Jack's mom 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?
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 Jack never thought his mom would take off during the night and leave him at a campground in Acadia National Park, with no way to reach her and barely enough money for food. Any other kid would report his mom gone, but Jack knows by now that he needs to figure things out for himself - starting with how to get from the backwoods of Maine to his home in Boston before DSS catches on. With nothing but a small toy elephant to keep him company, Jack begins the long journey south, a journey that will test his wits and his loyalties - and his trust that he may be part of a larger herd after all.

Reviews

Gr 5-8-Jack wakes up in a campground of Acadia National Park on the first morning of a long anticipated summer vacation to find that his mother and the rental car are gone. He reacts with fear, hurt, and anger, but also acceptance. This isn't the first time Jack has been left alone, and his mom is not like other moms. Jack blames himself for her leaving, and sets out to find her. As he works his way down the coast of Maine, Jack struggles to elude the Department of Social Services, afraid that they might separate him and his mother permanently. Throughout the story (Candlewick, 2011), Jennifer Richard Jacobson portions out hope like the few cereal bars Jack has to make last, then snatches it away time after time, leaving listeners feeling as empty and aching as Jack's hungry stomach. Jack's passion for elephants, and the hope that he might see Lydia, the only elephant in Maine, sustains him throughout his journey. Narrator William Dufris takes Jacobson's lush, textural vocabulary to another level, creating distinct and believable characters that add to the emotion and intensity of the story. A compelling and sensitive portrayal of life with a parent who suffers from mental illness.-Lisa Hubler, Memorial Junior High School, South Euclid, OH (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"I believe in Jack and his ability to understand his mother in shades of gray. I believe in his ability to be fiercely independent: to try and try and try . . . and at the same time to recognize that he needs others. That others are right there, waiting to catch him."
- Jennifer Richard Jacobson -- Quote