Geepling by Lana Petelis is a story that explores the themes of life’s purpose, fairness and unfairness, and relationships between strong and weak. Geepling is a rejected cross between a sheep and a goat – rejected by both other animals and humans. The other animals fear him and the other hybrids. Geepling learns the reason for this and the way Mother Nature works. From his initial feelings of inferiority, he learns from new and wise friends, Mule and Shara, about life, himself and his place in the world. Tragedy strikes, but Geepling discovers life has a way of changing direction and offering chances and opportunities that can lead to happiness after all. But will he be brave and wise enough to take them?

Lana Petelis’ Geepling is a well-written short novel with a thought-provoking message. Writing in third person point of view, the author uses animal characters to explain and explore the causes and effects of nature’s natural selection. The reader discovers what is behind the discrimination and fears of those who exclude others. Geepling discovers how words impact on and affect others, often shaping the future. Parallels can be drawn between the restrictions imposed on his parents’ lives and his own and human communities and behaviours too. I liked the character of Geepling, and it is easy to understand his desire to keep to himself so that he feels no pain, but this can lead to self-absorption. I loved the story’s hopeful ending with the realization that it is love that matters most and can enable physical and emotional healing. I found this a thoughtful story, told in a fable style, with different levels of meaning and comparisons suggested between the lives and plights of animal characters and humans.

“Mother Nature gives rise to some yet restrains others…” In Lana Petelis’ Geepling, a tale of an orphaned hybrid farm animal, we find no truer words ever written. Geep grows up at Friendly Utopian Farm, not mingling with the other animals nor learning a trade, but in a solitary existence in his secluded barn unit close to Mule, who shares a similar background. Geep is ridiculed by Rem, a magnificent ram, and shunned by the goats and sheep who follow Rem’s example. Until he learns of his parents' transgression to cross-breed out of love and not need, Geep is ignorant of the prejudices of Mother Nature. With Mule’s encouraging words and sheep Shara’s undying affection, Geep learns the true meaning of love and the importance of remaining true to oneself. As Geep’s faith in Mother Nature is restored, we see an emergence of acceptance of the differences in this world.

Geepling (a remnant of a brief love) by Lana Petelis is a modern day metaphor that tells the Romeo and Juliet story of a hybrid goat sheep mix and the most beautiful ewe on Friendly Utopian Farm. We have heard the story multiple times. This version is an adult story book that combines Petelis’ command of the English language in a lyrical masterpiece that includes life lessons in a most nontraditional manner. In a story based on themes of unrequited love, social prejudices, and racial intolerance, I envision Geepling becoming instrumental in college literature courses across the world. Lana Petelis has proven herself a worthy philosopher of the written word. A beautiful story. I loved the language.