"Good fences make good neighbors." That's what Cass's dad said when he found out a black family was moving in next door. Cass even helped him build the fence. But as the new neighbors moved in, Cass couldn't help but be curious. Watching through a peephole in the fence, Cass's blue eye found a brown eye staring back at her.

Cass asked Jemmie, "Do you like to run?"

Jemmie responded, "Run? Girl, I don't run, I fly. Can't nobody beat me."

The race was on. They both sneaked out of their homes the next morning to find out who was fastest, and instead found "Chocolate Milk."

This is the story of their friendship. It's also a story of crossing boundaries, change, and eventual acceptance. Theirs is a natural friendship, a friendship that's tried by the bigotry of Cass's dad, and the stubbornness of Jemmie's mother. It takes the misfortunes of a tiny baby for the parents to begin tearing down their mental fences.

Adrian Fogelin does a beautiful job of portraying tenuous relationships that exist among people trying to understand cultures different from their own, The girls are sweet and fun; their dialogue is well-written, immersing the reader in the long, hot, dog days of summer in Tallahassee, Florida.

CROSSING JORDAN leaves the reader with hope for future generations, that they will be inspired to appreciate each other, just as Cass and Jemmie were inspired to call themselves Chocolate Milk. This is the first book of Adrian Fogelin's that I've read, and I'm sure I'll be looking for more of her titles.

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

Crossing Jordan is one of the best Young Adult books ever written. A great lesson in race relations, an admission of being wrong, making amends and building an enduring friendship. It also teaches that friendship is more important than winning. The two girls are compared to chocolate milk, one black, one white that blend together to make a special flavor of friendship.
Adrian writes from the experiences of her neighborhood and the children that populate it. Every adult should read it too. In fact, I recommend it to adults,you will understand your child better. It's a five star rating with five more as bonuses. Once you read Crossing Jordan, you'll be hooked. Adrian Fogelin has a special talent that everyone should experience.
Ronald G. Miller, Amelia Island, Fl.

I enjoyed this book because it was adventurous. This book was about two girls who are of different races and are neighbors. The girls, Cass and Jemmie, eventually become friends in secret. Both of their parents find out about their friendship and disapprove.

Near the end of the book the girls run a race together for Sicle Cell Anemia. They are " Chocolate Milk" ,a team. At the end of the race Jemmie falls. Cass tries to help her but Jemmie says go on. But Cass doesn't. She says we are a team Chocolate Milk and they finish the race together. Everyone cheered them on as they crossed the finish line.

At the end of the book the girls had accomplished running a race, reading a long book called Jane Erye, and brought their familes together for a delicious dinner.

I enjoyed Crossing Jordan immensely. This book is about how two neighbor girls, who are of different races become friends. Both girls, Cass and Jemmie, have disapproving parents, who interfere with their friendship, but they communicate in secret. By the end of the book, the girls have run a race, read Jane Eyre and have brought their families so close that they have a potluck supper.

My favorite part of this book was when Jemmie falls in the race right before the finish line. Instead of coming in first place, Cass helps Jemmie limp across the line and they tie it in last, because they are a team, called "Chocolate Milk". I like to think of them equal in race, and finishing the race equally. They didn't win, but they each won by the other's standards. They also end up on the front page of the newspaper.

I would recommend this book to people all ages, because it has a message that that is never too late to be learned. In addition it has many historical references and generally makes a good read for anyone, especially girls.

I read this book, I loved it. My great aunt wrote it, so we have all her other books. I think this is great for people who want a good book to settle into. It is very bittersweet, and the characters are loveable and funny. This book is great!

This is one of the best books I have ever read!! It is about a girl named Cass living in Tallahase, Florida. When a African American family moves in next door, Cass' father builds a fence to separate the families since his family is white. Cass becomes friends with Jemmie, the new girl. This is a story about how Cass and her new friend Jemmie become friends, run races and ultimately make their families see that the color of their skin shouldn't affect their relationship's.

In the book Crossing Jordan, an Afriacan American family moves next to a white family. The white family are racists and build a fence to avoid them. The white family has a daughter named Cassie and she looks through a knothole at the family as they move in. The other families daughter, Jemmie, sees her and Cassie challenges her to race at a nearby track. They quickly become friends and relize that they have a lot in common. Their families find out that they are friends, but that is not going to stop them. They make thier families realize that it doesn't matter what color you are, we are all the same. In the end the families are friends and have dinners together occasionally.

As a writer myself, I tip my "green visor" to this author. What a fantastic book!

Crossing Jordan brought tears to my eyes ... but they were the good kind of tears ... tears of compassion for the girls in this book. Any author who can stir the readers' emotions is a great writer, in my opinion.

If you're too young to know what a "green visor" is, it's the billed cap that writers used to wear in the "olden days" of journalism. Don't ask me why, but I think it was to protect their eyes from glares. For more accuracy, ask your grandfather. Ha-ha!

But Crossing Jordan is not only about tears, it's about deep friendship, overcoming obstacles, and love between family and neighbors. It's about overcoming prejudices, and the gift of forgiveness too.

Read it for yourself to see what I mean.

You will not regret purchasing this book! It will help you with all your life relationships.

As a writer myself, I tip my "green visor" to this author. What a fantastic book!

Crossing Jordan brought tears to my eyes ... but they were the good kind of tears ... tears of compassion for the girls in this book. Any author who can stir the readers' emotions is a great writer, in my opinion.

If you're too young to know what a "green visor" is, it's the billed cap that writers used to wear in the "olden days" of journalism. Don't ask me why, but I think it was to protect their eyes from glares. For more accuracy, ask your grandfather. Ha-ha!

But Crossing Jordan is not only about tears, it's about deep friendship, overcoming obstacles, and love between family and neighbors. It's about overcoming prejudices, and the gift of forgiveness too.

Read it for yourself to see what I mean.

You will not regret purchasing this book! It will help you with all your life relationships.

Two Girls explore what it means to be friends in spite of grown ups' prejudice. These girls are well written characters other kids can relate to. It gives racism a face and talks about it without being "Preachy". It would be a great book to start a discussion about prejudice of any kind and how it affects the person with the prejudice as well as the person on the receiving end. They are also full of local color about the "real Florida" (not Orlando or Miami Beach)!! My son's 4-5th grade teacher read this book to the class and you could have heard a pin drop as she read it aloud! The kids begged her to read more! My son refused to leave early because he would have missed a chapter of "Crossing Jordan". This author really understands kids and what hooks them into a story. I would recommend all of her books in this series: "Crossing Jordan", "Anna Casey's Place in the World", and "My Brother's Hero". They make great read alouds too. I really enjoyed this book as an adult too. This author takes on issues and wraps them in a story.

Crossing Jordan is an outstanding book. The book shows a lot of love for friendship. It shows how much somebody can do just so they can meet their friend. Before my teacher started to read the book as a read aloud, I thought I wouldn't enjoy it. I was shocked when I found out that Crossing Jordan was really interesting to me. I was loving Crossing Jordan so much that I didn't want my teacher to stop reading it. I am really into mysteries, but I still really loved Crossing Jordan. The book shows you how someone can stick to what they believe in even though everybody else around them beleives something totally opposite. Crossing Jordan is a book that everybody can enjoy. Even though the main characters are girls, boys would really enjoy reading this book. Usually people say that the older people have to set a good example for the younger people, but this book shows you that younger people can set an awesome example for older people. Crossing Jordan also helped me understand more of how life was about 50 years ago and sometimes even 10 years ago. Crossing Jordan is also really easy to understand, so you wouldn't have a problem understanding what they are saying. This book also shows a lot of bravery and courage.

This was a read-aloud book for my sixth grade class. Most books we read I can't get into, but this one was just enough action to keep me guessing. I live in near Chicago so I really don't have to deal with much bigotry, but theres always some wherever you go. This book has a lot to do with things I'm interested. So it is very interesting for me. A girl's father needs to accept that some people just like to help others, and not try to prove they are better. He shouldn't punish his daughter for the way he was raised. I would definately recommend this book. It really shows that children can deal with large problems, just as well as adults.

If you are looking for a real outstanding book you should read Crossing Jordan. I think that it is a really good book. It is sad, it has racism, and it is mysterious. You would also like this because there is a lot of action in it. The book starts off with Cass being bored and no one to play with. Her father has also built a fence between her house, and the new neighbor's house.Then she sees out the window someone is moving in next door. Cass saw that there was a girl that looked just like her age, and she was African American. She went to meet her and her name was Jemmie. They became best friends. They are both really good runners. They run so fast. A day after they started to read a book called Jane Eyre. They both loved that book. . Two weeks later Jemmie and Cass were going to run in a really long race. Cass and Jemmie are a team in the race and they call themselves chocolate milk. . You have to read this book to see what happens to the race and see who wins.

Crossing Jordan, by Adrian Fogelin is an exceptional book. It is a book that deals with the barriers that are put into place to separate people who are different from one another. The book is geared toward an audience between the ages of 9-12 years old, but is appropriate and applicable for people of all ages. The issues of prejudices and relationships among those of different races are realistically portrayed to the reader in the book Crossing Jordan in a way that is heart warming and emotional.
Cass Bodine a 12-year-old Caucasian girl lives with her family in a small neighborhood in Tallahassee, Florida. The home next door to theirs has been sold to an African American family. Cass's father immediately decides to place a fence in between their two yards. The African American family has not even moved in yet, and the barrier has already been put into place. "The For Sale sign on the house next door had hardly been up a week when Mama told us she'd heard that a black family had bought the old Faircloth place. Daddy brought his fist down on the table... `Place is gonna go downhill,' he said" (1).
Cass's father continues to make negative statements about the new African American neighbors whom he has never met. Cass wonders if the things her father is saying are true, but she does not know what to believe. She has been watching the neighbors, and they seem normal to her. When Cass meets one of her neighbors, a friendship blossoms and continues to grow throughout the book. Jemmie Lewis is one of the African American children that lives next door to Cass. Jemmie is 12-years-old, and she has many things in common with Cass. Both girls love to run, and enjoy reading. Both girls also have one parent who feels that African Americans, and Caucasians should not interact with one another.
Nevertheless, the two girls continue to be secret friends. They do not understand the feelings that their parents have because they are able to look past skin color and see the wonderful people that they are. Nana Grace, Jemmie's grandma encourages the girls to continue being friends because she thinks it is wonderful that they do not see the difference in their skin color as a problem
The entire book deals with Cass and Jemmie trying to overcome the negative feelings toward the friendship that they have developed. Eventually, both of their parents realize that they have been spending time together, and make them stop seeing each other. Through a traumatic experience, the families are eventually brought together. It is not easy for the adults to overcome their prejudices, but they begin to realize that they are wrong. It is very significant that the book ends with Cass's family "crossing the fence" and eating dinner with the Lewis family at their home. The barrier is finally broken, but it has not been an easy task.
The book Crossing Jordan is a book that applies directly to many people's lives. I have never experienced the sort of prejudice feelings that the characters of Mr. Bodine and Mrs. Lewis have. I do, however, realize that these feelings are still prevalent today among many people. Crossing Jordan is a great example for all readers that the barriers placed in between groups of different people can be broken. Cass and Jemmie did not have a problem with overcoming the barriers. They were able to recognize that even though their skin color was different, they still had a lot in common. Cass and Jemmie are a good example to people of all ages. Both children and adults need to realize that the racial barriers that people put into place are foolish.
Crossing Jordan is a realistic book. While the author wants to portray to her readers that prejudices and barriers between races are wrong, she also realizes that they may be hard to break down. Jemmie and Cass did not have a problem with the barrier; they just found a way around it. But, for their parents the task was not quite as easy. Breaking down the barriers that separate people can be difficult. Fogelin is not trying to allude to the fact that it will be easy, she is simply saying that it is possible. Crossing Jordan gives the reader hope that while racial prejudices and barriers are hard to overcome, they are not impossible to overcome. The book sends messages of hope and of perseverance, while recognizing that the task is challenging.

Cass Bodine is having a lousy summer,until new neighbors move in next door.Her father had heard that these new neighbors were African-Americans, and because of his predjudice immediatly puts up a fence.when the new neighbors move in and see that a fence has been put up, they quickly dislike their new neighbors' from their ignorance. As Cass Bodine watches her new neighbors through a knothole in the fence, she is spotted by Jemmie Lewis. Seeing her long legs and build Cass challenges her to a race and the girls quickly become best friends in secret.Brought together by their love of reading the book Jane Eyre and running entertains the girls. But when their families find out, they forbid the girls from seeing eachother. Read Crossing Jordan and find out how an almost fatal accident brings the families together and what great accomplishment Cass and Jemmie make together. Crossing Jordan Is a fantastic book!I highly recommened it!

A friend recommended this book to me so i got a copy from the libriary. I didn't think it would be that good but it definitely was!

I am 7 now, but when I read this book I was only 6. Crossing Jordan is a very serious and sad book. Whenever I think of the book I always smile. It made me want to read Jane Eyre because the characters in the book were reading that and really liked it. This book is about two girls who are very fast runners. One is white and one is black. Their parents don't want them to be together, but they disobey them. This book was so exciting, that I could hardly sit still when I read it. I think you will love this book too.

Crossing Jordan by Adrian Fogelin is a very good book. Cass is the girl who lives next door to Miss Liz. Miss Liz has died and the new neighbors are colored and Cass's dad is building a fence just because of that reason. Cass finds out that Jemmie, the girl vext door is her age. Cass and Jemmie start to become good friends. One day Cass challenged Jemmie to a race. Cass was the fastest girl in school but Jemmie was just as fast. Secretly everyday after Cass's dad left for work Cass went over to Jemmie's house and they played and talked. One day Cass's dad got hurt and came home from work early. Cass was over at Jemmie's house. Cass's dad forbids Cass to talk to Jemmie and go to her house, Jemmie's mother does as well. Will Cass and Jemmie be friends again to find out read Cross.ing Jordan

I'm 13 and started reading "Crossing Jordan" this summer as part of my summer reading program. When I started I planed on taking a month to read it. I started it and found that I couldnt put it down. I have only a few more chapters to go and can't wait to find out what happens. (its only taken me about two days to read 14 chapters) Crossing Jordan has something about it that makes you never want to stop reading it. The characters are very realistic. This is not one of those books that you start reading and can predict the ending. I love this book and would recomend it to anyone that is looking for something to read. (I mostly read only mysteries, but though Crossing Jordan isn't a mystery book, I find I can't take my attention from it even when I'm not reading it!)

In many ways Crossing Jordan is one of the best books I have ever read. The plot was great, it really shows how hard it used to be for black Americans. At first the white girl, Cass doesn't know how to act when a black family moves in next door. She doesn't like them at first, since her dad doesn't. After awhile the black girl, Jemmie and Cass became friends and struggle to keep their friedship even though their parents don't like each other. This book is a lot like Burning Up. Both books are about the seperation between blacks and whites, and the struggle the blacks had. I recommened this book for everyone to read.

Crossing Jordan is a powerful story of friendship between Cassie Bodine, a Caucasian girl, and Jemmie Lewis, an African American girl. They are drawn together by their competiveness in running and a love of reading. From the beginning Cassie and Jemmie's friendship is beset by the prejudice, pride ,and cultural beliefs of their parents. Once it is revealed that the girls are friends , they are forbidden to see each other. Through a turn of life-threatening events, and struggle the parents learn that long held notions of people are insignifigant in a time of need. As a librarian, and mother of a ten-year-old, I'm always looking for good books to read with my daughter. We liked this book because the characters are vivid and lively. At the same time, the book used classical literature in a way that made it fun. As a parent , I feel this book is a must read because it provides a positive platform for the discussion of prejudice, ethnicity, and friendship.

This novel had a good focus but far too many things seemed a little far-fetched to me. The things that went on almost seemed impossible. Other times, however, things seemed understated. It is however a good balance of humor and the hard facts of life, with well-developed characters (slightly stereotypic unfortunately), and a good overall voice and tone. Unfortunately, at the same time as the author told her own story, she also gave away the entire plot of Jane Eyre. That disappointed me slightly.

I'm a school librarian and read Crossing Jordon to preview it for a middle school media center. I read award winning young adult novels constantly, so it is a rare story that makes me cry. This is the first YA novel that has made me cry since A Day No Pigs Would Die. Although the two main characters are girls, middle school boys constantly ask for this novel to read. The characters are well developed and the plot moves at a steady pace--neither too fast or too slow. Although the characters and setting accurately depict the west side of Tallahassee--this story is so much more than a regional novel. It is a story of friendship and neighbors and how hearts are stronger than bigotry. Fogelin knows how to build a story that is timeless in scope, but particular enough to feel the hope and forgiveness of the human heart.

"Freedom dreams, they was always hid in plain sight for anyone who knew how to look and how to listen." (Fogelin, pg.36). Cass, the main character in Adrian Fogelin's Crossing Jordan, frees her mind of prejudice by ignoring a fence that separates her from Jemmie, the young African-American girl who moves in next door. Although hesitant about befriending a black girl, Cass shares mutual interests with Jemmie, and soon a strong bond between the girls emerges. Cass's family, especially her father, deplores blacks, and projects his hatred openly to the rest of the family. In the beginning of the book, Cass also holds negative ideas about African-Americans, but changes as she surrounds herself with Jemmie, and Jemmie's family. The Cognitive dissonance theory provides a platform for understanding the psychological dynamics that Cass encounters when confronted with cultural biases. Defined, cognitive dissonance "is said to be a state of psychological discomfort or tension which motivates efforts to achieve consonance." (Woodward & Denton, pg.160). This occurs when an inconsistency exists between a person's actions and acquired knowledge. There are two ways to reduce dissonance; a person must either change his beliefs or alter his behavior. The dissonance Cass experiences is a direct result from her beliefs instilled by her father, and the increasing amount of time she enjoys spending with Jemmie. She admires Jemmie's running ability, and reading skills, but still sees Jemmie as black girl, and retains stereotypes that blacks steal and lie. When Jemmie is accused of stealing candy at the local grocery store, Cass says, "maybe she did do it, Daddy always said for black people, stealing's as easy as breathing." (Fogelin, pg.45). She defends Jemmie, and tells Andy, the store clerk, "Jemmie is my friend, she doesn't have a thing that belongs to you." However, Cass is uncertain about Jemmie's innocence. She says, "I turned her pockets inside out to show the clerk he was wrong, but as I did it I felt ashamed. I wasn't any better than Andy. I knew Jemmie, and I still hadn't been sure." (Fogelin, pg.46). As the two girls are retelling the story to Nana Grace, Jemmie's grandmother, Cass says, "My smile felt pasted on. If Nana Grace could see into my heart, she would know that when Andy accused Jemmie of stealing I hadn't really trusted her. I had to check her pockets to be sure." (Fogelin, pg.50.) What Cass experiences is known as Post-decision dissonance. This occurs when an important decision is re-evaluated, because the significance is such that a person will look for alternative options in order to achieve consonance. The stealing incident is the turning point in the book, immediately after Cass changes her beliefs about African-Americans. This leads to her state of consonance. Previous to this experience, Cass's actions and knowledge, conflict. Before the grocery store scene Cass says, "I thought maybe I'd give Jemmie my magazines to read when I was done, as long as she promised to give them back." Even when Jemmie's family first moves in, Cass refers to them as "those people", and assumes the absence of Jemmie's father meant he was just another "black" man running around on his wife, and abandoning his family. As time passes, loving and respecting Jemmie and her family change Cass's beliefs regarding African-Americans. Cass can now spend time with Jemmie with no discrepancy between her actions and knowledge, because her newfound knowledge dramatically changes her beliefs. Cass also reduces dissonance by changing her actions. Initially, Cass is reluctant to be-friend a black girl. Instead of walking together to the racetrack, Cass meets her there, and tells Jemmie to leave a few minutes ahead of her. Cass tells Jemmie, "you can't come over here", (Fogelin, pg28.) referring to her house, and only communicates to her through a hole in the fence. As their friendship deepens, Cass lets Jemmie come to her house, even with the fear of her father still in place. By the end of the book, Jemmie asks Cass "will things be different when school starts, will we still be friends?, you know kids are gonna say stuff about us." Cass, without hesitation, replies, "of course we'll be friends, we're not gonna let anything stop us." (Fogelin, pg.93). Cass finally reaches a state of consonance by changing both her beliefs and her actions as the story concludes." The Cognitive dissonance theory provides a clear explanation for the resolution of Cass's uncertainty. Simply stated, a person remains unsatisfied in a state of confusion, and will naturally either ignore the problem, or alter a belief, which will lead to a behavioral change. Cass's friendship with Jemmie overpowers her initial bigotry, and allows for her extreme shift in beliefs and behavior by the end of the book.

Fogelin, Adrien. Crossing Jordan. Atlanta, Georgia: Peachtree Publishers, 2000. Woodward, Gary, and Robert Denton. Persuasion and Influence in American Life. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press, 2000.

Should be required reading for children. The story, about friendship and prejudice, is very true to life. I applaud Fogelin for her talent in writing about race issues in a manner that was neither "preachy" nor one that "tiptoed" around the issue. In addition, the novel is interesting, enjoyable, and hard to put down. It is was a wonderful "read" for both my preteen son and myself. Great work, Fogelin!

What a fine book Fogelin has written! The author's sensitive protrayal of two friends, one white, one African American, and the barriers they break though, despite what the adults in their lives want them to accept, is inspiring. Fogelin doesn't paint either main character---or her family---as completely without fault in this story about the impact that a tradition of racist attitudes has on two young adolescents. Both families carry hurtful attitudes, but the girls transcend those limiting attitudes. Another positive feature that is almost unique to this short novel is Fogelin presents the female protagonists as competitive athletes who love to run; portrayals of female athletes as leading characters are rare in books for young people.

This is an inspiring novel in which two young female athletes end their families' traditions of racisim and practices of prejudice. Cassie, who is white, and Jemmie, who is African American, are talented runners who compete with each other on the track, but who support each other through their families' objections to their growing friendship. Fogelin never preches at her readers, but makes her point clear: racism and prejudices can be passed on through generations, as surely as genes for eye color, and it takes strength of character to break the cycle. The female protagonists in this lovely short novel demonstrate the necessary strength, as athletes and as human beings.