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If for no other reason, you must read Small as an Elephant because every chapter starts off with a fact or myth about elephants. Thats reason enough. But there is another reason: ten-year-old Jack Martel has an elephant sized adventure. Jack and his mother are taking a three day camping vacation in Maine right before school starts in the fall. However, when Jack wakes up after the first night, his mother is nowhere to be found. Her tent is gone. Her car is gone. She is gone. No notes, messages or no nothing.

At first Jack thinks she went to get food or to find the ocean. But, inside he knows better, because she has run off before. When she doesnt return after the first day, Jack gets nervous. Hes afraid to tell anyone because he doesnt want the Department of Social Services to come and take him away from his mother.

The first day isnt too bad. He befriends another ten year old, Aiden, and Jack joins Aidens family on a day trip. He lies and says his mother isnt feeling well. But, when Aidens mother says shell stop by and bring some soup, Jack knows its time to pack up and leave. He begins searching for his mother, then decides to head home to Boston and finally decides on the way to visit Lydia, the only elephant in Maine.

Jack has adventure after adventure, meeting people but not knowing who to trust. To find out where Jack ends up, you need to read Small as an Elephant. The author, Jennifer Richard Jacobson knows how to write an adventure story.