| Booklist Reviews |
| *Starred Review* 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. Waking up in a campground on Maine's Mount Desert Island to find his mother gone, Jack's initial worry is tempered by the knowledge that she has vanished before during episodes of what he calls her spinning times. But now she has left him with little more than his clothes and a few dollars in his pocket. Justifiably afraid that he will end up forcibly separated from his mother if he seeks any adult help, he sets out on foot for their Boston home. Jacobson credibly reconstructs his route and thought processes as his increasing physical exhaustion mirrors his inner turmoil, and he tries to stay out of sight while finding food and shelter over several days. The trek ends on a less believable but ultimately satisfying turn; Jack is finally caught after his fascination with elephants prompts him to change course in hopes of seeing Lydia, the only live elephant in Maine, and a youth worker who has been searching for him actually takes him for a visit before contacting the authorities. Though Jack's mother never does appear, she does exert a strong presence on the tale by being constantly on his mind and in his memories. Each chapter is introduced with a quote or fact about elephants, mirroring Jack's obsession with the animal, illuminating aspects of the boy's identity, and harmonizing with the events of his journey. A deeply perceptive look at the universal fear of abandonment, and how one child copes with a damaged parent. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews. |
Adorable! My first ebook read!
