From the pen of award-winning author Beverley Brenna comes a heartwarming story about a boy who overcomes an irrational fear, gains confidence in his ability to problem solve, learns to become a strong team player on his aunt’s farm, and ultimately demonstrates uncommon bravery.
Nine-year-old Belvin has lived in the shadow of his gregarious twin brother who is determined to go to summer camp—where Belvin doesn’t want to go. His biological father has disappeared; his mother longs to be a novelist; and his stepfather Pops is bent on an independent summer trip to Copenhagen. What’s Belvin to do but spend the summer on his aunt’s goat farm? There he learns a lot of new things about raising goats, making friends, facing his fears, and, ultimately, how to trust himself.
Belvin’s deep-seated fear of alligators began in childhood, although living on the prairies makes confronting one unlikely, he has cultivated a fascination for all apex predators. His overblown terror fades as he spends the summer learning to be on his own without following behind his twin brother. Belvin thrives in this new environment: doing heavy farm work; hanging out with the goats; and making friends with a neighbour girl. In the end, Belvin shows thoughtful and quick-witted decision making as he rises to a particularly frightening situation and saves the day.
A thoughtful and funny tale of Belvin’s crazy summer vacation where he grows through new experiences, finds unexpected bravery, and ultimately realizes that everyone is different and can follow their own path.
