Elephant in the Classroom: The story of a troubled 8th-grader, his dog, and a family secret

The clever lost dog from Elephant in the Living Room finally finds a home with a new family and befriends Zachary, a 121/2 year old who is slightly more sensitive than most boys his age, preferring nature and art to sports, for which he is increasingly bullied by tougher boys at his middle school. Too embarrassed to tell his parents or older sister, Tristan, a budding artist, his main confidante becomes the new dog, Cassia, and the two become dependent on each other as Zachary tries in various ways to avoid the bullying at school and deal with his insecurities as he transitions from the innocence of childhood to the often harsh realities of the adult world, while Cassia slowly comes to terms with the bullying she endured with her first family who abandoned her on a mountaintop to die. Full of the dog’s humorous and irreverent commentary, Elephant in the Classroom is the story of how Zachary and his best friend Leo endure the difficulties of Bullying which are finally overcome with the help of a sympathetic nurse at school, and offers guidance for kids age 11-14 who are going through one of the horrific teenage rituals in the modern world, giving encouragement to stay true to yourself, and with a list of resources for those whose lives are affected by bullies.