Little Britches

LITTLE BRITCHES

Summary: Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasures and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth century. Auctions and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes and wind storms give authentic color to Little Britches. So do adventures, wonderfully told, that equip Ralph to take his father's place when it becomes necessary. Little Britches was the literary debut of Ralph Moody, who wrote about the adventures of his family in eight glorious books, all available as Bison Books.

My Take: This book is one of my top 5 young adult picks. It actually suits 5-7th grades best. It is also #8 on my top ten favorite books ever list. Really- it's that good! It is such a beautiful tribute to the American West, the love of a boy for his father, and the lesson of hard work and desire to overcome failure. I sobbed and sobbed at the end. It's not the plot that has you turning the page, but rather the character development and smooth feel of the words on each line. I have been trying to fork up the cash to buy the complete series for a few years now... there are 8 books, but it is out of print so it's an investment. Easy to find in any library, this classic story is great for boys and YA lovers of all ages. READ IT! YOU WON'T REGRET IT! (but have a box of tissues nearby).