JUNE 2020 - AudioFile
In this historical fantasy account of the life and times of Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, narrator Sophie Amoss keeps the bizarre world of talking dogs and werewolves firmly rooted. The narrative goes over the top when the writers pop in to talk directly to listeners, yet the thread is never lost. Amoss deserves the credit for that. She narrates with calm assuredness in the face of absurdity. Her deftness with tone and character sparkle during Annie and Jane’s dialogue; listeners will be convinced that two different women are conversing. Those looking for a fantasy YA romp will love this audiobook. A.R.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
“Witty and winsome, this rollicking tall tale makes its own rules.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Full of twists, turns, and laugh-out-loud humor, this tongue-in-cheek feminist alternative history is impossible to put down. A thrilling alternative history that sparkles with wit and charm.” — Kirkus Reviews
Booklist (starred review)
Witty and winsome, this rollicking tall tale makes its own rules.
School Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2020
Gr 7 Up—The Wild West just got a little wilder. In 1876 America, gunslingers, outlaws, and garou, also known as werewolves, are everywhere. Using their Wild West Traveling Show to fund their garou hunting, Wild Bill, Annie Oakley, and Frank "The Pistol Prince" Butler spend their night tracking down corrupt garou. When a garou hunt goes south, Jane joins the traveling band, but notices a suspicious bite on her arm. Soon she starts exhibiting werewolf symptoms. Meanwhile, the garou known as the Alpha is going around changing people and controlling their minds. Can the traveling band stop the Alpha? Could Jane really be a garou? Narrators Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows do a great job of portraying the well-developed characters. Their narrative styles mix well and bring the story to life. The nuanced plot is an action-packed blend of paranormal and historical fiction. VERDICT Fans of paranormal, historical fiction, and adventure stories will enjoy listening to this book.—Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Lib. Svcs.
School Library Journal
★ 06/01/2020
Gr 9 Up—The story starts in Cincinnati in 1876 with narrators Calamity Jane, Frank Butler, and Annie Oakley. There are also werewolves ("garou") that Frank and Jane, with their adoptive father Bill Hickok, hunt while using their traveling show "Wild Bill's Wild West" as a cover. Things go wrong after Annie tries to join the show and a hunt leaves Jane with a bite and one desperate chance to find a cure in Deadwood. Although many events have changed, the story stays true to the spirit of these real-life historical figures while offering more optimistic endings for many. This is particularly true for Jane, whose character arc includes a sweet queer romance and reimagining her penchant for attracting chaos as an asset. While Jane is the focus, anchoring much of the plot is Annie and Frank's actual romance from their first shooting competition to their growing respect and eventual partnership onstage. The American West, as seen by white settlers and romanticized for white audiences in popular culture, is inherently problematic. The authors acknowledge this in their omniscient narration and in conversations Annie has with Many Horses and Walks Looking, Lakota sisters whose help and practical advice are crucial to efforts to save Jane before it's too late. The story explores themes of alliances and tolerance through Annie's interactions with the garou (though not with the people of color). The acknowledgements include a list of further reading including works that spotlight Native perspectives. VERDICT A tall tale offered with caveats, filled with found family, fancy shooting, humor, and adventure.—Emma Carbone, Brooklyn P.L.
JUNE 2020 - AudioFile
In this historical fantasy account of the life and times of Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, narrator Sophie Amoss keeps the bizarre world of talking dogs and werewolves firmly rooted. The narrative goes over the top when the writers pop in to talk directly to listeners, yet the thread is never lost. Amoss deserves the credit for that. She narrates with calm assuredness in the face of absurdity. Her deftness with tone and character sparkle during Annie and Jane’s dialogue; listeners will be convinced that two different women are conversing. Those looking for a fantasy YA romp will love this audiobook. A.R.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2020-04-05
A posse of werewolf hunters disguised as a traveling troupe of sharpshooters roam the Old West in search of a particularly vicious werewolf known as the Alpha.
Under the watchful eyes of the paternal Wild Bill Hickok, protagonists Calamity Jane, Frank Butler, and Annie Oakley track the Alpha, all while navigating budding romances and family quarrels. While each teen is dedicated to the collective, they are each driven by their own motivations. Frank, for example, hopes to one day give up werewolf hunting and be a full-time entertainer. Annie—who must convince the group to hire her as a sharpshooter in the show—flees a family that wants to force her into marriage. All Jane wants is to settle down on a plot of land somewhere, far away from prying eyes. As the plot unfolds, readers learn each of the characters’ origin stories—including their deepest secrets. The book’s thrilling plot is driven by a brilliantly clever, collective narratorial voice that frequently intercedes with historical tidbits, witty asides, and political statements ranging from critiquing America’s lack of gun control laws to the shameful genocide and violent displacement of Native Americans. While most of the characters are white, the story does include two Lakota characters and a protagonist who comes out as queer. Full of twists, turns, and laugh-out-loud humor, this tongue-in-cheek feminist alternative history is impossible to put down.
A thrilling alternative history that sparkles with wit and charm. (further reading) (Fantasy. 13-18)
