The Goatnappers - Hardcover

Jordan, Rosa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1561454001 ISBN 13: 9781561454006

Publisher: Peachtree, 2007

Synopsis

Justin struggles with conflicting choices and important decisions about family, loyalty, and responsibility as he decides what his path in life will be.

Justin Martin is almost fifteen, and up until now his life has seemed woefully predictable—barely getting by in school, taking the bus home to do his chores around their small farm, bickering with his younger brother and sister. His mom has to work nonstop to make ends meet.

Then when Justin becomes the first freshman to make the high school's varsity baseball team, he's convinced his problems are all behind him. All he needs now is a little money for a bicycle to ride home from baseball practice. To earn the money for the bike, Justin sells Little Billy, one of the family's beloved baby goats.

But Justin's siblings find out that the new owner is horribly mistreating Little Billy. Then, when a red sports car appears in the Martin's driveway one afternoon, is it bringing emotional upheaval for the entire family, the tempting lure of adventure, or both?

Author Rosa Jordan's memorable, well-drawn characters are woven together into a web of complex relationships marked by the challenges of figuring out what is right and wrong and the confusion of divided loyalties. The result is a richly textured portrait of small town life and a struggling family that will intrigue and satisfy readers.

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

Justin Martin is almost fifteen, and things are finally starting to look up for him. Up until now his life has seemed woefully predictable—barely getting by in school, taking the bus home to do his chores around their small farm, bickering with his younger brother and sister. His mom has to work nonstop to make ends meet. Then when Justin becomes the first freshman in almost twenty years to make the high school’s varsity baseball team, he’s convinced his problems are all behind him. All he needs now to make his happiness complete is a bicycle so he can ride home after baseball practice. To earn the money for the bike, Justin sells Little Billy, one of the family’s beloved baby goats. And that is where things begin to get complicated. Justin’s siblings find out that the new owner, Mr. Grimsted, is horribly mistreating Little Billy. Must Justin break the law to save the poor animal? Then, when a red sports car appears in the Martin’s driveway one afternoon, is it bringing emotional upheaval for the entire family, the tempting lure of adventure, or both?

Reviews

Grade 5–7—In this sequel to Lost Goat Lane (Peachtree, 2004), 15-year-old Justin is overjoyed to be the only freshman accepted on his school's varsity baseball team at his rural Florida school. The one drawback is his lack of transportation to and from practice, but this obstacle appears to be surmounted when he sells his goat to pay for a bicycle. When he and his siblings find that the animal is being mistreated by the new owner, they face an ethical dilemma: do they turn their backs on Little Billy's suffering or do they take action? Together, they hatch a plan to "goatnap" him, but then must face the consequences of their actions. As Justin struggles to balance school, baseball, and the care of the purloined goat, things are further complicated when his father, who left the family four years earlier, returns to the area to reestablish a relationship with his children. Some awkward language can tend toward heavy-handedness, but the well-defined characters will keep readers engaged, and Jordan skillfully handles the moral issue of whether breaking the law is ever the right thing to do. Purchase this book for students who enjoyed these characters in the first volume.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In this lively sequel to Lost Goat Lane (2004), the viewpoint changes from Kate to her older brother, Justin, who is struggling to keep up his grades so that he does not lose his place as the only freshman on the varsity baseball team. Then the kids' dad turns up after a four-year absence, and Justin is tempted to go off with him. The honest family drama is woven together with the neighborhood story, as the kids on the block, teens and younger, join together to rescue a beloved baby goat from an abusive owner. There is a huge cast to keep straight, but the adults are also interesting. Justin's family is beautifully drawn, including his mom, who does not hate her irresponsible ex, while Justin's best friend's parents threaten each other with guns. The animal cruelty issues will draw readers, and so will the friendships across race, gender, and age that show the meaning of community. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Peachtree
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1561454001
• ISBN 13: 9781561454006
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224