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Kid Review – review of books for elementary-aged and younger children

MS Review – review of books for older elementary-aged and middle school-aged children

YA Review – review of books for teens

Adult Review – review of books for adults – they may or may not be appropriate for a school library

Easterling, Michael. Ramblin’ Red. NP: Valley Oak Publications, 2020.

Summary

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It’s tough being the new kid in school, especially when you’re the smallest and the smartest. The combination of all three is like a sign on your back saying, “Kick me!” to every passing bully. No wonder Milton Mickelsen escapes into the stories he writes about Ramblin’ Red. Ramblin’ Red is a hard-riding, straight-shooting cowboy straight out of an old Western movie. Tall, strong, resourceful and confident, Ramblin’ Red is everything Milton yearns to be. But when the school van crashes in a remote wilderness area, Milton cannot look to Ramblin’ Red for help. If they hope to survive, it will be up to Milton, calling upon his own resources, to make his way across country in a snowstorm to get help.Ramblin’ Red is a book for any for middle-grade reader who has ever experienced being the odd person out. A high adventure, it is told with insight, humor and fast-paced action.

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My Kid Review

Ramblin’ Red is really a story within a story. On the one hand it is the story of Milton. His parents and grandfather were killed in an accident when he was young, so he is being raised by his grandmother. They were living in the big city but Grandma moved them back to her hometown. Now Milton is bored all the time and is not being challenged in school. He has one friend, two if you count the bus driver who befriends him and eventually does “dad stuff” with him.

The second story is the story of Ramblin’ Red – a story being written by Milton. My problem lies with this story of Ramblin’ Red. He lives in the Old West and there is much shooting and drinking and drunkenness. I think older elementary and middle school boys will enjoy this part of the story but it isn’t appropriate for all audiences. Parents will want to read this book before giving it to their children to read to make sure their child can handle those aspects of the story. There will be some in the intended age group who want to emulate Red and the other characters in that story. 

Because of my concerns I cannot recommend Ramblin’ Red for the K-12 Christian school library. I do, however, invite librarians to read the book and form their own opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of Ramblin’ Red. This is my honest review.