The Goatnappers
by Rosa Jordan
by Rosa Jordan
THE GOATNAPPERS by Rosa Jordan
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 4/1/07
Publisher: Peachtree
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
Rating: 4 Stars
Freshman Justin Martin is pretty sure all of his problems in life are about to be over. He's just been made the youngest
varsity baseball player in almost two decades, he found a bike to take him home after practice, and all he needs to do to
make everything complete is to sell Little Billy, one of the family's pet goats. He even finds someone to buy Little Billy for
exactly the right price! Justin's life is golden.
Until Justin and his siblings find out that Little Billy's new owner is mistreating him. If they leave him they'll all feel horrible
and guilty forever. If they try to buy him back, Justin loses his bike and his spot on the baseball team. If they steal him...
There just doesn't seem to be a good solution.
Just when it looks pretty bad, Justin's long-absent father appears, and things get much worse. Now everyone in the family
is thrown into an emotional mess. If Justin doesn't figure it all out quick, and get his head back in the game, he may just
lose his spot on the baseball team anyway. Not to mention the respect of his family, and himself.
Justin's life may not be something you recognize, or it may be a lot like yours. Either way, the decisions he has to make
are a lot like the ones everyone deals with. How will you deal with injustice? Do you give someone who hurt you a
chance to explain? Do you let them back in and risk them hurting you again? How far will you go to get what you want?
This book is about deciding right and wrong for yourself. It's about choosing what kind of person you're going to be and
defining your place in the world. These aren't easy things to decide, but I think Justin sets a good, honest example.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 4/1/07
Publisher: Peachtree
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
Rating: 4 Stars
Freshman Justin Martin is pretty sure all of his problems in life are about to be over. He's just been made the youngest
varsity baseball player in almost two decades, he found a bike to take him home after practice, and all he needs to do to
make everything complete is to sell Little Billy, one of the family's pet goats. He even finds someone to buy Little Billy for
exactly the right price! Justin's life is golden.
Until Justin and his siblings find out that Little Billy's new owner is mistreating him. If they leave him they'll all feel horrible
and guilty forever. If they try to buy him back, Justin loses his bike and his spot on the baseball team. If they steal him...
There just doesn't seem to be a good solution.
Just when it looks pretty bad, Justin's long-absent father appears, and things get much worse. Now everyone in the family
is thrown into an emotional mess. If Justin doesn't figure it all out quick, and get his head back in the game, he may just
lose his spot on the baseball team anyway. Not to mention the respect of his family, and himself.
Justin's life may not be something you recognize, or it may be a lot like yours. Either way, the decisions he has to make
are a lot like the ones everyone deals with. How will you deal with injustice? Do you give someone who hurt you a
chance to explain? Do you let them back in and risk them hurting you again? How far will you go to get what you want?
This book is about deciding right and wrong for yourself. It's about choosing what kind of person you're going to be and
defining your place in the world. These aren't easy things to decide, but I think Justin sets a good, honest example.