Review by Booklist Review
While American popular culture would have us believe that white men ruled the Wild West, Smith's stellar debut deftly proves otherwise. Many cowboys were Mexican vaqueros or Black; in fact, Black people made up nearly one-third of the population in some areas of the Western states and territories. This lively collection introduces readers to three figures frequently overlooked in the history books. Mary Fields left Ohio a free woman in 1865, crisscrossing the country and building community wherever she landed. Best known as Stagecoach Mary, she was the first African American to carry mail on the Star Route and she never missed a delivery. Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. He captured over 3,000 fugitives and was very likely the inspiration for the iconic Lone Ranger. Bob Lemmons was born enslaved but became a successful pioneer, well known and respected for his way with horses and generous nature, despite experiencing constant discrimination for his mixed-race marriage. The boundless collective spirit of these three is captured though engaging storytelling and action-packed, full-color panel illustrations. Several pages of supplemental material, including many fascinating photos, drawings, and maps, shed much-needed light on the complex and multifaceted histories of Black and Indigenous peoples in the West during the Reconstruction era. Highly recommended for all collections.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In the powerful introduction to this uneven nonfiction graphic novel, Caldecott Medalist Kadir Nelson (The Undefeated) emphasizes the importance of celebrating Black heroes of the Wild West, where "up to a third of the settler population was African American." Smith (Showtime at the Apollo), making his solo debut, introduces readers to three oft-unsung Black pioneers of the 19th and 20th centuries: "gun-toting, pants-wearing, punch-throwing" mail carrier Mary Fields (Stagecoach Mary); Bass Reeves, who brought outlaws to justice as the first Black deputy marshal west of the Mississippi River; and expert "mustanger" Bob Lemmons, a fearless wrangler of wild horses who "made the mustangs think I was one of them." Witty punch lines and comic strip--style illustrations support the figures' stories with an emphasis on biographical details and the landscape. Unfortunately, the repetition of "slave" as a noun and a reference to "Native American culture" as a singular entity both strike odd notes, as does an uncontextualized reference to Reeves as "boy." The postscript includes ample historical notes on topics such as the Buffalo Soldiers, Native American and Black American alliances, vaqueros, and Black homesteaders--as well as a generous list of resources for further reading, supporting the idea, as Nelson states, that "it's time that we hear every American's story." Ages 8--12. (Sept.)■
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Horn Book Review
Helping to fill in some of the gaps of our knowledge of the American West, Smith's informative and celebratory comic spotlights three little-known African American figures who helped shape its history. Frontier mail carrier, restaurateur, crack shot, utterly unique; there were many ways to describe the larger-than-life Mary Fields, a.k.a. Stagecoach Mary, the subject of the book's first chapter. Fields epitomized the can-do attitude and versatility that made this time period so rich for storytelling (and mythologizing). Accomplished lawman Bass Reeves, the subject of the second chapter, may be America's most well-known Black cowboy. Smith opts to depict a single episode from Reeves's career, one that highlights his ingenuity and wit, as the deputy marshal fools and captures two fugitives. The third chapter features cowboy Bob Lemmons, who pioneered a novel and humane approach to wrangling wild mustang herds of the Texas plains. Well-designed panels and crisp, clean lines and colors allow Smith to present realistic depictions of almost fantastical actions. Occasional full-page illustrations help punctuate the scenes. A note by Kadir Nelson begins the book, and eight pages of substantial and illuminating back matter -- including photographs, a timeline, and considerable historical background on the experience of Black Americans in the West -- are appended. Pair with picture-book biographies Fearless Mary by Tami Charles and Bad News for Outlaws (rev. 11/09) by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Eric Carpenter November/December 2020 p.135(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The racial and cultural diversity of the Old West gets the comic-book treatment in Smith's exploration of the lives and adventures of three Black historical figures. The presence and contributions of Black people in the steady progression of the Western frontier have long been overlooked. Mary Fields was born enslaved and became a renaissance woman, working on steamboats, building a mission, driving a mail coach, and opening her own restaurant and laundry in Montana. Bass Reeves escaped enslavement and was recruited as the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi, boldly pursuing and outsmarting over 3,000 outlaws in his career. Bob Lemmons, also born enslaved, was a living legend for his unmatched skill and unique method for safely capturing whole herds of wild horses. The somewhat romanticized stories of these three remarkable figures are balanced by rich backmatter providing timelines, photographs, and historical information that situate each one in the context of an entire generation of non-White settlers. Smith is also intentional about the inclusion of Native Americans in stories otherwise centering Black frontier folk. Nevertheless, brief cameos of unspecified Native peoples and factual though unexplored mentions of unceded land, displacement, and cultural violence peppering the narratives and backmatter are not quite enough to provide necessary nuance--namely that we can reclaim Black heroes of the Old West while also acknowledging their roles in a devastating frontier expansion. It's about time. (timelines, references, further information) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
