 | |
| Authors | Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Randy DuBurke |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Children's literature, Graphic novel, American history, Cowboys |
| Published | 2012 (Holt) |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback) |
| Pages | 129 |
| ISBN | 9780811857499 |
| OCLC | 973527748 |
Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love is a 2012 graphic novel written by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack and illustrated by Randy DuBurke. It is about the life of African-American cowboy Nat Love.
Booklist , reviewing Best Shot in the West, wrote "The writing makes little use of hyperbole, allowing the natural drama of horse-roping contests, a kidnapping by a Native American tribe, and driving cattle through a fierce lightning storm to hold readers' attention. .. The unique art fills highly realistic figures (some even seem to be taken from old photos) and backgrounds with sprays of grainy color that make the story seem like it's coated in a patina of genuine history." [1] and the School Library Journal wrote "Exciting and picturesque, Nat Love's life makes for a great graphic novel." [1]
Best Shot in the West has also been reviewed by The Horn Book Magazine , [2] Library Media Connection, [3] Voice of Youth Advocates , [4] Publishers Weekly , [5] Kirkus Reviews , [6] and the Tennessee Tribune . [7]
It is a 2012 BCCB Blue Ribbon Book, [8] and a 2013 Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year. [9]
Nat Love was an American cowboy and writer active in the period following the Civil War. His reported exploits have made him one of the more famous heroes of the Old West.
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The art, sketchy and highlighted with vivid color, shows how the dusty trails and vast skies feel rather than attempting to record every minute detail. .. The format and pacing make this an enticing way to hook readers on little-told histories and encourage the investigation of Love and his unsung fellows.
The graphics are nicely laid out and the text is easy to read making this a good choice for a wide range of reading abilities. The life of Nat Love was an extraordinary one, and this book does justice to his story.
DuBurke's paintings are gorgeously colored. .. The brushwork allows him to show the blur of motion from a bucking horse, or the spatter of blood from a gunshot. It is sometimes hard to tell characters apart, but this is a small gripe with what is otherwise an impressively illustrated biography.
While a bit more history might have been welcome, the result is a fine introduction to a little-known piece of Americana.
A perfect use of the graphic format to celebrate the life of a legendary American.
this brilliantly illustrated graphic novel is marked by graceful narration and startling, vibrant action scenes.
