Smoky knows only one way of life: freedom. Living on the openrange, he is free to go where he wants and to do what he wants. Andhe knows what he has to do to survive. He can beat any enemy,whether it be a rattlesnake or a hungry wolf. He is as much a partof the Wild West as it is of him, and Smoky can't imagine anythingelse. But then he comes across a new enemy, one that walks on twolegs and makes funny sounds. Smoky can't beat this enemy the way hehas all the others. But does he really want to? Or could giving upsome of his freedom mean getting something in return that's evenmore valuable?
PW's starred review of the 1999 Newbery Medal winner described it as a "dazzling blend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism." Ages 10-up. (May) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Dear Mr. Henshaw, I wish somebody would stop stealing the goodstuff out of my lunchbag. I guess I wish a lot of other things,too. I wish someday Dad and Bandit would pull up in front in therig ... Dad would yell out of the cab, "Come on, Leigh. Hop in andI'll give you a lift to school."Leigh Botts has been author BoydHenshaw's number one fan ever since he was in second grade. Now insixth grade, Leigh lives with his mother and is the new kid atschool. He's lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, across-country trucker, and angry because a mysterious thief stealsfrom his lunchbag. Then Leigh's teacher assigns a letter-writingproject. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to Mr. Henshaw, whosesurprising answer changes Leigh's life.
