Lost Goat Lane

December 1, 2004
Gr 5-7-This story is set in rural Florida, and although the characters are close to Palm Springs and Miami, for them, it's as far away as New York. Kate, 13, Justin, 14, and Chip, 7, spend a long, hot summer running their farm while their mother works in a nearby dairy. When Kate's goat runs away, it ends up at the home of a neighboring black couple whose daughter doesn't want her son playing with "white trash," i.e., Chip Martin. However, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are warm and welcoming, and the three children are made to feel a part of their family. In the meantime, their beloved dog is consumed by an alligator; they survive a hurricane, taking all of the animals into the house; and worry about losing their home when their mother can't pay the mortgage. This episodic novel focuses on Kate as she learns a lot about herself, her family, and prejudice. The message about learning to make family with those around you and to look at people's hearts, not their skin or shabby clothes, is obvious, but the fully realized characters and the warmth of the story make up for the small sermons. A tender, satisfying offering.-Amy Patrick, New York Public Library

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2005
The white Martins and the African-American Wilsons have been neighbors their whole lives, but long-standing prejudices on both sides have kept them apart. When the lonely Martin children finally go next door, they form friendships and an unlikely business partnership. Filled with complex characters, and a cute goat or three, this novel will entertain readers while subtly raising questions about the nature of prejudice.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)