Lost Goat Lane - Hardcover

Jordan, Rosa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1561453250 ISBN 13: 9781561453252

Publisher: Peachtree, 2004

Synopsis

An eloquent, dramatic story of an adolescent girl's first glimpse into the problems of prejudice in her community and the redeeming power of friendships.

For thirteen-year-old Kate, being poor in a small rural Florida town means feeling ashamed and isolated. At school, her classmates laugh at her old clothes, and things are not much better at home. Kate's mother is working long hours just to keep food on the table, and Kate has to keep an eye on her brothers.

But one day, the family's goat gets loose and wanders down the road. That's when Kate meets the Wilsons, a tight knit, middle-class Black family. Kate is particularly drawn to Ruby, the glamorous grown daughter who has returned home from New York City. As Kate begins to spend time with Ruby in town, she becomes aware of the undercurrent of discrimination and prejudice that runs through her community and the complex roles of race and class in her own relationships.

Rosa Jordan offers readers a gripping, empathetic tale of how two families come together despite small town prejudices and cultural differences. In doing so, she provides a window into the larger problems in America, where class and race often divide people.

About this title

About the Author

Rosa Jordan holds degrees from Santa Monica Junior College, UCLA, and the University of Guanajuato, Mexico. She is the author of several middle reader and adult books. In cooperation with Earthways Foundation of Malibu, California, Jordan has developed several grass-roots environmental and social justice projects. She lives in Canada.

From the Back Cover

Grizzard deals with the trails and tribulations of a man hurrying toward middle age, totally out of step with the modern world. As humorist turned social historian, Grizzard explores music, morals, food, and fashion of the 80s.

Reviews

Grade 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
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Edition details

• Publisher: Peachtree
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1561453250
• ISBN 13: 9781561453252
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192