After the Goat Man

by Betsy Byars, Ronald Himler (Illustrations)

An overweight, sensitive boy gains the insight and strength to overcome his problems through his search for and discovery of a friend's grandfather, known as the Goat Man.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Betsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!

Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book at age 10, and loved it. Improbably, it has remained my favorite book to this day. Like many of Byers' works, it has a melancholy, bittersweet feel not often found in children's literature. The narrative contains subtle and understated moral underpinnings, paradoxically combined with a gentle fatalism that borders on the existential. The plot is fairly simple, but the use of flashbacks and a shifting narrative point of view makes the book seem rich and involved. The two main characters are more fleshed out and relatable than many from adult novels. Overall, I cannot overstate my love of this book. I hope everyone reads it.

[Anj · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enchanting and witty tale about 3 friends, who go in search for the goat man.
To be quite honest, I actually liked this. It wasn't bad but it was amazing either. I specifically enjoyed how the author made you feel empathetic for the characters.
You are first introduced to Twiggy, a boy whose lost his mother and is currently living with his grandfather (the goat man). Now, when I first read the title I thought this would be interesting but in fact the whole 'goat thing' was...well boring. The grandfather got the nickname of the goat man because he had 2 goats that followed him around everywhere, and they were his best friends... Okay so it was kinda cute at first but totally not what I expected.It was so cheesy and at times boring. Although you feel sorry for Twiggy and feel bad for his grandfather, who is struggling to live in the city, the novel was a bit boring. There were really cheesy jokes at time but I guess the essential message was sweet. Another character which I like is Harold. Harold is portrayed to be a chubby boy and at first you don't seem to really like him, but I did. In one part of the story, Harold's mother scolds him for taking some chunk food, but he shouts at him mother saying that he was just taking a piece of celery and she replies 'Make sure you wash it'. Now what Harold says back to his mum is really sassy as he was like 'What! Is dirt fattening?'While he was arguing with his mother, Harold stole some sweets for his friends (Ada and Twiggy). That was probably my favourite part in the whole novel, as it was so sassy and was probably the most exciting event in the whole novel.
I recommend this book if you are really bored (as it is really short) but also if you want to read a nice, heart-warming novel about 3 friends who love to ply monopoly. :)

[📚Linda Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betsy Byers is a talented and perceptive writer. I knew I had found something special in the 1970s when I read Summer of the Swans and Trouble River. Her young adult fiction is as good as any literary award winning adult fiction.

I love the bond between Ada, Harold, and Figgy in this book. Each has a different story, but still they share their lives. I so badly want to know what happened to them as adults.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable middle grade novel. By delving deep into the protagonists’ wistful ruminations—especially poor overweight Harold’s—Byars not only guides her characters to a precocious philosophical maturity (cf. Peanuts) but also holds the reader’s attention despite there being almost no plot.

[Debi Bourdette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

The construction of a new highway in their West Virginia town has forced Figgy and his grandfather to move from their mountain home to a different house closer to town. As he explores his new neighborhood, Figgy meets Ada and Harold, who are best friends. Ada has recently been through the loss of her mother, and Harold struggles with his love for food, which causes problems with his weight. After hearing on the news that Figgy's grandfather, The Goat Man, has returned to his old house to attempt to prevent its demolition, the three kids band together to venture into the mountain and convince the old man to come home.

I purchased After the Goat Man from a used book sale based solely on my complete faith in the writing abilities of Betsy Byars. As typically happens with a Byars novel, I felt immediate deep affection for her characters, and I read the entire book cover-to-cover in about an hour. Though the story takes on a major issue - the difficulties of accepting modern progress - it does so on a very small, relatable scale. Byars sets her tale within the lives of these three children, using such ordinary events as a Monopoly game, a spot on the TV news, a bike ride, and an accident as the key plot points which propel the story. She helps young readers to care about The Goat Man not by trying to make his gruff character more palatable, but instead by establishing his importance to Figgy and his friends. Byars also never tells the reader what to think about the new highway; she paints a picture of the situation and allows readers to draw their own conclusions. Byars trusts young readers to understand complex issues, and this is what makes her such a talented and appealing writer for kids, even today.

After the Goat Man is an excellent study in friendship, family, community, and hardship, and though it doesn't tie everything up neatly (Byars is not one for perfectly tidy endings), its conclusion feels hopeful and satisfying. I am just never disappointed by anything she writes, and this was book was no exception.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with compassion and wonderful writing, this is the story of three young children who change as a result of the happenstance meeting. Figgy shows up while Ada and Harold are playing Monopoly on the porch. Never hearing of Monopoly before, Figgy talks himself into the game and loses big time, but for him, the excitement of meeting two who actually want to play with him is all he needs to be happy.

Dirty, disheveled, face downward and carrying a lucky rabbits foot, Figgy is a character indeed.
Living with his grandfather in a newer section of town where those whose houses were torn down for a super highway to run through the older sections, Figgy's grandfather stubbornly defends his right to remain in the house he built so long ago.

With the moniker of Goat man, Figgy's grandfather is well known as the trouble making curmudgeon whose face is plastered on front page news articles.

Sullen, depressed, Goat man leaves his prefabricated hand out and travels right back to his cabin. Remaining there, Figgy is left to fend for himself.

Grossly overweight and unable to control his eating, Harold has sad memories of the cruelty at the hands of school mates. When he and Ada help Figgy find his grandfather, an accident occurs and bulky, grossly out-of-shape Harold must run quickly to find Figgy's grandfather. Each step is filled with self doubt and the painful voices of those who were mean. If Harold can save Figgy's life, he must reach inside to overcome his fear.

This Newbery award winning author manages to fill 126 pages with a beautiful story of bravery, love and loyalty.

There were descriptions that brought tears to my eyes.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Figgy and his grandfather, the Goat Man, are forced to leave their cabin in the woods when a new highway cuts through their land. The move into town is hard because Grandfather has lived in the cabin for a long time. In town, Figgy meets Harold V. Coleman and Ada. When Grandfather decides to go back to the woods to defend his cabin with a shotgun, Figgy asks Harold to help him convince Grandfather to abandon his quest. The three children head for the cabin. Figgy walks while his friends take their bicycles. They, finally, convince Figgy to ride double with Harold. Figgy, who dislikes bicycles, gives in and gets on. Harold, in trying to keep up with Ada, goes too fast and loses control of his bike. Figgy flies through the air and breaks his leg. Now, it is up to Harold to bring the Goat Man back. Afraid of the task ahead, Harold goes to the cabin alone. His attitude soon changes when he realizes that the Goat Man is just a sad, old man trying to keep something he loves. When the grandfather hears of Figgy's accident, he leaves the cabin immediately knowing that it will be destroyed while he is gone.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Luann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite what the book summary says, the main character of this book is actually Figgy. Figgy and his grandfather were just recently forced off their land due to a new superhighway slated to go right through their cabin. Figgy is happy in his new house, but his grandfather, the "Goat Man," is having trouble adjusting. Figgy makes friends with Ada and Harold and ends up playing a game of Monopoly with them that goes on for several days. The conflict arises when Figgy's grandfather goes back to their old cabin with his gun and refuses to leave.

This was a quick read, but I think I would have like it even more if it was at least twice as long. The characters were interesting and felt real. I would have enjoyed reading much more with these characters. The conflict could have been more fleshed out so that the resolution wasn't quite so abrupt.

[Alison Levie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written book about developing empathy. Interesting question for discussion: who is the main character? At first I thought it was Figgy, but in some ways, toward the end of the book the author told the story more from the perspective of Harold. It is easy to like both Figgy and Ada. Figgy has a sad story that pulls at the heartstrings. Overweight Harold seems self-absorbed and not very likable. Do you like him more as you hear some of the challenges he faces? How does he change in the book and why? What do you think will happen to the characters after the story ends?

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read "After the Goat Man" since I was ten or so, but remembered every scene as I read it, monopoly, rabbit's foot, cabin, grandfather, etc. It's brief and sweet and sad. Reading it I teared up, but it's not cloying or obvious - an all around great book.

[Cws]

JAR4-Bya

[Gregory Viars · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that they need a new title because it doesn't think that it matches. I think that it was a very good book. But it's the title that irritates me. B but it was what rated as was worth it.

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring

[Alex]

Out of all the books we had to read that summer this was my favborite one!:)