Walker's Crossing

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction
Review: "Walker's Crossing" is an excellent example of historical fiction as it brings to life the prejudicial views of the Ku Klux Klan and shows how prejudice affects a community. Ryan Walker is a seventh grade boy who lives on a ranch in rural Wyoming. All Ryan wants is to be a cowboy for Saddlebow Ranch, where his father is the foreman. Ryan's good-for-nothing 22-year old brother, Gil, becomes involved with the Mountain Patriots Association, a group formed to drive out all "minorities" from the area.

Ryan's best friend, Matt, becomes a junior member of the Patriots and starts spreading racial propoganda around their junior high school. Then a friend's father is killed in a helicopter crash caused by the Patriots, and Ryan tries to help his friend deal with the loss of his father. Ryan's brother, Gil, is put in jail.

Throughout the book, Ryan is described as being "too tall and too skinny", made fun of because of his appearance. This story uses prejudice and differences among people to explore how we find common ground and acceptance in order to build character. Ryan remains true to his friends, despite ridicule from others, and finds an inner strength he did not know he possessed. At the end of the story, he is offered that job at Saddlebow - and Ryan learns that honesty, integrity and trust win over hatred and ignorance.

A wonderful story for young people and adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction
Review: "Walker's Crossing" is an excellent example of historical fiction as it brings to life the prejudicial views of the Ku Klux Klan and shows how prejudice affects a community. Ryan Walker is a seventh grade boy who lives on a ranch in rural Wyoming. All Ryan wants is to be a cowboy for Saddlebow Ranch, where his father is the foreman. Ryan's good-for-nothing 22-year old brother, Gil, becomes involved with the Mountain Patriots Association, a group formed to drive out all "minorities" from the area.

Ryan's best friend, Matt, becomes a junior member of the Patriots and starts spreading racial propoganda around their junior high school. Then a friend's father is killed in a helicopter crash caused by the Patriots, and Ryan tries to help his friend deal with the loss of his father. Ryan's brother, Gil, is put in jail.

Throughout the book, Ryan is described as being "too tall and too skinny", made fun of because of his appearance. This story uses prejudice and differences among people to explore how we find common ground and acceptance in order to build character. Ryan remains true to his friends, despite ridicule from others, and finds an inner strength he did not know he possessed. At the end of the story, he is offered that job at Saddlebow - and Ryan learns that honesty, integrity and trust win over hatred and ignorance.

A wonderful story for young people and adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction
Review: "Walker's Crossing" is an excellent example of historical fiction as it brings to life the prejudicial views of the Ku Klux Klan and shows how prejudice affects a community. Ryan Walker is a seventh grade boy who lives on a ranch in rural Wyoming. All Ryan wants is to be a cowboy for Saddlebow Ranch, where his father is the foreman. Ryan's good-for-nothing 22-year old brother, Gil, becomes involved with the Mountain Patriots Association, a group formed to drive out all "minorities" from the area.

Ryan's best friend, Matt, becomes a junior member of the Patriots and starts spreading racial propoganda around their junior high school. Then a friend's father is killed in a helicopter crash caused by the Patriots, and Ryan tries to help his friend deal with the loss of his father. Ryan's brother, Gil, is put in jail.

Throughout the book, Ryan is described as being "too tall and too skinny", made fun of because of his appearance. This story uses prejudice and differences among people to explore how we find common ground and acceptance in order to build character. Ryan remains true to his friends, despite ridicule from others, and finds an inner strength he did not know he possessed. At the end of the story, he is offered that job at Saddlebow - and Ryan learns that honesty, integrity and trust win over hatred and ignorance.

A wonderful story for young people and adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: Unique coming of age story set in contemporary America
Review: I had purchased "Walker's Crossing" just prior to hearing Phyllis Reynolds Naylor speak at the Keene State College Children's Literature Festival. She spoke briefly about this particular book and I glanced at the first chapter quickly! I was hooked!

The book takes you to a small ranch in Wyoming where you meet a junior high boy--Ryan--who doesn't fit in at home and is the tallest boy at school by far. He is teased about his height and tongue-tied in front of girls.

To make matters worse Ryan's older brother Gil has become interested in a para-military hate organization run by one of Gil's new friends--Matt. Many of the boys in Ryan's class are impressed by this organization and can't wait to be old enough to join.

Although Ryan's parents are not very empathetic Ryan has mentors in the ranch hands who allow him to help them run the ranch. Ryan is a real help and feels that ranch life is the only life for him. His father dismisses Ryan's desire--wishing instead that his older son Gil would becoome a rancher.

Even the adults in this book are very confused about their feelings regarding Jews immigrants and anyone not descendants of twelve northern European countries. An important book!!

Rating:
Summary: Unique coming of age story set in contemporary America
Review: I had purchased "Walker's Crossing" just prior to hearing Phyllis Reynolds Naylor speak at the Keene State College Children's Literature Festival. She spoke briefly about this particular book and I glanced at the first chapter quickly! I was hooked!

The book takes you to a small ranch in Wyoming where you meet a junior high boy--Ryan--who doesn't fit in at home and is the tallest boy at school by far. He is teased about his height and tongue-tied in front of girls.

To make matters worse Ryan's older brother Gil has become interested in a para-military hate organization run by one of Gil's new friends--Matt. Many of the boys in Ryan's class are impressed by this organization and can't wait to be old enough to join.

Although Ryan's parents are not very empathetic Ryan has mentors in the ranch hands who allow him to help them run the ranch. Ryan is a real help and feels that ranch life is the only life for him. His father dismisses Ryan's desire--wishing instead that his older son Gil would becoome a rancher.

Even the adults in this book are very confused about their feelings regarding Jews immigrants and anyone not descendants of twelve northern European countries. An important book!!

Rating:
Summary: A YOUNG BOY'S DREAM
Review: Many young boys dream of becoming a cowboy, but Ryan is somewhat different because he wants to be a working cowboy in Wyoming. His brother's association with a local militia group throws stumbling blocks into Ryan's path as he learns how to overcome obstacles and the meaning of maturity. Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat gives an appropriately gripping read to this saga.

Rating:
Summary: A YOUNG BOY'S DREAM
Review: Many young boys dream of becoming a cowboy, but Ryan is somewhat different because he wants to be a working cowboy in Wyoming. His brother's association with a local militia group throws stumbling blocks into Ryan's path as he learns how to overcome obstacles and the meaning of maturity. Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat gives an appropriately gripping read to this saga.

Rating:
Summary: Walker's Crossing
Review: Walker's Crossing was The best book I have Ever read. Usually when I read a book, I get bored and I don't finish the book. When I read Walker's Crossing, I read the book. I was very interested in the book. I used to want to be a cowboy when I was younger.When Lon Walker got hurt,I thought it was cool that Gil Walker and Ryan Walker helped out on the Ranch.If I was a girl, I would want to be a Junior Rodeo Queen too.Charlene never gave up.I learned alot about what cowboys really do on a Ranch.I urge everyone in the world to read Walker's Crossing. It's a great book.