Small as an Elephant

Small as an Elephant is a middle grade realistic fiction novel written by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and originally published in 2011. In addition to writing, Jacobson teaches literacy workshops across the US. She grew up in Maine, which is the inspiration for the setting of many of her stories. Small as an Elephant examines several themes related to unstable attachment, support, and hardship. The novel received more than 10 awards, including the Maine Lupine Award and the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and was placed on several book lists, including the Horn Book Summer Reading List.

This guide is based on the 2013 Candlewick Press First Paperback Edition.

Plot Summary

Eleven-year-old Jack awakens in his tent at Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine. He’s completely alone and realizes that his mother has abandoned him. He looks everywhere, but can’t find her anywhere. Hungry, Jack goes to get some hot dogs with the little money he has. When he calls his mom, she doesn’t answer. He goes down to the beach to try to enjoy himself and figure things out. He meets a family and plays with the son and daughter for a while.