see an elephant (he loves elephants). The voice of Jack was at times too young and at times too self-assured. The premise was so disturbing to me that I had trouble reading it all, but had to skim through the book to find out what happened at the end. I can't imagine who I'd recommend it to, either. The ending was mildly satisfying but too "pat" to fit with the rest of the book. Sigh.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Jack is abandoned by his mother who is bipolar while on a camping trip in Maine. He is determined to travel home without exposing that he is alone, a mere child of 11 left to fend for himself. He fears going to the authorities will mean his mother will be sent to jail. This book has a lot of action and lots of voice. The ending is precious.

[Sarah Hadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think any middle grade kid would absolutely love this book. The idea of a kid running away on their own and having to survive is fascinating to kids this age. Meanwhile it’s also a fantastic story, touching on mental illness and internal emotional strength.

[Giéllen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book, touching. I teared up on the end. I would recommend it for older kids though, 10 to 12 years old.
Elephants are always wonderful.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

30 March 2011 SMALL AS AN ELEPHANT by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Candlewick, March 2011, 275p., ISBN: 978-0-7363-4155-9

"Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass"
-- Eleanor Farjeon, "Morning Has Broken"

"He remembered the first time his mother had taken him to see an elephant. He had been really little, no older than four. They'd been at a circus, and he'd hated it -- hated the chaotic music, the sudden snaps of the ringmaster's whip, the diamond-eyed clowns. So she'd carried him away from all that and into another tent, a tent where the most enormous animal he'd ever seen stood only a few feet away. Jack had whimpered and buried his face in his mother's neck, but he couldn't resist peeking at the huge creature. And then the elephant had reached toward him with her trunk, reached toward him and tapped him on the shoulder. He'd squealed and plunged back under the cover of his mother's chin. But the elephant had tapped him again, and kept on tapping him till he lifted his head and looked over at her. Slowly, slowly, she'd reached out her trunk again and touched his cheek. Jack remembered giggling, remembered feeling as if the elephant tent were the safest place in the world."

Eleven year-old Jack Martel, who has grown into a font of encyclopedic knowledge about elephants, is an unreliable narrator. After he awakens, in a little Hubba tent at Seawall Campground on Mount Desert Island, to find his mother, his mother's tent, and the rental car all gone, we wonder with him what could possibly have happened to her. It is only after days of her not returning and Jack's inexplicable refusal to confide in anyone about his actually being alone at the campground, that he finally begins admitting to himself (and, thus, to readers) that this is but the next chapter in his mother's ongoing mental illness. From his recollections of past episodes that are methodically revealed throughout the tale, we realize that he has had to repeatedly cover for his mother's behavior, as she has taught him to do, so that he won't again end up in the system or with his maternal grandmother whom -- as his mother has also taught him -- is an enemy. In fact, Jack seems to view anyone who we'd normally consider to be a safe adult, in whom we could and should confide, to be a threat to himself and his disappeared mother.

But stuck in a campground with no money, a broken cellphone, and Labor Day only days away, what is he going to do? After abandoning his tent and riding a free shuttle bus across the island to Bar Harbor, Jack embarks upon a shadowy existence, trying to discover his mother's whereabouts and/or find a way to return home on his own.

"'How about a cheeseburger?' asked Big Jack. 'On me.'"Jack knew he should take this man up on the offer, knew he should get something to eat and maybe figure out a way to explain his predicament, but he couldn't. He was about to lose it. All it would take was one more question, one more kind look, and Jack would spill everything. He couldn't risk it. He had to think. He had to get air."

SMALL AS AN ELEPHANT is a gripping adventure and survival story. It is so intriguing to see the extent to which Jack -- a kid who clearly has lived his life not knowing when one of his mother's "spinning" times would next occur -- is willing to ignore common sense and all he feels about right and wrong in order to avoid revealing the truth of the matter about his mother.

There are excellent elephant-related factoids, quotes, and jokes at the beginning of each chapter. And I love how the story alludes to one of my absolutely favorite children's books of all time -- another story that takes place in both Massachusetts and Maine.

Richie Partington, MLIS
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FTC NOTICE: Richie receives free books from lots of publishers who hope he will Pick their books. You can figure that any review was written after reading and dog-earring a free copy received. Richie retains these review copies for his rereading pleasure and for use in his booktalks at schools and libraries.

[Mohsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

قصه خوب شروع میشه ولی تقریبا از نیمه کتاب بنظرم نویسنده نمیتونه جذابیت رو حفظ کنه.
کلا در این جنس داستان‌های نوجوان پایان معمولاً از اوایل تا حد خوبی مشخصه که چیه و جذابیت باید در مسیر باشه. اما اینجا تا تقریباً نیمه کتاب پایان رو مخفی نگه داشته بود و تعلیق وجود داشت ولی بعدش دیگه جذابیت از دست رفت.

[Sally Kruger]

Despite having an argument with his mother about going to York to see Lydia the elephant, eleven year old Jack Martel is excited about their brief vacation to Maine. They arrive at the campground and pitch their tents late in the evening. In the morning Jack emerges from his small tent to discover his mother's tent is gone and so is their car.

She probably went to get supplies and will return in a short while so Jack tries to stay busy around camp. As time ticks away, he begins to suspect the worst. This isn't the first time his mother has disappeared. Things can be going along just fine until she stops taking her medication. That's when she begins "spinning" as Jack refers to it. Even if she is gone for several days, they have always been at home and Jack knows how to take care of himself. Now he's alone in Maine more than 250 miles away from their home in Massachusetts. That's a whole new level of taking care of himself.

Jack decides he must find her. He hides his tent and most of his supplies in the nearby woods. Taking only his backpack and sleeping bag, he heads off. The campground is located on an island in the Bar Harbor area, but it doesn't take long for Jack to realize the island is much bigger than he thought. As he scours the first small town, he begins to understand the challenges he will be facing. How will he find food? Where will he sleep? How will he answer the questions from strangers when they encounter an eleven year old boy on his own?

One of the things that keeps Jack going is his unusual fascination with elephants. Ever since he can remember he has gathered facts about them. His one up close and personal encounter with an elephant is etched in his memory, and he wants desperately to recreate that moment. Although, he and his mother had argued about whether to stop in York, Maine, to visit the elephant in an animal sanctuary there, he begins to believe that going there is how he will find his mother.

As the days go by, news reports of a missing young boy are popping up. Jack is trying to stay one step ahead of those searching for him because he fears that if he is found he will lose his mother forever.

Author Jennifer Richard Jacobson has created a story that will tear at the heartstrings of readers. Jack's naïve determination is touching and inspiring as his genuine love for his mother and all things elephant combine in this memorable book. Perfect for middle grade readers or anyone looking for a beautifully written story about love and courage.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult read. Jack wakes up the first morning of his camping trip and his mom is missing. But Jack knows he can't tell anyone or he risks loosing his mom forever. So he sets out on his own to find her, looking all over the Maine island, and running into all kinds of trouble tracing his mom. While Jack initially sets off to find his mom, he ends up on the run, knowing while he probably isn't going to find her, he can't be found by anyone else or they'll never have a chance to be a family again.

On one hand this is an adventure/survival story. How can Jack live on his own, with no/little money on his own, when he's not used to life on the streets? Jack is creative and willing to work, and meets people who are willing to help, though eventually he ends up running from everyone, since he knows they are all looking for him. On the other hand, from the beginning the reader and Jack knows that his mom has basically abandoned him, with nothing, in the middle of no where. The fact that Jack is not just trying to survive, but is in denial about what is happened to him, is really hard to read. It was like Jack needed to run because there was so much potential pain coming as he realizes the lies of his life are crashing down in a way he can't keep running from. I think that the issues he faces are actually bigger and more serious then the book can communicate, and reading it I brought my horror of the experience to the book.

This will work well for my realistic fiction book talk, fourth grade and up.

[nobody · Rating 4 out of 5]

درباره پسریه به اسم جک که با مادرش توی اردوگاه چادر زدن و می خوان تعطیلاتشون رو اونجا بگذرونن، ولی وقتی جک از خواب بیدار می شه می بینه خبری از مادرش نیست و رفته. مادرش مبتلا به اختلال دوقطبی بوده و جک به هیچکس چیزی نمی گه که مادرش اونو تنها گذاشته و رفته، چون اگه بگه، اون رو از مادرش می گیرن. بخاطر همین یه ماجراجویی رو شروع می کنه که خودش تنهایی بره خونه و...

گاهی خیلی غیرقابل باور می شد و اصلا مگه می شه یکی انقدر تو زندگیش شانس بیاره؟ :)) ولی خیلی قوی و سرسخت موند و تا اون لحظه ی آخر هم تسلیم نشد و بلاخره ماجراجوییش رو تموم کرد.

«به کسی که بخواهد بداند فیل ها چه جور موجوداتی هستند، می شود گفت: فیل ها شبیه آدم ها هستند ولی تنهاتر از آن ها»

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book caught my attention at the very start and was a quick read. I liked it, made me think about many issues that kids/parents with mental illness deal with. I had many emotions while reading it, even made me cry.

[Chris L]

one of the best books i have read

[Kaitlyn Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book that had me on edge. This modern survival story of Jack's journey is both heartbreaking and thrilling. Thought provoking read!

[Noah Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. it all starts when jacks mom left him one day. Jack searched for days for his mom but also tried to hide from the cops. I think you should read this book to find out weather jack finds his mom or he ends up getting caught by the cops.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book as the title caught my eye. I almost put it down after reading the synopsis but I thought I’d give it a try. I finished 1/3 one day and finished the last 2/3 in one afternoon/evening. I never do that but I had to know what Jack would do. And what all of this had to do with elephants. This was a touching book.

[Elizabeth K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a little better than three stars, but certainly not four.

Jack, an 11 year old boy, finds himself unexpectedly alone while on a vacation to Maine, and then has to figure out what he is going to do to reunite himself with his mother.

One of my favorite things about this book was mentioned in the author's note - she went to Maine and visited all the places the character would have gone, and I felt like this really came through in the book. The geography of the story was completely real and believable.

I liked the story overall, I liked the characters and found them sympathetic. I'm not quite sure why this didn't rise (much) above three stars for me ... in some ways I was expecting more information on certain plot points that eventually went ... nowhere in particular. In terms of plot momentum, I felt like nothing changed organically. If Jack changed his plans, or changed his mind about something, it was usually at random and not convincingly as a reaction to an actual impetus.

I have to add that I was predisposed to like this book because not only do I like elephants, I have a special obsession with tiny elephants. Pretty much the best thing that could happen in life, ever, would be if we could genetically engineer elephants to make them the size of cats. This all stems from one of E. Nesbit's dragon stories, where it is casually mentioned that elephants are small like house pets and guinea pigs are large like, well, like elephants. Aside from the general excellence of the concept of small elephants, what especially intrigued me was how this worked as a brief, almost throwaway concept that establishes the story in a similar, but slightly different, world than ours. There's also a small mammoth in the L'Engle book about the flood, which is nice and all, but this is one of my weird things that is very specific about elephants; a mammoth is not the same.

Grade: B-
Recommended: To people who like YA and elephants (I was a little worried it was going to get tiresome, but it turned out to be a cute theme).

[Cathy Blackler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon beginning this book I was reminded of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon-a child, after an argument with a parent, is alone in the woods of Maine. The resourcefulness of the main characters is similar as well, but that is where the similarities end. I was then reminded of Oliver Twist-a young boy, fueled by the love of a mother who is out of reach and helped by the kindness of strangers, finds his way home. I loved the elephant facts and references at the start of each chapter. I also thought quite a bit about the title's meaning. I leave it to other readers to come to their own conclusions. This is an emotional tale of the power of love, the strength of perseverance, and the value of forgiveness. I cried through the last few pages, emotionally spent after accompanying Jack on his journey. He is a character who will resonate with readers.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack's mother abandons him while camping in Maine. Because she has a history of psychiatric problems, and because this is not the first time she disappears, Jack avoids reporting anything to authorities in fear of being turned over to the department of social services. Left to his own devices, and with no means, Jack finds resourceful ways to stay alive and to make his way home. A sweet survivalist read for boys.

There was something odd to me about the voice and narration in this book. It doesn't quite sound like an 11 year old boy. It's a little to careful, too calculating. Jack is at once too babyish and too brave to make sense as a character.