Exploring American history and finding diversity at its roots! This graphic novel by
JAMES OTIS SMITH celebrates the extraordinary true tales of three black heroes who took control of their destinies and stood up for their communities in the Old West. Born into slavery in Tennessee, Mary Fields became famous as “Stagecoach Mary,” a cigar-chomping, card playing coach driver who never missed a delivery. Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi, was one of the wiliest lawmen in the territories, bringing thousands of outlaws to justice with his smarts. Bob Lemmons lived to be 99 years old and was so good with horses that the wild mustangs on the plains of Texas took him for one of their own.
From the introduction by KADIR NELSON, winner of the 2020 Caldecott Award: “Black Heroes of the Wild West is a brilliant and entertaining offering. Through sharp and evocative storytelling in the exciting medium of comics, lesser-known African American historical figures will be introduced to new generations of readers.”
""Black Heroes of the Wild West" celebrates the extraordinary true tales of three black historical figures in the Old West: Mary "Stagecoach" Fields, a cardplaying coach driver; Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy S Marshall west of the Mississippi; and Bob Lemmons, a cowboy famous for his ability to tame mustangs"--
NPR’s Favorite Books of 2020
New York Public Library's Top 10 Books for Kids of 2020
2021 ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List
"Highly recommended for all collections” —Booklist Starred Review
"Black Heroes of the Wild West is a brilliant and entertaining offering. Through sharp and evocative storytelling in the exciting medium of comics, lesser-known African American historical figures will be introduced to new generations of readers.” —Kadir Nelson, winner of the 2020 Caldecott Award
"A book that reimagines the western dime novel, this time with historical context ― far more potent than the whitewashed narratives that have long dominated...This Old West Black American grit and ingenuity is American history." —The New York Times
"[Smith] manages to capture the humanity of each subject, while giving the entire book the 'hero' vibe promised in the title." ―Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast by Julie Danielson
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
“Stories of these three remarkable figures are balanced by rich backmatter providing timelines, photographs, and historical information.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Witty punch lines and comic strip-style illustrations . . . with an emphasis on biographical details and the landscape.” ―Publishers Weekly
"The inclusion of photographs as endpapers and chapter openings reinforces that these are real people behind these almost unbelievable tales. They provide valuable evidence that grounds the extraordinary events, as well as showing how many more stories were out there." ― Good Comics for Kids, School Library Journal
