''Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love'' is a 2012

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

written by

Patricia Patricia is a feminine given name of Latin language, Latin origin. Derived from the Latin word ''Patrician (ancient Rome), patrician'', meaning 'noble', it is the feminine form of the masculine given name Patrick (given name), Patrick. Another we ...

and

Fredrick McKissack Fredrick Lemuel "Fred" McKissack, Sr. (August 12, 1939 – April 28, 2013) was an American writer, best known for collaborating with his wife, Patricia C. McKissack, on more than 100 children's books about the history of African-Americans. The M ...

and illustrated by

Randy DuBurke Randy DuBurke (born 1962) is an American artist best known as the author and illustrator of the Steptoe Award winning book ''The Moon Ring'' (2003) and as the illustrator of '' Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty'' (2010). He previously ...

. It is about the life of

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the ''vaquero'' ...

Nat Love Nat Love (June 14, 1854 – February 11, 1921) was an American cowboy and writer active in the period following the American Civil War, Civil War. His reported exploits have made him one of the more famous heroes of the American frontier, Old Wes ...

Reception

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

'', reviewing ''Best Shot in the West'', wrote "The writing makes little use of hyperbole, allowing the natural drama of horse-roping contests, a kidnapping by a Native American tribe, and driving cattle through a fierce lightning storm to hold readers' attention. .. The unique art fills highly realistic figures (some even seem to be taken from old photos) and backgrounds with sprays of grainy color that make the story seem like it's coated in a patina of genuine history." and the ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'' wrote "Exciting and picturesque, Nat Love's life makes for a great graphic novel." ''Best Shot in the West'' has also been reviewed by ''

The Horn Book Magazine ''The Horn Book Magazine'', founded in Boston in 1924, is the oldest bimonthly magazine dedicated to reviewing children's literature. It began as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietors of t ...

'', ''Library Media Connection'', ''

Voice of Youth Advocates ''Voice of Youth Advocates'' (''VOYA'') was a bimonthly magazine that provides book reviews and information for librarians with a focus on young adult materials. History and profile ''VOYA'' was established in 1978. The founders were Dorothy M ...

'', ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'', ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'', and the ''

Tennessee Tribune The ''Tennessee Tribune'' is an African-American newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United ...

''. It is a 2012 BCCB Blue Ribbon Book, and a 2013 Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love) 2012 graphic novels African-American comics American children's books American graphic novels Biographical graphic novels Black people in comics History books about the United States 2012 children's books Books by Patricia McKissack Non-fiction graphic novels Children's books about African-American history Children's books set in the 19th century Graphic novels set in the United States Graphic novels set in the 19th century