Publishers Weekly
12/19/2016
When Toronto native Kid arrives in New York City with her parents to spend several months looking after a cousin’s dog, she expects to see new and unusual things, but the rumor of a goat living atop their building seems farfetched, even for Manhattan. But a goat is indeed there, and adult author Fleming (Gay Dwarves of America) uses humorous third-person narration to chronicle the animal’s circumstances and the story of how it arrived on the building, switching attention among multiple characters, both human and animal. Several of them have obstacles to overcome—including the goat’s hunger, Kid’s social phobia, her friend Will’s fear of windows, and an older neighbor’s frustration at the physical aftereffects of a stroke—which are dealt with as they search for the goat. Kid’s adjustment to New York City, her time in museums, and the warm and unusual neighbors make for a lively yet tender story. Will’s parents died during 9/11, a revelation handled with sensitivity, and the novel’s underlying theme of people coming together on a shared quest makes for a heartwarming and very New York tale. Ages 9–11. (Mar.)
National Post
The Goat takes a concept easiest told as zany and madcap, but isntead wisely presents it as perfectly ordinary. If Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach made a kids' movie … this would certainly be their script.
STARRED REVIEW Booklist
With delicate insight and humor, Fleming cleverly unites people — and goats — from vastly different walks of life in an offbeat celebration of courage and individuality.
The Wall Street Journal
At turns funny and affecting, this [is an] ingeniously knitted ensemble piece for 9- to 12-year-olds.
STARRED REVIEW Quill & Quire
A quirky, riotous story that uses a preposterous conceit to deftly veil much deeper issues and themes.
Horn Book
An affectionate and quirky ode to Manhattan.
From the Publisher
About The Goat
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids, Top 10 2017
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017
"At turns funny and affecting, this [is an] ingeniously knitted ensemble piece for 9- to 12-year-olds." — The Wall Street Journal
"The convoluted, intricate tale is filled with joy, sweet sadness, and a triumph of spirit. Lovely." — Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
"With delicate insight and humor, Fleming cleverly unites people — and goats — from vastly different walks of life in an offbeat celebration of courage and individuality." — Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
"Kid’s adjustment to New York City, her time in museums, and the warm and unusual neighbors make for a lively yet tender story." — Publishers Weekly
"The list of characters is long, and eccentricities abound, but so do charm and warm humor. Perfect for tweens who prefer quiet, character-driven novels and fans of E.L. Konigsburg." — School Library Journal
"An affectionate and quirky ode to Manhattan." — Horn Book
School Library Journal
02/01/2017
Gr 5–8—A kid named Kid travels with her parents from her home in Canada to New York City to apartment-sit and dog-sit for a dog named Cat. Her father's uncle is traveling abroad for six months. While this is a great opportunity for her parents (her mother's off-Broadway play is in rehearsals, and her father will use the time to write his own play), Kid is already missing her own pet, a cat, as well as her friends and her school. When she arrives at the apartment building and looks up, she spies a bit of white near the top of the building. Later, upon hearing rumors that a goat lives on the roof, she wonders how that is possible. As she and her father settle into a routine that revolves around calming her anxious, high-maintenance mother, she meets Will, who is homeschooled by his grandmother, who has taken care of him ever since his parents died in the Twin Towers on September 11. Both Will and Kid have their own quirks and fears, and they fall into an easy friendship and soon decide to investigate the mystery of the goat. This slim, slice-of-life novel unfolds slowly as readers are introduced to key residents of the building who may or may not believe there is a goat on the roof. The list of characters is long, and eccentricities abound, but so do charm and warm humor. VERDICT Hand to tweens who prefer quiet, character-driven novels and fans of E.L. Konigsburg.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2016-12-21
There's a goat living on the roof of a New York City apartment building—or is it merely an urban legend?White Toronto native Kid and her parents arrive in the city, where they will live in a cousin's apartment and take care of his dog, Cat, while he is away. Her mom is a scattered, nervous actor who will be appearing in an off-Broadway play that she created. Cousin Doug leaves them a detailed book describing every possible facet of Cat's care and all the people with whom he interacts. Kid feels generally "paralyzed by shyness" except when she is safe in her "family bubble," but she finds herself welcomed by Cat's friends. Brown-skinned Will, whose parents were killed in the twin towers, speaks in Spoonerisms, and is afraid to look out of windows, tells Kid about the goat. Together they are determined to find it, and while involved in their quest, they lose some of their fears. Fleming has created delightfully eccentric and warmhearted characters that exist in a close-knit community in lovely, accurately described New York City venues. The delightfully named, multiply diverse tenants in the building have interesting back stories and are given a turn at expressing their viewpoints. Even the goat tells of his hunger and longings. The convoluted, intricate tale is filled with joy, sweet sadness, and a triumph of spirit. Lovely. (Fiction. 9-12)
