Review of A Good Animal

This is a quiet, character-driven novel from a debut author. Everett is a senior in high school and wants nothing more than to continue working at his family’s sheep farm after high school, with plans to eventually take it over when his parents retire. Mary is the new girl in town and can’t wait until she graduates and can head to Art school and never come back. Everett and Mary start dating, and it is as exciting and intoxicating as first love can be. As the end of the school year approaches, they make a decision that is both dangerous and frightening and ultimately decides their futures moving forward. Everett is the star of the book and is a character you root for. The book goes into great detail on all aspects of managing a sheep farm, including its highs and lows and the never-ending work involved. I love a coming-of-age story, and I definitely enjoyed the book, but my one complaint is that I wish the ending hadn’t been quite so abrupt. I just would have liked a little more.