The Goats
Author(s): Brock Cole
Harmless camp pranks can quickly spiral out of control, but they also provide a perfect opportunity for two social outcasts to overcome and triumph.
A boy and a girl are stripped and marooned on a small island for the night. They are the "goats." The kids at camp think it's a great joke, just a harmless old tradition. But the goats don't see it that way. Instead of trying to get back to camp, they decide to call home. But no one can come and get them. So they're on their own, wandering through a small town trying to find clothing, food, and shelter, all while avoiding suspicious adults—especially the police. The boy and the girl find they rather like life on their own. If their parents ever do show up to rescue them, the boy and the girl might be long gone. . . .
The Goats is a 1987 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year.
Review(s):
“A significant addition to the body of children's literature.” —Starred, The Horn Book
“A sensitive portrayal of that perilous time when young people are discovering their real strengths but must still bow to adult authority, a tale of underdogs triumphant, a powerful and beguiling story of survival and transformation.” —Starred, Kirkus Reviews
Long-listed Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List, Long-listed Booklist Editors' Choice, New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year, American Library Association Notable Children's Books, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year (1987), Long-listed Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List (1988), Long-listed NYTBR Notable Children's BOTY (1987), Long-listed NYTBR Notable Children's BOTY, American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year, Long-listed Booklist Best Books of the '80s, Long-listed School Library Best Books of the Year, Long-listed ALA Notable Children's Books, Long-listed ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Long-listed Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
ISBN: 9780312611910