Book Review: Let ‘Er Buck: George Fletcher, the People’s Champion
Age Range: 8-12
Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Illustrator: Gordon C. James
Carolrhoda Books
Minneapolis
2019
ISBN: 978-1512498080
List Price: $13.36 (amazon.com)
The biography of George Fletcher is told with beautiful illustrations and excellent lessons for readers. The book traces George Fletcher’s life from a young kid all the way to his famous saddle-bronc ride at the 1911 Pendleton Round-Up. George Fletcher was a cowboy and stellar bronc rider who eventually made it to the National Cowboy Hall of fame. But as this biography shows, it wasn’t an easy road for him and he was met with challenges of racism and bigotry – which he overcame to become “the people’s champion” at that 1911 contest.
I loved this biography about a famous cowboy of whom I had not previously heard! I enjoyed the cowboy jargon worked into the narration (“took to their ways like a wet kitten to warm brick”; “life at home was no bushel of peaches”). This had me smiling throughout and helped pull the reader right into the setting of the story. Additionally, George Fletcher’s life has a wonderful message about perseverance and finding something you love and doing it. Though intended for older kids (8-12 probably target), my 5-year-old did enjoy this and was captivated by the idea of cowboys and bronc riding. Even my 3-year-old sat still for a while for this one, likely thanks to all the pictures of horses. It may have even led to a few laps around the family room on parent-horseback.
The illustrations are beautiful paintings and help bring the story and its complexity to life. This is one I was happy to read over and over as requested by my kids (picking up something a little new each time I did).