The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole by Eric Pierpoint (review)

Opening during the 1877 cholera epidemic in Kansas, this debut novel follows twelve-year-old Caleb O'Toole and his sisters Julie and Tilly, who, upon the untimely death of their parents, hit the Oregon Trail alone to head west and find their aunt in Montana Territory. Prior to leaving Kansas, Caleb witnesses a murder at the hands of the notorious Blackstone brothers, making him and his sisters targets for the vengeful villains who remain hot on their trail the entire time. Add in a mysterious gunslinging man in black on a tall stallion, bouts of illness, kidnappings, and countless other action-packed adventures and you've got a pioneer story that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Part Wild West tale, part quest, part historical fiction, part family drama, the novel moves easily among the genres; it is probably strongest as a Western, drawing detailed descriptions of lawless towns, packed saloons, and bloody gunfights. The novel is particularly good at sensitively and accurately detailing the kids' encounters with Native American groups along the way, from the Pawnee who help the younger sister when she gets cholera to the Sioux who offer their protection to the O'Tooles after the kids care for one of their wounded soldiers. The Blackstones prove to be formidable opponents, and the final showdown at the Montana ranch is as exciting as it is satisfying. Caleb is a remarkable protagonist who gains considerable maturity over the course of the adventure, and his interactions with his sisters add warmth to the story. This isn't a historical lesson but an adventure, and it's a fine one at that, sweeping readers along with breakneck pacing. A detailed author's note offers additional information on the history behind the story.