Prairie Crossing: A Novel of the West

David Pershing Hull
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595460199
Reviewed by Lisa Kisner for Reader Views (5/09)

In 1880 Texas, Caleb Teague struggles to make a life for himself and his young sister, Maggie, following the death of their parents.  Caleb does whatever it takes to provide for her, including driving cattle across the deadly plains of Texas and growing cotton, a new endeavor in this harsh land.  Maggie Teague is three-years-old when this story begins and already shows maturity and education far beyond her years.  People are fascinated by this precious cherub which leads to grand adventures, some as tame as getting a new pony and others that have the Teagues fighting for their lives.

Readers will enjoy this taste of the old west with all its rough and tumble, complete with an intriguing cast of characters including the fabled William F. Cody, aka Buffalo Bill Cody.  The character of Maggie tends to bring out the softness in almost all of the characters with even the roughest ones sometimes falling under her innocent charm and Caleb, her brother embodies all the grit and determination we associate with that time.  I was drawn into “Prairie Crossing: A Novel of the West” from page one and stayed entranced until the very last page.  The writing style made me feel like I was hearing the tale from someone who had been there.  I could almost hear the “old west” accent in the narration.  My only wish is that the author had filled in the fifteen years missing between Maggie’s childhood and the end of the book.  Perhaps Mr. Hull has plans to tell the tale of Maggie’s adventures in another book.  I will be waiting.

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