What is the short story small as an elephant about?
"Small as an Elephant" is about an 11-year-old boy named Jack who goes camping with his mom in Maine, but when he wakes up in the morning, his mother is gone. She took her tent and the rental car and left Jack all alone at the campsite.
Do you think the elephants are necessary in the novel?
Some reviewers think the parts about the elephants are not necessary, but I disagree. Jack's love of elephants and the small plastic elephant he carries for most of his journey, help Jack complete his journey.
How does Jack's love of elephants help him complete his journey?
Jack's love of elephants and the small plastic elephant he carries for most of his journey, help Jack complete his journey. Maybe it's because I have a similar passion for horses that I can understand Jack's passion and his clinging to that passion to avoid thinking about his mother's abandonment and the feelings that go with it.
Is small as an elephant a good read?
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 abondoned at a state park by his mentally ill mother.
Who is the main character in Small as an Elephant?
Jack Martel is the eleven-year-old principal protagonist of the novel “Small as an Elephant” by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Jack is a bright, personable, untrusting, and sensitive kid who loves his mother dearly. They live in Boston.
Does Jack find his mom in as Small as an Elephant?
He is the only person there. The tent is gone and so is their car. Most importantly, Jack's mother is nowhere to be found. This isn't the first time that she has abandoned Jack, but she has never left him alone so far away from home.
Who is the author of as Small as an Elephant?
Jennifer Richard Jacobson'sJennifer 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. A classic journey story, this is a very believable and exciting adventure with modern accoutrements.
What happened at the end of Small as an Elephant?
Jack happily embraces his grandmother, who explains that her daughter is now in a hospital to get better. Jack will live with his grandmother for now. More summaries and resources for teaching or studying Small as an Elephant.
How many pages is small as an elephant?
288Small as an Elephant 4.6 out of 5 stars....Product Details.ISBN-13:9780763663339Pages:288Sales rank:106,997Product dimensions:5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.90(d)Lexile:790L (what's this?)4 more rows•Apr 9, 2013
What level is small as an elephant?
Small as an ElephantInterest LevelReading LevelWord CountGrades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 647985Apr 9, 2013
What is the book Small as an Elephant about?
Jennifer Richard Jacobson’s adventure novel for middle-grade readers, Small as an Elephant (2011), follows a young boy trying to get home after his mentally ill mother leaves him alone at a campsite. Receiving multiple award nominations, the book is popular with both middle grade and teenage readers.
What happens when Jack arrives at the elephant enclosure?
When Jack arrives at the elephant enclosure, his grandmother is waiting for him. Big Jack leaves Jack with his family and leaves. Jack asks his grandmother about what will happen next, and she tells him not to worry. Jack’s mother is in the hospital now, and his grandmother will take care of everything.
Who wrote "Small as an Elephant"?
This detailed literature summary also contains Quotes and a Free Quiz on Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. “Small as an Elephant” is a children’s novel by Jennifer Richard Jacobson which follows the experiences of eleven year-old Jack Martel as he attempts to return home after his psychologically-impaired mother abandons him ...
How many pages are there in Small as an Elephant?
This Study Guide consists of approximately 36 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Small as an Elephant.
Why does Jack decide to go to the animal park?
Instead of going home, Jack decides to head to the animal park at York, Maine, in order to see Lydia, the elephant. It causes Jack to reflect on how he and his mother had argued about visiting Lydia the day before she disappears. Jack’s mother had called him selfish for wanting to see Lydia; Jack had questioned whether or not his mother was taking her medication. Jack secretly worries that his mother’s disappearance could be his fault.
What does Jack steal from his mother?
Visiting a book and gifts shop in Bar Harbor, Jack steals a small plastic elephant, his favorite kind of animal.
What is the setting of Small as an Elephant?
The setting of the book is important because it's in Maine where there is a campground. A boy named Jack Martel. Jack is left behind by his mot.
Who wrote the book Small as an Elephant?
We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson.
Why is the tone of the book sad?
The author's tone in this book is sad because Jack wass left alone in a campground with no parents. According tothis book it says,"But the car was really gone. So was the little tent his mother had pitched on the gravelly ground next to his. All that was left on the site was Jack and his hubba.".
Who is the author of Jack and the Elephant?
Author Jennifer Richard Jacobson has created a story that will tear at the heartstrings of readers. Jack's naïve determination is touching and inspiring as his genuine love for his mother and all things elephant combine in this memorable book.
Is Small As An Elephant a good read?
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 abondoned 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
Reviews
This simply written but emotionally rich tale of an 11-year-old boy abandoned by his bipolar single mother will kindle profound responses in young readers — Booklist Starred Review
About
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.
I would recommend this book to foster children because it shows there can be a happy ending to an out of control situation
I would recommend this book to foster children because it shows there can be a happy ending to an out of control situation.
Characters
Dislikes- I did not like the fact that Jack did not trust the people that were trying to help him.
Excerpt
"Listen, said Big Jack. "I was a foster kid. Bounced from house to house. My mother would be able to take us back for a while, then something would go wrong and we would be living with a family we'd never met. So I know a little about what you're feeling. About the powerlessness, and shame" (262).
This is the theme because throughout the book Jack always had positive thoughts and ideas about finding his mom
This is the theme because throughout the book Jack always had positive thoughts and ideas about finding his mom.
Why was the story of the elephant a courageous act?
Writing this story was a very courageous act because its political satire was direct. One cannot read the story without realizing that it has a meaning far beyond the humorous account of how a gas-filled elephant is buffeted by the winds and blown away from the zoo.
What is the elephant fable?
Word Count: 440. “The Elephant” is a fable written when Poland was under the authoritarian rule of the Communist Party. Those who wished to criticize the oppressive government risked imprisonment and deportation if they spoke directly against the ills they perceived in their society.
How does Mroek end the story?
It is telling that Mroek ends the story by having the schoolchildren who witnessed this hilarious event turn into hooligans who neglect their studies, turn to drink, and break windows.
