Small as an Elephant

Did you ever have a passionate interest as a child? My friend's son knows everything there is to know about the Civil War. I have a niece who is horse crazy and a couple of my students know all about cars--one of them specializing in muscle cars and the other in street racing. For Jack, it's elephants. And maybe it's the very steadiness of these large beasts that appeals to him, for heaven knows his life is anything but stable and predictable. Jack himself doesn't know the term, but readers will quickly guess that his mother is bipolar. Jack also doesn't seem to realize that he shouldn't be dragged here, there, and everywhere; being a kid, he's just along for the ride. But his usual shrug-oriented attitude doesn't do him a bit of good when his mother abandons him at a campground on an island in Maine. From here on out, it's a hide-and-survive story as Jack first searches for his mother and then heads for his home in Boston while trying to avoid the police. Of course, Jack can't stay in one place for very long because people start asking questions. Like the guy at the ice cream parlor, where he wishes he could ask for samples all day, but only gets two before he bolts. Or the family at the next campsite, who look after him for a little while before they start asking to see his mother for themselves. To make matters worse, Jack hurts his finger, and he can't afford to see a doctor about it. The trouble is, Jack's mother has quarreled with her mother and painted her as a bad person, so Jack is fearful of trying to contact his grandmother. And he knows that social workers would take him away from everything he knows, so he doesn't want that, either. No one can know that his mother is gone. One of the most interesting things about this book is how it shows in such detail what a person Jack's age might do in this situation, step by step. Jack's thought processes are painful, yet revealing. His problem solving is also impressive. For example, after he hurts his finger, he goes to the grocery store and sticks his hand in the frozen vegetables. And he turns in bottles and cans to the recycling center to earn money for food. Also poignant are the chapter headers, which are quotes and facts about elephants. The elephants' family dedication and reliability are offered in clear contrast to Jack's own situation. Jacobson's methodical, almost muted tone heightens the power of this book, which in its gentle way is just as much a survival story as something like Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. The tension ratchets up when Jack starts seeing his face on the news. And he meets all kinds of people, some of them more willing to help him than others. Then, as the pressure mounts, Jack remembers that he was hoping to see an actual elephant on this trip, and he knows where one is. Soon he is heading toward the elephant instead of his old home. While Small as an Elephant is arguably an adventure story, it is a quieter book than some. Thoughtful readers will appreciate, not only Jack's physical survival and his success in not being caught, but his inner quest to make sense out of having been abandoned by his mother. I'll end with the Chapter One elephant quote from Peter Corneille: "If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people, only more so." And people are like elephants, fortunately for Jack. Little by little, readers will discover that Jack is loved and helped by a herd he hadn't even imagined. If you like this book, I would also recommend two classics: Flight of the Doves by Walter Macken and Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt.

This is the story of Jack, who is abandoned in a national park by his mentally ill mother. This brave and confused, but clever and resourceful child tries to survive alone while wrestling with his conflicting emotions. He is fiercely protective of his mother, and terrified that she will be put in jail is her abandonment of him is discovered. The issue of her "spinning" -- her manic phases during which her behavior becomes erratic and irresponsible, is shown through the eyes of the kid who suffers the consequences of her actions. Jack turns out to be very lucky -- he has other people who care -- and the ending is about Jack's acknowledgment of that constellation of people who want to help him and his mother. My nine-year old daughter absolutely loved this story, and it allowed us an opportunity to discuss the topic of mental illness.

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 abandoned 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.

Beautiful and realistic story about a boy struggling with being the child of a mentally ill mother. Being the child of a bipolar mom and having been a runaway and a foster kid, I can tell you it's definitely realistic, painfully so. Some people are critical saying its not realistic but children that come from so much trauma and neglect don't function or respond the same way neurotypical children do. Reading the book with my son is heartbreaking. I could never imagine abandoning my son. Yet, I know my own mother would be caught in the same circumstance, lucky for me she didn't enjoy camping.

This young adult novel was a good read. It is about a young boy (Jack) who due to some unexpected circumstances has to learn to survive by his good senses and wit. It is a story of relationships, love and the power of forgiveness. This story delves into the complicated relationship between Jack and his mother, something he has always dealt with and also about his fascination with elephants. Each chapter start of with some fact about elephants, which I found very interesting.

Great story. Got my Grade 7 boys hooked!

I absolutely loved this book. It was a great read for tweens. Probably suitable for the age 11+. I read this book and you can really add text codes to your thinking which is great.

I loved Jack, and the adventure he went on. All the cool elephant facts were interesting too. The story around mental health is an important one.

It was a nice book. I enjoyed all the adventures that Jack had, and how the book ended was heart warming

Lovely story but the amount of times he escapes from offered help was getting a bit tedious