Walking past a book case in the upstairs hallway, I picked this off the shelf, and I'm glad I did.

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. What a wonderful read for a cold, wet winter Sunday. ( )

Summary: 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.