Black Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons: A Toon Graphic by Smith, James Otis

Black Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons: A Toon Graphic

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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."

Author: James Otis Smith
Publisher: Toon Books
Published: 09/15/2020
Pages: 60
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 9.90h x 7.60w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781943145522
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 511038 / Black Heroes of the Wild West


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/10/2020
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2020 pg. 135
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2020 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
James Otis Smith is the illustrator of Showtime at the Apollo: The Epic Tale of Harlem's Legendary Theatre, and a multi-talented artist whose work spans illustration, comics, motion graphics, and video. This is his first book as both author and illustrator. Smith lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Kadir Nelson is the author or illustrator of more than thirty children's books including The Undefeated, written by Kwame Alexander, which received the 2020 Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newbery Honor. In his introduction to Black Heroes of the Wild West, Nelson writes, "It's time that we hear every American's story: from every background and creed, we've all worked together to weave the grand tapestry of America."