I loved Let ‘Er Buck by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. This picture book biography tells the story of George Fletcher, and African American cowboy who, in 1911 entered the Pendleton Round-up rodeo and arguably won but was not awarded the top prize by the judges. The book describes how the audience took matters into their own hands to make sure Fletcher left with prize money.

I love books that tell me about unexpected heroes but this one was especially sweet to me since it takes place in my neck of the woods. The book tells about how Fletcher lived for a time as a child on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and competed against a Nez Perce cowboy, all familiar Inland Northwest locations and groups.

Nelson helps set the scene with an engaging old-timey voice. The first page, even before the title page, she introduces us to George Fletcher, the rodeo star, but then warns, “But we’re puttin’t he wagon ahead of the horse. We gotta go back a ways to reckon how he [Fletcher] got there.” The voice helps set the reader in time and place, and she never lets the Western flourishes overwhelm the story.

I loved the back matter in this book. Nelson gives a more complete profile of each of the three rodeo competitors described in the book, as well as of the sheriff who led the charge to make sure Fletcher’s skillful riding was adequately rewarded. She also has a fascinating section called “About the Research” where she sketches out some of the uncertainties she had to struggle with as she figured out the story to tell, and she includes a full page bibliography.

The oil painting illustrations, by Gordon C. James are vibrant and expressive.

I’m going to be sharing Let ‘Er Buck with lots of people!

Also, in the shameless promotion category, I’m delighted that Girl Running has been showing up on states’ reading lists. It’s been nominated for Maine’s children’s choice prize, the Chickadee Award and was listed on the Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List.

Let ‘Er Buck: George Fletcher, the People’s Champion by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Carolrhoda Books: 2019).