Small as an Elephant

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (Author)

Small as an Elephant
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A deeply perceptive look at the universal fear of abandonment. -- Booklist (starred review)

Ever since Jack can remember, his mom has been unpredictable, sometimes loving and fun, other times caught in a whirlwind of energy and "spinning" wildly until it's over. But now she is gone, leaving him all alone on a campsite in Maine. Can he find his way back to Boston before the authorities realize what happened? With nothing but a small toy elephant to keep him company, Jack begins a journey that will test his wits and his loyalties -- and his trust that he may be part of a larger herd after all.

Select format:
Paperback
$9.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
Jack's journey to a new kind of family is inspiring and never sappy

Hornbook

Jack comes to realize that he hadn't been alone, that family and people he didn't even know were there for him in a 'makeshift herd.' The happy yet realistic ending leaves Jack (and readers) 'light-headed with hope.

Review quotes

Jennifer Richard Jacobson's nuanced and heart-wrenching middle-grade novel, Small as an Elephant, gives a quiet force to one resilient boy and his mentally ill mother.
—Bookpage

A classic journey story, this is a very believable and exciting adventure with modern accoutrements.
—Library Media Connection

A near-perfect mix of poignancy, humor, and masterful writing make for an unforgettable journey.
—Midwest Book Review
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Jennifer Richard Jacobson has written numerous books for young readers, including five other books about Andy Shane. She lives in Yarmouth, Maine.

Abby Carter is the illustrator of all the books about Andy Shane, as well as My Hippie Grandmother by Reeve Lindbergh. She lives in Hadlyme, Connecticut.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780763663339
Lexile Measure
790
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
April 20, 2013
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV040000 - Juvenile Fiction | Toys, Dolls & Puppets
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV001010 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure | Survival Stories
JUV039240 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Depression & Mental Illness
Library of Congress categories
Adventure and adventurers
Adventure stories
Survival
Mothers and sons
Abandoned children
Self-reliance
New England
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
Nominee 2015 - 2015

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!