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alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
See my full review here: http://alyshadeshae.com/2016/06/16/the-goat-children-by-jordan-elizabeth-mierek/
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
In conclusion, I feel this book earned 5.0 out of 5.0 stars because it really captured the pain, heartbreak, and occasional hopeful moment of the disease while also weaving in a lovely bit of fantasy. Clearly, my grandfather is now one of the Goat Children.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
In conclusion, I feel this book earned 5.0 out of 5.0 stars because it really captured the pain, heartbreak, and occasional hopeful moment of the disease while also weaving in a lovely bit of fantasy. Clearly, my grandfather is now one of the Goat Children.
nickmasters's review against another edition
4.0
First off I absolutely love what Jordan achieved with this book. Really not what I expected, but what an insight and intriguing glimpse into a world unknown to me.
My introduction to Jordan's fiction was with Witchwood Hollow, and no disrespect to Witchwood Hollow, but i really felt I grasped the characters more in this novel, and really felt for Keziah. Additionally the fantasy twist and the questions the books leaves you with will keep my mind going for days. Definitely one of those books you feel impelled to discuss with others, to share opinions and ideas.
Really impressed with here you portrayed a piece of your life through this novel, you certainly achieved what I believe you set out to do.
I am looking forward to the next read.
My introduction to Jordan's fiction was with Witchwood Hollow, and no disrespect to Witchwood Hollow, but i really felt I grasped the characters more in this novel, and really felt for Keziah. Additionally the fantasy twist and the questions the books leaves you with will keep my mind going for days. Definitely one of those books you feel impelled to discuss with others, to share opinions and ideas.
Really impressed with here you portrayed a piece of your life through this novel, you certainly achieved what I believe you set out to do.
I am looking forward to the next read.
kim3100's review against another edition
4.0
I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This book tells the story of a girl who gives up her life to take care of her grandmother who has dementia. She stays in school, but she has to grow up quickly to able to take care of an adult who doesn't know what is happening around her. I found it very well written and I had moments when I went like: how can this happen? But I know it is a real possibility!
This book tells the story of a girl who gives up her life to take care of her grandmother who has dementia. She stays in school, but she has to grow up quickly to able to take care of an adult who doesn't know what is happening around her. I found it very well written and I had moments when I went like: how can this happen? But I know it is a real possibility!
wolfshine's review against another edition
4.0
When Keziah’s grandmother is diagnosed with dementia, she has no choice but to move in with her to take care of her. Along with the troubles of a typical teenager, Keziah must also dive into the world of the Goat Children.
As always with Jordan Elizabeth, her books always have two dimensions to them. A realistic storyline and one of the supernatural. I loved the way she handled the topic of dementia and how hard it can be on the family. I had a grandma who suffered from dementia and found the portrayal to be painfully accurate.
Keziah was an interesting main character. She was brave, but sometimes, she felt a little young and naïve. Still, I loved the way she face every challenge with her head high. Even when things got difficult, between her grandmother and the world of the goat children, she kept going.
Narration was soft and easy to listen to.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
As always with Jordan Elizabeth, her books always have two dimensions to them. A realistic storyline and one of the supernatural. I loved the way she handled the topic of dementia and how hard it can be on the family. I had a grandma who suffered from dementia and found the portrayal to be painfully accurate.
Keziah was an interesting main character. She was brave, but sometimes, she felt a little young and naïve. Still, I loved the way she face every challenge with her head high. Even when things got difficult, between her grandmother and the world of the goat children, she kept going.
Narration was soft and easy to listen to.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
oneesk's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not for me.
The writing style annoyed me. Everything seemed overly dramatic, which the audio book narrator only made worse.
The premise bothered me too, letting a 17 y/o take care of her grandmother who lives hours away without any real support. All of the adults in her life failed her. Not to mention that Keziah isn't exactly a competent 17 y/o, which makes it even more nonsensical. It also didn't help that her oma was an awful person. The only person she was ever good to was Keziah before she turned 12. But even when Keziah was young, oma was awful to the people around her. And oma blaming Keziahs younger sister Phoebe for having the wrong father, that's not something I think I'd be able to forgive, but Keziah doesn't bat an eye.
The thing I was most interested in was the magical goat children, but although they get mentioned quite a bit, you never actually get to know them. I think I would have like the book a lot more if we also got to read the stories about them that Keziah got to read. Maybe then I'd understand her choice to finally join them better.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The writing style annoyed me. Everything seemed overly dramatic, which the audio book narrator only made worse.
The premise bothered me too, letting a 17 y/o take care of her grandmother who lives hours away without any real support. All of the adults in her life failed her. Not to mention that Keziah isn't exactly a competent 17 y/o, which makes it even more nonsensical. It also didn't help that her oma was an awful person. The only person she was ever good to was Keziah before she turned 12. But even when Keziah was young, oma was awful to the people around her. And oma blaming Keziahs younger sister Phoebe for having the wrong father, that's not something I think I'd be able to forgive, but Keziah doesn't bat an eye.
The thing I was most interested in was the magical goat children, but although they get mentioned quite a bit, you never actually get to know them. I think I would have like the book a lot more if we also got to read the stories about them that Keziah got to read. Maybe then I'd understand her choice to finally join them better.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
storieswithsoul's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it so much. It made me cry a lot too but that wasn't author's fault. I just felt nostalgic, missing my grandmother even more than usual. Anyhow, about the book. It's brilliant, well-written, interesting characters, intriguing plot, and epic ending. I loved the ending. I won't give any spoilers but I'm happy that what I feared did not happen at the end. ;) lol I'm not sure how I would've been feeling if THAT had happened.
The Goat Children is a more serious book than what I'm used to reading from Jordan Elizabeth Mierek. I have to say it's no less interesting. I enjoyed reading it a lot and would recommend to all book lovers who enjoy reading YA novels.
Keziah is a teenager who moved to live with her grandmother (Oma). Her grandmother is suffering from dementia but doesn't want to move to a nursing home. So Keziah, who adores her Oma decides to live with her and take care of her. Her time with Oma is not easy. Oma has changed and sometimes Keziah doesn't know how to deal with it all. But she tries her best. To top it all of now she is even considering the existence of Goat Children as a possibility. Do they really exist? If so will she be invited to join them? There are a lot of questions that needs to be answered...
Once again, I loved this book and want to thank the author for providing a complimentary copy.
The Goat Children is a more serious book than what I'm used to reading from Jordan Elizabeth Mierek. I have to say it's no less interesting. I enjoyed reading it a lot and would recommend to all book lovers who enjoy reading YA novels.
Keziah is a teenager who moved to live with her grandmother (Oma). Her grandmother is suffering from dementia but doesn't want to move to a nursing home. So Keziah, who adores her Oma decides to live with her and take care of her. Her time with Oma is not easy. Oma has changed and sometimes Keziah doesn't know how to deal with it all. But she tries her best. To top it all of now she is even considering the existence of Goat Children as a possibility. Do they really exist? If so will she be invited to join them? There are a lot of questions that needs to be answered...
Once again, I loved this book and want to thank the author for providing a complimentary copy.
taylorfennerwrites's review against another edition
4.0
A Great Story that Really Struck a Nerve with Me
I received a free copy of The Goat Children in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen-year-old Keziah decides to leave New York City and move in with her grandmother after her grandmother is diagnosed with demetia. Gone is the woman that was Keziah's best friend as a child and in her place is the often cranky and confused new version of "Oma." Keziah tries her best to care for her grandmother while her parents and younger sister remain in the city. Her uncle Jan and his wife live nearby but Uncle Jan's wife wouldn't allow Keziah's grandmother to come live with them. Keziah tries balance returning to public school after many years of homeschooling, trying to make friends, and keeping up with Oma, who keeps mentioning a group called "the goat children." Who are the Goat Children? And why does Oma want to rejoin them? As Keziah tries to unravel the truth behind her grandmother's crazy stories she learns shocking things about her family, and herself.
This book touched me in a serious way. I was raised by my grandmother and homeschooled for the majority of high school. Now my grandmother has some health problems (physical, not memory-wise thankfully) and I can definitely relate to Keziah taking care of her grandmother without a supportive family to back her up. This story sucked me in, I couldn't put it down, and I really enjoyed learning about the goat children. The ending was a bit sad and reminded me of another one of Jordan Elizabeth's novels, Escape from Witchwood Hollow. Jordan Elizabeth is a fantastic storyteller and all of the books I've read by her so far are great. The Goat Children is a wonderful story that I think readers of any age, not just young adults, will really enjoy.
I received a free copy of The Goat Children in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen-year-old Keziah decides to leave New York City and move in with her grandmother after her grandmother is diagnosed with demetia. Gone is the woman that was Keziah's best friend as a child and in her place is the often cranky and confused new version of "Oma." Keziah tries her best to care for her grandmother while her parents and younger sister remain in the city. Her uncle Jan and his wife live nearby but Uncle Jan's wife wouldn't allow Keziah's grandmother to come live with them. Keziah tries balance returning to public school after many years of homeschooling, trying to make friends, and keeping up with Oma, who keeps mentioning a group called "the goat children." Who are the Goat Children? And why does Oma want to rejoin them? As Keziah tries to unravel the truth behind her grandmother's crazy stories she learns shocking things about her family, and herself.
This book touched me in a serious way. I was raised by my grandmother and homeschooled for the majority of high school. Now my grandmother has some health problems (physical, not memory-wise thankfully) and I can definitely relate to Keziah taking care of her grandmother without a supportive family to back her up. This story sucked me in, I couldn't put it down, and I really enjoyed learning about the goat children. The ending was a bit sad and reminded me of another one of Jordan Elizabeth's novels, Escape from Witchwood Hollow. Jordan Elizabeth is a fantastic storyteller and all of the books I've read by her so far are great. The Goat Children is a wonderful story that I think readers of any age, not just young adults, will really enjoy.
liesl68's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The Goat Children is an interesting mix of a young girls struggle while caring for her grandmother with dementia and a touch of the paranormal. The chapters are beautifully balanced with the day to day experiences of caring for someone who has changed so drastically and memories that give insight and understanding into her devotion to her.
The addition of the paranormal element kept me curious as it was slipped into the story in tiny tastes. I will try to avoid spoilers here but want to say that as much as I wanted to know what was real and what was the ramblings of an old lady I wish I hadn't read the epilogue. Without it I would have been left wondering and that, as frustrating as it can sometimes be, would have been a brilliant way to end the journey. So the choice is yours...read the epilogue for closure or skip it and enjoy the lingering unknown. Either way this is a great read.
The Goat Children is an interesting mix of a young girls struggle while caring for her grandmother with dementia and a touch of the paranormal. The chapters are beautifully balanced with the day to day experiences of caring for someone who has changed so drastically and memories that give insight and understanding into her devotion to her.
The addition of the paranormal element kept me curious as it was slipped into the story in tiny tastes. I will try to avoid spoilers here but want to say that as much as I wanted to know what was real and what was the ramblings of an old lady I wish I hadn't read the epilogue. Without it I would have been left wondering and that, as frustrating as it can sometimes be, would have been a brilliant way to end the journey. So the choice is yours...read the epilogue for closure or skip it and enjoy the lingering unknown. Either way this is a great read.
dtaylorbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Let’s start with the title: it just rubs me the wrong way. It’s relevant to the story, but it’s just downright unappealing to the eye and to the ear. Linking it back to the story, I don’t know why they’re actually called goat children. Goats are not at all involved. So really off-putting title.
And the cover: c’mon, CHBB. I’ve seen some of your covers. They’re downright gorgeous. Is there a reason this one got the nondescript stock image with the bevel/emboss/drop shadow title on the front made in Microsoft Paint? It’s just awful. No, I shouldn’t say that. I’ve seen AWFUL. This is just lazy and a total disservice to CHBB, Jordan, and the book. I’ve created better covers for Wattpad using an iPad app. There is no reason for something like this, especially when other authors with the same publisher have come out with higher quality, and higher concept, covers.
As for the story, I think it could have had the potential to be a really powerful story but it’s precipitated by a major contrivance that I just couldn’t get over. Keziah volunteers to go live with her grandmother who’s slipping into the wastelands of dementia and of the four adults involved in her life, two of which live only minutes away from said grandmother, all four were like “Yeah, this is a good idea. I don’t see why a seventeen-year-old can’t take care of a sick relative while we all go along with our lives.” DCF takes minors out of homes for things like this.
So as she gets more resentful of her situation I can’t help but be like THIS WOULD NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I just cannot believe that not one adult in this situation wouldn’t be a voice of reason here. Instead her feet are held to the fire with little to no help. The relatives who are closest treat her like a burden and get all huffy when she asks for help and her parents live too far away and basically write her off. When something does go wrong they’re like, ‘Keziah, what is wrong with you? You can’t have a life! You have to watch your grandmother!’ Meanwhile I’m sitting there going WTF NO. It is such an unbelievable situation that I ultimately felt nothing for the story.
The concept of the goat children isn’t really developed. It comes in at the end but for the majority of the book it’s this mythical thing that probably isn’t real but an instance or two show that it could potentially be real. And I have no idea why they’re called goat children. Like I said before they have nothing to do with goats. They ride pegasii and fight unseen things. It just felt like an idea that wasn’t fully mature. Or it’s a mature idea thrown onto a story that ended up watering it down.
Keziah was a brat. She volunteered for this and then held it against everyone, mostly the people in her class. She’s also rather socially inept, very steadfast in her beliefs and she didn’t even want to be around people who didn’t have the same views as her. She went to dinner with a group of girls from school and basically didn’t want to hang around them because they were eating meat and just wanted to know why she didn’t. She thought less of them because they drank and she just really had her nose in the air about everyone around her. She bemoaned people for not accepting her for who she was but in the same breath refused to accept other people if they weren’t like her. It did not make her a likable character at all. She had her issues thrown back in her face at the end by a classmate in a similar situation and I really liked that. As a character she needed that perspective. It didn’t make me like her any more, though.
THE GOAT CHILDREN just felt like a really unpolished book. The catalyst is poorly conceived and it really taints the rest of the story for me. Keziah as a character is unlikable, and at times inconsistent, and the family around her are negligent to a criminal degree. There are other issues thrown on top of the overarching ‘taking care of a sick family member’ that I felt were really tacked on and didn’t add anything other than unnecessary drama to the story. I’ve read a fair amount of Jordan’s work and this is definitely not her best showing. Coupled with the wince-worthy title and despicable cover this product just does not appear to be publishing-ready. The story itself is not fatally flawed and like I said before, it has the potential to be really powerful and I felt that at the end. But I think it’s still pretty far away from being at its greatest potential.
2
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
And the cover: c’mon, CHBB. I’ve seen some of your covers. They’re downright gorgeous. Is there a reason this one got the nondescript stock image with the bevel/emboss/drop shadow title on the front made in Microsoft Paint? It’s just awful. No, I shouldn’t say that. I’ve seen AWFUL. This is just lazy and a total disservice to CHBB, Jordan, and the book. I’ve created better covers for Wattpad using an iPad app. There is no reason for something like this, especially when other authors with the same publisher have come out with higher quality, and higher concept, covers.
As for the story, I think it could have had the potential to be a really powerful story but it’s precipitated by a major contrivance that I just couldn’t get over. Keziah volunteers to go live with her grandmother who’s slipping into the wastelands of dementia and of the four adults involved in her life, two of which live only minutes away from said grandmother, all four were like “Yeah, this is a good idea. I don’t see why a seventeen-year-old can’t take care of a sick relative while we all go along with our lives.” DCF takes minors out of homes for things like this.
So as she gets more resentful of her situation I can’t help but be like THIS WOULD NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I just cannot believe that not one adult in this situation wouldn’t be a voice of reason here. Instead her feet are held to the fire with little to no help. The relatives who are closest treat her like a burden and get all huffy when she asks for help and her parents live too far away and basically write her off. When something does go wrong they’re like, ‘Keziah, what is wrong with you? You can’t have a life! You have to watch your grandmother!’ Meanwhile I’m sitting there going WTF NO. It is such an unbelievable situation that I ultimately felt nothing for the story.
The concept of the goat children isn’t really developed. It comes in at the end but for the majority of the book it’s this mythical thing that probably isn’t real but an instance or two show that it could potentially be real. And I have no idea why they’re called goat children. Like I said before they have nothing to do with goats. They ride pegasii and fight unseen things. It just felt like an idea that wasn’t fully mature. Or it’s a mature idea thrown onto a story that ended up watering it down.
Keziah was a brat. She volunteered for this and then held it against everyone, mostly the people in her class. She’s also rather socially inept, very steadfast in her beliefs and she didn’t even want to be around people who didn’t have the same views as her. She went to dinner with a group of girls from school and basically didn’t want to hang around them because they were eating meat and just wanted to know why she didn’t. She thought less of them because they drank and she just really had her nose in the air about everyone around her. She bemoaned people for not accepting her for who she was but in the same breath refused to accept other people if they weren’t like her. It did not make her a likable character at all. She had her issues thrown back in her face at the end by a classmate in a similar situation and I really liked that. As a character she needed that perspective. It didn’t make me like her any more, though.
THE GOAT CHILDREN just felt like a really unpolished book. The catalyst is poorly conceived and it really taints the rest of the story for me. Keziah as a character is unlikable, and at times inconsistent, and the family around her are negligent to a criminal degree. There are other issues thrown on top of the overarching ‘taking care of a sick family member’ that I felt were really tacked on and didn’t add anything other than unnecessary drama to the story. I’ve read a fair amount of Jordan’s work and this is definitely not her best showing. Coupled with the wince-worthy title and despicable cover this product just does not appear to be publishing-ready. The story itself is not fatally flawed and like I said before, it has the potential to be really powerful and I felt that at the end. But I think it’s still pretty far away from being at its greatest potential.
2
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
rebekkahindbo's review
2.0
Unfortunately I was disappointed with this book. I have read two of Jordan Elizabeth's books and really enjoyed them but this one just didn't really catch my interest. I didn't really like Keziah as a main character and I got so frustrated with Oma all the time. I think it has to do with the type of dementia she had. My grandparents had dementia as well but it was very different, so I had expected something else.