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Edgar Allan
After adopting a Negro child, a minister faces mixed reactions from his family and the community
95 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
10 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
John Neufeld
30 books27 followers"I always wanted to be a writer. I started writing early, and badly, sending off short stories to national magazines when I was ten or eleven. They were all returned.
"But I kept at it. All through high school and college. Everything I sent out came back. Thanks but no thanks.
"I moved to New York and worked in a publishing house. I kept writing. In fact, I was fired from my first job for spending more time on my own projects than on the publishing house's.
"I wrote on.
"In 1968, an editor from a small California publishing house and I had lunch. She gave me an outline for a story she thought I could write well. I knew immediately I had to try.
"But what I wanted to do was write a short book, full of emotion and detail and excitement, for readers of all ages. I didn't know that Edgar Allan would be regarded as a children's book.
"It was.
"And when it was, everything fell into place. The minute Edgar Allan was launched successfully, I sat down to write Lisa, Bright and Dark. It, too, was a success so there was no turning back. Although I do write books for adults, the ideas that stimulate me always seem to come to me in the form of a story for young readers. I get ideas from everywhere: from the newspapers, from radio, from lunches and talks I have with friends.
"Right now, if I never get another idea, I have more story lines to work on than my lifetime probably permits."
Both Edgar Allan and Lisa, Bright and Dark, were selected as among the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times. Lisa, Bright and Dark was filmed for television, and aired as a Hallmark Hall of Fame on NBC-TV. Mr. Neufeld's other books have as recently as spring 2000 been cited as among the best of last year's Young Adult titles by the New York Public Library and YASLA.
(From: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/au...)
"But I kept at it. All through high school and college. Everything I sent out came back. Thanks but no thanks.
"I moved to New York and worked in a publishing house. I kept writing. In fact, I was fired from my first job for spending more time on my own projects than on the publishing house's.
"I wrote on.
"In 1968, an editor from a small California publishing house and I had lunch. She gave me an outline for a story she thought I could write well. I knew immediately I had to try.
"But what I wanted to do was write a short book, full of emotion and detail and excitement, for readers of all ages. I didn't know that Edgar Allan would be regarded as a children's book.
"It was.
"And when it was, everything fell into place. The minute Edgar Allan was launched successfully, I sat down to write Lisa, Bright and Dark. It, too, was a success so there was no turning back. Although I do write books for adults, the ideas that stimulate me always seem to come to me in the form of a story for young readers. I get ideas from everywhere: from the newspapers, from radio, from lunches and talks I have with friends.
"Right now, if I never get another idea, I have more story lines to work on than my lifetime probably permits."
Both Edgar Allan and Lisa, Bright and Dark, were selected as among the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times. Lisa, Bright and Dark was filmed for television, and aired as a Hallmark Hall of Fame on NBC-TV. Mr. Neufeld's other books have as recently as spring 2000 been cited as among the best of last year's Young Adult titles by the New York Public Library and YASLA.
(From: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/au...)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 8, 2008
I liked this book a lot because it was an easy read with a strong message. It showed the beauty within peoples hearts and how open minded some people are. Even though there are closed minded peopl ein this world, there are good people as well.
March 31, 2008
A family of four. A new member. A different color. Pride. The struggles. The sister. The car. The family. What does this explain? This book was really good...well at least until the ending. It was sweet and touching, but the pride in this book was a little overtaking...and the ending was horrible.
December 11, 2013
After rereading Lisa Bright and Dark, I decided to investigate the "social causes" other reviewers mentioned. I found Edgar Allen, his first book, which I had also not heard of before, though it is touted on the cover of Lisa Bright and Dark. As it turns out, this book was way ahead of its time, but in today's world would not cause too many ripples. The main characters are actually MN's family who play a role in L B&D as well. It is told from the view point of the 12 year old son, MN's younger brother. The family adopts a three year old black boy named Edgar Allen, and the two youngest members of the family embrace him, MN rejects him outright, and the narrator takes a stand in support of the newest member of the family. He narrates the various racist reactions of people in the community to a three year old black child. Eventually, the pressure is too much, and the parents return EA to the adoption agency. It's sad and our narrator feels his family betrayed him, especially his father who did not stand up for what is right. The rest of the story shows how the various family members deal with EA's return and the let down many in the family feel, each in their own way.
Today, there are many biracial families, and even families adopting kids of other races. Yes, it races some eyebrows but it does not cause the kind of reaction of the novel. I do remember in the early 70's my aunt showing me a picture of my cousin who was an adult and his wife and the boy they adopted, who was a little black boy. My cousin was also a minister like MN's dad. HOwever, I don't think they got any of the flack the family in the book did. Imagine being told you will lose your church if you keep the black baby you adopted and then doing what the church board asked, and then being told you lost your job anyway because you did not stand up to the church board. I'm finding that part of the story had to swallow. I know church boards and vestry's can be fickle and picky, but this is a bit much!!!!
Anyway, not sure I would recommend this book for discussion. A light 2 hour read, but not worth buying and unfortunately, the library did not carry it. Glad I had a gift certificate...is all I can say.
Today, there are many biracial families, and even families adopting kids of other races. Yes, it races some eyebrows but it does not cause the kind of reaction of the novel. I do remember in the early 70's my aunt showing me a picture of my cousin who was an adult and his wife and the boy they adopted, who was a little black boy. My cousin was also a minister like MN's dad. HOwever, I don't think they got any of the flack the family in the book did. Imagine being told you will lose your church if you keep the black baby you adopted and then doing what the church board asked, and then being told you lost your job anyway because you did not stand up to the church board. I'm finding that part of the story had to swallow. I know church boards and vestry's can be fickle and picky, but this is a bit much!!!!
Anyway, not sure I would recommend this book for discussion. A light 2 hour read, but not worth buying and unfortunately, the library did not carry it. Glad I had a gift certificate...is all I can say.
September 3, 2008
I found this book in Emmeline's classroom. Published in 1968 I wasn't sure if it would be
PC enough for 2008.. well it does have an offensive word that I hate.. but the story is fascinating and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.. great for a discussion group. I have encouraged my 6th grade niece to read it as she has a baby brother adopted from Ethiopia and am curious to know how she feels and reacts to the book- I am anxious for Rachael M. to give her
report as well.. lots of perspectives .. will make for a great discussion. Small, unheard of book, easy read, but so thought provoking, I have suggested that Emmeline read it outloud to her classroom of all hispanics.. Wow what reactions will they have.. When they read of a white family in the 60's living far away from the Civil Rights movement of the South, in San Francisco area..(progressive SF)as they adopt a 3 year old Black boy..will he be treated better, worse, or the same in SF than in the South? How will the family react?? How would you react?? Hmmm?
PC enough for 2008.. well it does have an offensive word that I hate.. but the story is fascinating and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.. great for a discussion group. I have encouraged my 6th grade niece to read it as she has a baby brother adopted from Ethiopia and am curious to know how she feels and reacts to the book- I am anxious for Rachael M. to give her
report as well.. lots of perspectives .. will make for a great discussion. Small, unheard of book, easy read, but so thought provoking, I have suggested that Emmeline read it outloud to her classroom of all hispanics.. Wow what reactions will they have.. When they read of a white family in the 60's living far away from the Civil Rights movement of the South, in San Francisco area..(progressive SF)as they adopt a 3 year old Black boy..will he be treated better, worse, or the same in SF than in the South? How will the family react?? How would you react?? Hmmm?
June 24, 2010
I learned from this book not to judge a book by its cover , but in this book and the setting in time people didnt care how good hearted a person was, this book is about a white family who adopted a black child named edgar that learned to love him no matter their conditions, they let the pressures around them and racism get to them and they return this spontanious warm hearted kid
January 30, 2013
This book, which was published in 1968, is about a family who brings an African American boy into their white family. The children all have different reactions to the new child in their family and the community is not very supportive of their decision. It would be a good book to talk about how people treated one another before the civil rights movement and how things are different now.
June 16, 2013
Amazing, simple, profound little book. A White family adopts a 3yr old African American boy, and faces the bigotry and pressure of their White community. It's the story of their struggles with conviction and courage, and with their own racism. Told from the perspective of the 12 yr old son, this book is a fast but breathtaking read.
October 7, 2011
I was a bit bored in 6th grade science and was checking out the books in that classroom library when i cam across Edgar Allen. I liked it well enough especially since it was told through the eyes of a 12 year old writer. A bit old school but it was written in the 70's after all.
August 14, 2010
One of my favorite teen authors in the 1970s. He wrote issue books....
Currently reading
February 13, 2011This book is so great it teaches to not judge a person from just looks. It also teach abiut the struggles of having a black baby in a white family. This book remu=inds me of the blind side.
May 24, 2012
This was the first book my mother ever gave me and I still have it and continue to read it.
June 7, 2014
A short novel with a profound message about racism, family dynamics and the importance of personal integrity and maintaining a congruent self.
August 4, 2012
I'm reading this in school... I'm not the biggest fan...
June 25, 2022
Edgar Allan, by John Neufeld, published in 1968, was a fascinating book. It's about a twelve-year-old white boy named Michael and his relationship with his minister father and siblings after they adopt a black boy named Edgar Allan and the effects of such a decision.
It's kind of a sad book. It's told from a white perspective, through Michael's young eyes, and it's kind of about the loss of trust and respect for his father. After they adopt Edgar Allan, the family endures much racism, mainly from the congregation, townspeople, and even from members of the family.
What happens is hard to take, even when looking at it from a 1968 perspective. It really did make me think, especially now that Roe vs Wade was overturned. I mean, you had these people who are against abortion, okay, so they claim that society will take care of these children, but there's nothing really set up for them. Especially since the people, it affects most are poor people and most of them are black. And if you're new to this country, we have a racism problem among white people. So it just struck me as funny (not laugh funny) that people think these black children will just get adopted yet there are so many people and communities that are against black people, like in this book. It's like this book could have been written tomorrow and still be relevant today, which is pathetic and sad at the same time. We really haven't moved the needle much in our fears, bigotry, and racism.
Anyway, it was an interesting and short read, told with simplicity. I didn't like the ending. I thought it was a cop-out ending and didn't make me sympathize with the white family for their weak and appalling actions. Edgar Allan, by John Neufeld. My rating - 3/5
It's kind of a sad book. It's told from a white perspective, through Michael's young eyes, and it's kind of about the loss of trust and respect for his father. After they adopt Edgar Allan, the family endures much racism, mainly from the congregation, townspeople, and even from members of the family.
What happens is hard to take, even when looking at it from a 1968 perspective. It really did make me think, especially now that Roe vs Wade was overturned. I mean, you had these people who are against abortion, okay, so they claim that society will take care of these children, but there's nothing really set up for them. Especially since the people, it affects most are poor people and most of them are black. And if you're new to this country, we have a racism problem among white people. So it just struck me as funny (not laugh funny) that people think these black children will just get adopted yet there are so many people and communities that are against black people, like in this book. It's like this book could have been written tomorrow and still be relevant today, which is pathetic and sad at the same time. We really haven't moved the needle much in our fears, bigotry, and racism.
Anyway, it was an interesting and short read, told with simplicity. I didn't like the ending. I thought it was a cop-out ending and didn't make me sympathize with the white family for their weak and appalling actions. Edgar Allan, by John Neufeld. My rating - 3/5
July 16, 2023
Remember in LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK (1969), how narrator Betsy gushes about Mary Nell Fickett: "she used to LIVE in California!"? This book (1968) is about her time there when she was 14, narrated by her 12-year-old brother Michael.
Mostly, Mary Nell is siding with the neighbors and her minister father's congregation about her parents' idea to adopt a little Black boy. Michael isn't sure how he feels about the situation, but once little Edgar Allan arrives, all Michael sees is a cute, smart, happy preschooler. Michael's preschooler brother Stephen sees a playmate (and a new occupant for his recently-vacated high-chair), and their 5 1/2-year-old sister Sally Ann sees another younger kid she can teach like she's been teaching Stephen. But the congregation and neighborhood are thinking: "Oh, those Ficketts! What are they thinking?"...to which Reverend and Mrs. Fickett respond: "Oh, you neighbors, what are you thinking about what we're thinking?...Because maybe that's why the Lord is leading us to do this."
I like Mrs. Fickett's view that "you can only hope to understand [God] by seeing where He is and where He ISN'T"; also "where He isn't is often more interesting and tells us more about Him and His ways than where He is" (p.8).
1968. 55 years ago.
P.S. It's Edgar ALLAN; look at the pic of the cover. What's with the HORRifying dis-R-E-S-P-E-C-T?
Mostly, Mary Nell is siding with the neighbors and her minister father's congregation about her parents' idea to adopt a little Black boy. Michael isn't sure how he feels about the situation, but once little Edgar Allan arrives, all Michael sees is a cute, smart, happy preschooler. Michael's preschooler brother Stephen sees a playmate (and a new occupant for his recently-vacated high-chair), and their 5 1/2-year-old sister Sally Ann sees another younger kid she can teach like she's been teaching Stephen. But the congregation and neighborhood are thinking: "Oh, those Ficketts! What are they thinking?"...to which Reverend and Mrs. Fickett respond: "Oh, you neighbors, what are you thinking about what we're thinking?...Because maybe that's why the Lord is leading us to do this."
I like Mrs. Fickett's view that "you can only hope to understand [God] by seeing where He is and where He ISN'T"; also "where He isn't is often more interesting and tells us more about Him and His ways than where He is" (p.8).
1968. 55 years ago.
P.S. It's Edgar ALLAN; look at the pic of the cover. What's with the HORRifying dis-R-E-S-P-E-C-T?
July 22, 2020
This book is based on a true story that appeared in the LA Times. It was written in the 1970s. The book is plot driven and there is no character development. A white family adopts a young black child it seems without much thought. The black child is treated as an object to be moved around and a mirror that the other characters in the book see themselves in relation to. He is not really even a character. I found this book puerile and somewhat insulting.
January 14, 2019
This 1968 novella is from my college years - and I just reread it. The author also wrote "Lisa, Bright and Dark" - a book I've not read. This plot appears to be simple, but the issue is very layered and still relevant today.
December 27, 2025
I remember reading this as an elementary child. My mom was a teacher and she read it out loud to her class each year. It is such a short yet impactful story. Thought written in the late sixties, the story and it’s lessons seem applicable today.
November 25, 2017
It was a quick, simple, and good read. I enjoyed it and the human frailness it showed through the eyes of a twelve year old.
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March 13, 2016This review was written more than 40 years ago when I was taking a young adult lit class:
How do you explain to a little three year old that, because of the color of his skin, he is no longer to live in a home where he has found happiness and love? Twelve-year-old Michael attempts to explain to EA what has happened in his family which mae it necessary for his minister-father to take the tiny Black boy back to the adoption agency. Michael must come to grips with the crisis that has developed in his own life: up to this point, his father had always known what was the best thing to do. Yet, this time he failed. How can he justify that and still have the same respect for his father/ This is a beautiful book about a family's crisis. It is skillfully and artistically written. The author's style portrays the closeness of this family: the children have been named according to the time of their birth and are called by their initials. A very important question is raised: the relationship bettween Black and White men.
How do you explain to a little three year old that, because of the color of his skin, he is no longer to live in a home where he has found happiness and love? Twelve-year-old Michael attempts to explain to EA what has happened in his family which mae it necessary for his minister-father to take the tiny Black boy back to the adoption agency. Michael must come to grips with the crisis that has developed in his own life: up to this point, his father had always known what was the best thing to do. Yet, this time he failed. How can he justify that and still have the same respect for his father/ This is a beautiful book about a family's crisis. It is skillfully and artistically written. The author's style portrays the closeness of this family: the children have been named according to the time of their birth and are called by their initials. A very important question is raised: the relationship bettween Black and White men.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews