Ride On! Book Recommendations for Westerns

Books on the Wild West are very popular, all you have to do is go to the library and look under the Western section. But to find books on the Wild West that are good, wholesome and full of adventure? That's a little harder.  

No worries, that's why Marin and I read books for you, to recommend the best ones we know about! So grab your hats, buckaroos, as we're about to head down the trail of literature! 

The Circle C Adventures 

Andrea Carter and The 

Long Ride Home 

Dangerous Decision  

Family Secret 

San Francisco Smugglers 

Trouble with Treasure 

Price of Truth 

By Susan Marlow 

Welcome to the Circle C Ranch, home of Andrea Carter, her family, and beloved horse. Living on the Circle C ranch in 1880s California--the heyday of the Old West--provides Andi with more than her fair share of adventures. Whether nearly trampling her schoolmaster with her palomino horse, Taffy, or outwitting an escaped convict, Andi's life is never boring. Her hair-raising escapades always end up teaching her valuable lessons about family, faith, and friends. Even if she does cause a lot of trouble (not on purpose, it just happens!) and even if she does get ornery with her brothers, Andi's family love and care for her shows that, no matter what happens between siblings, family is the greatest adventure God's ever given us. 

What we like about this series: Fun, fast paced and laced with adventure, this series always keeps you on the edge of your seat. They're never boring, something exciting happens in every book throughout the series. These are the kinds of books that kids love- good values, great adventure and plenty of humor. 

Age Range: 9-14, but older teens will enjoy them too 

Audience: Boys and Girls 

Cautions: Some characters (bad guys) do get shot in different books, and Andi gets injured in a couple of them. Little kids may be scared by this. 

Era: 1880s 

Special Notes: This is probably the best kid's book series Marin and I have ever read. Marin loves them, she never grows tired of the interactions between the siblings. To really appreciate them you have to read them! 

 NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

Danger in Sagebrush Country 

By Dorothy Croman 

This exciting story, which includes snakes, robbers, and wild cows, is set in Washington Territory in the summer of 1884, as a young girl's adventures teach her about trusting God and loving others. From escaping a mob in Spokane to facing a grasshopper invasion (that really makes it hard to breath without sucking in bugs!), you'll find adventure at every turn and lifelong lessons on every path. 

What we like about this book: The characters of this story (this is bad, we can't actually remember the names and no one else we know remembers either. Take our word for it, though, it's a good book!) share many a laugh, fright and excitement throughout the novel. Their love of animals is sure to make the animal people happy, especially when they make pets out of skunks! 

Age Range: 9-15 

Audience: Boys and Girls 

Cautions: The banker is murdered, and there is a couple of scary rattlesnake scenes. Little kids may be a little frightened by the 'bad guys' and the wild animals. 

Era: 1884 

Special Notes: This is my personal favorite stand-alone novel about the West. It's witty, fun, fast paced and very family oriented. The suspense gets really good in some parts also, and it focuses on a not-so-common area to do a Western- Washington, of all places! 

High Meadow Series 

 *The Hope of Wind River 

By Connie Siebert with Sandy Maxwell 

Maxine Mayfield is young and beautiful and suddenly finds herself alone for the first time in her life. Now she is faced with the challenge of finding her only living relative--her brother. But when a stranger crosses her path, she is compelled to take on the added responsibility of another person as she starts her search. After all, how much trouble can a little, white-haired girl be? Yeah, right! 

"The Hope of Wind River" takes you on a journey from the southeast corner of the Colorado Territory to the Wind River area of what was known in 1859 as the Dakota Territory. Be prepared to laugh a little, cry a little, and cheer a lot as cowboys, soldiers, Indians, and trail-bosses dance across the pages of this wild western adventure. 

What we like about this series: The main character, Maxi, is very endearing to the readers. Angel, her friend, is so sweet and gentle that she's sure to get more than one "awww," out of you! There are several hilarious scenes, from cowboys to Indians to adventures on the trail. Never a dull moment throughout the novel, it's fun from beginning to end! 

Age Range: 15 and up 

Audience: Girls, but Boys would like it also 

Cautions: This book is definitely for older readers. There are some suggestions made by the bad guys, but nothing ever comes from it. Also, the girls talk like, well, girls. They admire the different cowboys they meet and discuss which ones they'd like to marry. There is romance intertwined throughout the book, but it's good and wholesome. There is No swearing, immorality from the main characters or things like that, but the reader should be at least fifteen should they read this novel.  

Era: 1859 

Special Notes: None 

*This is the only one we've read. Book Two hasn’t come out yet 

Come back next week and we'll bring you on an exciting adventure, meeting a friend that we know you'll love!