Black Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons: A Toon Graphic
by James Otis Smith (Author)
Exploring American history and finding diversity at its roots!
This graphic novel by JAMES OTIS SMITH celebrates the extraordinary true tales of three black heroes who took control of their destinies and stood up for their communities in the Old West. Born into slavery in Tennessee, Mary Fields became famous as "Stagecoach Mary," a cigar-chomping, card playing coach driver who never missed a delivery. Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi, was one of the wiliest lawmen in the territories, bringing thousands of outlaws to justice with his smarts. Bob Lemmons lived to be 99 years old and was so good with horses that the wild mustangs on the plains of Texas took him for one of their own.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
From the introduction by KADIR NELSON, winner of the 2020 Caldecott Award:
"Black Heroes of the Wild West is a brilliant and entertaining offering. Through sharp and evocative storytelling in the exciting medium of comics, lesser-known African American historical figures will be introduced to new generations of readers."
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School Library Journal
Gr 4-6—Saddle up! To highlight the significant African American presence in the story of the so-called "Wild West," Smith presents in graphic format dramatic exploits of three larger-than-life Western figures who were born into slavery, then switches to prose with mostly period illustrations and photographs for a wagon full of back matter on real cowboys, relations with Native Americans, cattle drives, the myth of the Old West, and related topics. The informational beef is nutritious, but the first part really brings the sizzle, as readers are treated to views of "gun-toting, pants-wearing, punch-throwing" Mary Fields, aka "Stagecoach Mary," fighting off a pack of wolves; deputy U.S. Marshall Bass Reeves cleverly collaring the murderous Clancy brothers without firing a shot; and "mustanger" Bob Lemmons corralling a herd of wild horses by convincing them that he's their lead stallion. The author sprinkles in colorful biographical details, adds nods to contemporaries such as Nat Love and Bill Pickett, then closes with generous dollops of relevant print and web resources. VERDICT Little dogies in middle grades won't need to be coaxed to snatch up this fresh and timely alternative to Lillian Schlissel's Black Frontiers: A History of African-American Heroes in the Old West.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
From the introduction by KADIR NELSON, winner of the 2020 Caldecott Award: "Black Heroes of the Wild West is a brilliant and entertaining offering. Through sharp and evocative storytelling in the exciting medium of comics, lesser-known African American historical figures will be introduced to new generations of readers."JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF025200 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/19th Century
JNF062010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Biography
JNF062020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | History
JNF069000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Diversity & Multicultural
