Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping nonfiction graphic novel brings Old West to life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
BEST SHOT IN THE WEST: THE ADVENTURES OF NAT LOVE follows the career of one of the most famous African American cowboys, from his childhood in slavery through his years of driving cattle and breaking broncos to his second career as a Pullman porter on the railroad. It includes battles with Native Americans and desperados, shooting tournaments, and encounters with Old West characters like Billy the Kid and Bat Masterson.
Is It Any Good?
Black cowboys usually get short shrift in tales of the Old West, but this engaging nonfiction graphic novel chronicles the eventful career of Nat Love, aka "Deadwood Dick." The authors dramatize key scenes from Love's life with economy and clarity and put his life into the greater context of the African American experience. Randy DuBurke's fully painted art captures the energy and urgency of the story. Together, the McKissacks and DuBurke have produced a gripping illustrated biography of a trailblazer well worth young readers' attention.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how African Americans contributed to the exploration of the American frontier, as shown in Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love. Why do you think they are omitted from so many fictional depictions of the Old West?
Do you think Nat Love made the right choice when he left his mother and other family behind to pursue his career as a cowboy?
Why do you think the author chose to frame the main story about Love's career as a cowboy with scenes of him working as a Pullman porter on the railroad in his later years?
This book is based on Love's autobiography The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, Better Known as "Deadwood Dick." Why do you think he chose to tell his own story?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Randy DuBurke
- Genre : History
- Topics : Adventures , History , Animals
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle Books
- Publication date : January 18, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 129
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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