The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill (and a giveaway!)
It’s time to saddle up and join Prometheus Jones and his cousin Omer on a whirlwind of adventure! From the cover of The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill:
When Prometheus Jones wins a horse with the raffle ticket he got from Pernie and LaRue Boyd, he knows things won’t go smoothly. No way are those two rednecks going to let a black man, even a freeman from the day of his birth, keep that horse. So as soon as things get ugly, he jumps on the horse, pulls his cousin Omer up behind him, and heads off. They hook up with a cattle drive out of Texas heading for Deadwood, South Dakota. Prometheus is a fine hand with a horse and not so bad with a gun, and both skills prove useful as the trip north throws every twist and turn imaginable at the young cowpokes.
I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea that cattle driving could be so exciting, but it’s not hard when you have Prometheus Jones as a main character. He’s not looking for trouble, but trouble seems to always find him. He’s honest, a hard worker, kind, can speak like no other for his age or color, but can also break wild horses and shoot a flea off a horse from a hundred yards out.
I highly recommended The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones for both young girls and boys alike but boys who are reluctant readers may enjoy the cattle rustling, gun fights, and high adventure more while the girls will enjoy the great characters and Prometheus’s journey as he searches for something he’s not even sure exists. The book also gives reader great insight on black and Hispanic cowboys during a time of white cattle-driviers.
The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill was just released this past week. Don’t miss it! Helen Hemphill’s website.
Would you like a copy of The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones? I received two ARC’s and would like to pass one of them one to you (the other copy is totally worth keeping all to myself!). To enter, simply leave a comment here telling me why you would like to read this book. For two entries, mention the giveaway on your blog and link to this post. If you don’t have a blog email three friends and copy me at natasha (at) mawbooks (dot) com. Deadline to enter will be this Friday, November 14th. Sorry my international friends, just U.S. addresses only (I’m still recovering from mailing costs on my Darfur giveaways).
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Giveaways, Middle Readers
Tags: A-D Title, adventure, E-H Author, giveaway, historical fiction, published 2008, review copy, western
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I think my son would really like this book, so I would be passing it on to him.
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
on November 9th, 2008 at 11:39 amSounds like a fun book. I’m always on the lookout for new titles I can use with my 7th graders.
I’ll see if I can get a notice on my blog about it up by Tuesday.
on November 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pmNatasha — Thank you! What a great review! So glad you liked the book!There is a really cute new booktalk book trailer on YouTube about the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_UtUX9B4eQ. At Helen Hemphill’s first book signing at a bookstore yesterday, they totally sold out! I think it’s going to be popular for schools and parents as gifts.
on November 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pmNo need to enter me, Natasha. I’m just dropping in to say I posted this at Win a Book. Be sure to give us a holler if you have other things for us to post about!
on November 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pmThis look likes an exciting book. I think that my oldest daughter would like it – she likes “boy stuff”. Please enter me.
on November 9th, 2008 at 3:19 pmCB James – Seventh graders would be the perfect audience for this book!
Susan – Thanks!
Lisa – I think both boys and girls would like it for different reasons.
Julie – No problem! I almost always check youtube before putting up a review and I didn’t do it for this one! Here is the video for those of you that would like to see it:
In addition, here is the book trailer:
on November 9th, 2008 at 3:43 pmI’ve post a link on my blog.
on November 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pmI would like to enter this drawing for I’d like to find out more about the non-white cattle rustlers during that time period….interesting point of view and I’m sure there is quite a bit to grasp!
on November 9th, 2008 at 4:15 pmthank you for this offer
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
That sounds like a lot of fun — a cross between Larry McMurty and kid lit. Why not? Sign me up for the giveaway.
on November 9th, 2008 at 4:53 pmI’ve been on a western reading kick lately. I’ve read every book by Larry McMurty. I loved them all. Now I’ve started on Zane Grey. I’m always looking for new favorite authors so I’d be thrilled to win The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill . It sounds exactly like a book for me.
on November 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pmPlaese enter me Natasha. I really thing that not only my daughter will like this book, but also the autisitc boy I work with on the weekends. He has some devolopmental delays and I work with him in reading and math. He is definately a ‘reluctant reader’ but this sounds like something I could get him into. He loves cowboys and the action sounds great.
I like the point of view from an non-white perspective.
I’ll send you a CC of an e-mail I’ll send 3 friends with a link to this giveaway.
on November 9th, 2008 at 8:08 pmI’d love to have the chance to win the ARC! I’m always looking for good books for the reluctant readers in my classroom. This sounds like a book with wide appeal, and I like the fact that the protagonist is a minority portrayed in a positive light.
on November 9th, 2008 at 8:25 pmSounds like a book my son would like.
on November 9th, 2008 at 9:13 pmThe cover is great! Looks like me when I ride a horse. The name of the main character is intriguing in itself! I have two sons that would enjoy reading a western and I just might have to read it, also! Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi
on November 9th, 2008 at 10:27 pmCB – Got it! You’re in for two entries!
Darby – I think that’s why I loved this book – because of the viewpoint.
Melissa – To tell you the truth, I’m not a western reading gal, but I enjoyed this one.
Tracey – Oh good! I’m glad you’ve entered!
Jenn M. – Even if you don’t win, I hope you look into it, although I do hope you win! I got the email, so you’re in for two!
Trish – I hope he likes it.
Cindi – Isn’t that cover great? I love how it’s right in the middle of the action. I received your email, so you’re in for two entries as well.
on November 9th, 2008 at 10:40 pmNatasha- I checked at my library and oddly enough they have this book up at least to be able to put it on my holds list on the internet. So even if I don’t win, We can still check it out. I’m so sick of Bionicle….but hey, if he’s reading it, then it’s doing something right?
on November 9th, 2008 at 11:34 pmI know a little boy who would love to read this book
on November 10th, 2008 at 8:11 amI have at least 2 or 3 sons who would enjoy this book. I think it might be a bit much for my 5 yo, though. And would it be too young for my 15 yo? I KNOW the 10yo would love it. I hope the 13yo would read it. (In my home, he’s the reluctant reader. He only reads two or three books a month.)
on November 10th, 2008 at 8:57 amIt sounds like a fun book. I want to read it for sure. I posted about it, but you may not be able to view it on my private blog. Here is the link anyway. http://colbyscrazymom.blogspot.com/2008/11/book-giveaway.html
on November 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pmJenn M. – I’m still hoping that you win!
Amber G. – You’re in!
Karina – I believe the book says, it’s targeted at 9-12 year olds. Perfect for the ten year old. I think the 15 year old would enjoy it. It’s not a “baby-ish” book by any means. Hmm . . . five year old. Probably wouldn’t have the attention span for it, although there is nothing bad in it.
Amy BTW M – Two entries for you!
on November 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pmThis sounds like a great book! I think my 8yo would like it a lot and my 2yo would be after it for the cover picture- he loves horses. At the library he will pull out stacks of books with anything horse-ish on the cover or even a little tiny horse on the spine. Unfortunately, most of the books he finds are paperbacks for 3rd+ grade readers. So, we check them out if they have more than just a cover illustration and he loves to hunt for the horses inside.
on November 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm[...] recently put up for grabs a ARC of The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill, a great new read for middle readers. And the lucky winner is . . [...]
on November 20th, 2008 at 10:54 pmI am formally Natasha Ann Jones and here comes a doosey of a question. There was a character in a horse fiction book for children I read as a child had to be the mid to late 80’s to early 90’s. I dont recall the name of the book or even the auther but I do recall the lead character was the Named Natasha Ann Jones and nick named Nat. She had a friend and they both rode horses and Nat was the fun one and the other girl was a little more simple. Thats all I can recall. Has anyone any knowledge of the book? I would love to own it for the simple irony in nameing convention and read it again for the memory. KrazyCreedon@msn.com
on November 30th, 2008 at 10:09 pmThanks
Natasha Hubbard
Natasha – Well, from one Natasha to another I’ll try my best to see if I can come up with an answer. My initial Google search yielded nothing. But here’s hoping.
on November 30th, 2008 at 10:40 pmHi both Natashas!
I’m Helen Hemphill’s publicist for this book and I saw your question, Natasha Ann Hubbard. Helen didn’t run across the answer to your question in her 3 years of research, but she’s going to check with some experts and try to find the answer for you. We’ll post back here if we get it.
Thanks!
Julie
on December 1st, 2008 at 7:41 am