Surprisingly good. Well written and heartfelt. ( )

I liked this one. My only complaint is that the characters were very two dimensional, but the story was good enough to make me want to read it anyway. ( )

Some parts were a little boring but overall it was a really good book. ( )

Book on CD performed by William Dufris
3.5***

Jack Martel and his Mom have gone on a camping trip to Acadia National Park over Labor Day Weekend – a last outing before school starts. But when Jack comes out of his tent on the first morning, he notices something wrong. His Mom’s car and tent are both missing. There’s no note and she never said anything about going somewhere. So where could she be? It’s not the first time his Mom has taken off, but in the past, he’s been at home in their Boston apartment. Now he has to travel across Maine on his own, with only a small plastic elephant in his pocket as a companion.

I loved Jack. He’s resilient, intelligent, resourceful and deeply loyal to his Mom. It’s clear that she suffers from mental illness – most probably bi-polar disorder – and Jack believes he needs to protect her (and himself) from authorities who would separate them. I like the way that Jacobson writes Jack. He’s a believable eleven-year-old kid, especially given his circumstance and experience being on his own and secretive about his situation. Of course, he does come across adults and other kids who help him … sometimes unwittingly.

I also appreciated the information about elephants that began each chapter. And how those tidbits related to what happened in the story. Although, Jack’s obsession with elephants seems like something a younger child would cling to.

This is classified as children’s fiction in my library system. I think some children might find this story distressing.

William Dufris does a fine job narrating the audio version, although I did think his interpretation of Jack’s voice made him sound younger than age eleven. ( )

Eleven year old Jack Martel is looking forward to camping out with his mother over Labor Day weekend in Maine’s Acadia National Park. When he wakes up the first morning he discovers he is alone. His mother has disappeared along with the car and all their food. We learn from Jack that his mother is “spinning”, which lets the reader know she is most likely suffering from mental health issues. He's afraid the police will send his mother to jail if he calls them and that Social Services will take him away from his home. He decides to walk the 248 miles back home to Massachusetts and see if his mother is there. Jack is obsessed with elephants and decides to head in the direction of a sanctuary to see Lydia, Maine’s only elephant. Along the way he runs into several sticky situations that require him to think on his feet.

I thought this was just a lovely book. Told through the eyes of a boy who loves his mother, it also addressed mental illness in a positive light. The book is recommended for ages 10 and up but I found it quite compelling for the adult reader. You are rooting for Jack all along the journey and have the opportunity to view the world through his eyes. Each chapter begins with informative elephant quotes that show that elephants and humans share many of the same qualities.

I recommend this book to all readers for a sweet story does a great job making you feel like you are a part of the journey.
( )