Crossing Jordan
by Adrian Fogelin
by Adrian Fogelin
CROSSING JORDAN by Adrian Fogelin
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 8/1/02
Publisher: Peachtree
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
Rating: 5 Stars
“Good fences make good neighbors.” That’s what Cass’s dad said when he found out a black family was moving in
next door. Cass even helped him build the fence. But as the new neighbors moved in, Cass couldn’t help but be
curious. Watching through a peephole in the fence, Cass’s blue eye found a brown eye staring back at her.
Cass asked Jemmie, “Do you like to run?”
Jemmie responded, “Run? Girl, I don’t run, I fly. Can’t nobody beat me.”
The race was on. They both sneaked out of their homes the next morning to find out who was fastest, and instead
found “Chocolate Milk."
This is the story of their friendship. It’s also a story of crossing boundaries, change, and eventual acceptance. Theirs is a
natural friendship, a friendship that’s tried by the bigotry of Cass’s dad, and the stubbornness of Jemmie’s mother. It
takes the misfortunes of a tiny baby for the parents to begin tearing down their mental fences.
Adrian Fogelin does a beautiful job of portraying tenuous relationships that exist among people trying to understand
cultures different from their own, The girls are sweet and fun; their dialogue is well-written, immersing the reader in the
long, hot, dog days of summer in Tallahassee, Florida.
CROSSING JORDAN leaves the reader with hope for future generations, that they will be inspired to appreciate each
other, just as Cass and Jemmie were inspired to call themselves Chocolate Milk. This is the first book of Adrian
Fogelin’s that I’ve read, and I’m sure I’ll be looking for more of her titles.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 8/1/02
Publisher: Peachtree
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
Rating: 5 Stars
“Good fences make good neighbors.” That’s what Cass’s dad said when he found out a black family was moving in
next door. Cass even helped him build the fence. But as the new neighbors moved in, Cass couldn’t help but be
curious. Watching through a peephole in the fence, Cass’s blue eye found a brown eye staring back at her.
Cass asked Jemmie, “Do you like to run?”
Jemmie responded, “Run? Girl, I don’t run, I fly. Can’t nobody beat me.”
The race was on. They both sneaked out of their homes the next morning to find out who was fastest, and instead
found “Chocolate Milk."
This is the story of their friendship. It’s also a story of crossing boundaries, change, and eventual acceptance. Theirs is a
natural friendship, a friendship that’s tried by the bigotry of Cass’s dad, and the stubbornness of Jemmie’s mother. It
takes the misfortunes of a tiny baby for the parents to begin tearing down their mental fences.
Adrian Fogelin does a beautiful job of portraying tenuous relationships that exist among people trying to understand
cultures different from their own, The girls are sweet and fun; their dialogue is well-written, immersing the reader in the
long, hot, dog days of summer in Tallahassee, Florida.
CROSSING JORDAN leaves the reader with hope for future generations, that they will be inspired to appreciate each
other, just as Cass and Jemmie were inspired to call themselves Chocolate Milk. This is the first book of Adrian
Fogelin’s that I’ve read, and I’m sure I’ll be looking for more of her titles.