My Calamity Jane

May 1, 2020
A posse of werewolf hunters disguised as a traveling troupe of sharpshooters roam the Old West in search of a particularly vicious werewolf known as the Alpha. Under the watchful eyes of the paternal Wild Bill Hickok, protagonists Calamity Jane, Frank Butler, and Annie Oakley track the Alpha, all while navigating budding romances and family quarrels. While each teen is dedicated to the collective, they are each driven by their own motivations. Frank, for example, hopes to one day give up werewolf hunting and be a full-time entertainer. Annie--who must convince the group to hire her as a sharpshooter in the show--flees a family that wants to force her into marriage. All Jane wants is to settle down on a plot of land somewhere, far away from prying eyes. As the plot unfolds, readers learn each of the characters' origin stories--including their deepest secrets. The book's thrilling plot is driven by a brilliantly clever, collective narratorial voice that frequently intercedes with historical tidbits, witty asides, and political statements ranging from critiquing America's lack of gun control laws to the shameful genocide and violent displacement of Native Americans. While most of the characters are white, the story does include two Lakota characters and a protagonist who comes out as queer. Full of twists, turns, and laugh-out-loud humor, this tongue-in-cheek feminist alternative history is impossible to put down. A thrilling alternative history that sparkles with wit and charm. (further reading) (Fantasy. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from May 15, 2020
Grades 7-11 *Starred Review* It's 1876, and the American West is as wild as it gets. In infamous gunslinger Bill Hickok's Wild Bill's Wild West theatrical traveling show, a no-nonsense girl called Calamity Jane and a smooth-talking boy called Frank Butler travel around, entertaining audiences with tales of their adventures and performing sharpshooter and rodeo tricks. There's one other thing Wild Bill's crew does on the side, and that's hunt werewolves, or garou; in this version of the Wild West, they're all over. When a girl named Annie, bursting with confidence and the sharpshooting talent to back it up, shows up looking for a job in the show, Frank's pretty sure he's met the love of his life?though she may have some prejudices she needs to examine. Then a bite during a garou hunt sends Jane off on what might be a fruitless hunt for a cure, and everyone else on a hunt for Jane. In this third volume in their thematic trilogy (My Lady Jane, 2016; My Plain Jane, 2018), the trio of author-narrators lose absolutely none of their infectious energy. Real historical characters blend seamlessly with fantasy elements, anachronistic pop-culture references (you can thank Annie Oakley for those musical theater nods!), and plenty of narrative asides. Witty and winsome, this rollicking tall tale makes its own rules (naturally), and series readers new and old will be happier for it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from June 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-The story starts in Cincinnati in 1876 with narrators Calamity Jane, Frank Butler, and Annie Oakley. There are also werewolves ("garou") that Frank and Jane, with their adoptive father Bill Hickok, hunt while using their traveling show "Wild Bill's Wild West" as a cover. Things go wrong after Annie tries to join the show and a hunt leaves Jane with a bite and one desperate chance to find a cure in Deadwood. Although many events have changed, the story stays true to the spirit of these real-life historical figures while offering more optimistic endings for many. This is particularly true for Jane, whose character arc includes a sweet queer romance and reimagining her penchant for attracting chaos as an asset. While Jane is the focus, anchoring much of the plot is Annie and Frank's actual romance from their first shooting competition to their growing respect and eventual partnership onstage. The American West, as seen by white settlers and romanticized for white audiences in popular culture, is inherently problematic. The authors acknowledge this in their omniscient narration and in conversations Annie has with Many Horses and Walks Looking, Lakota sisters whose help and practical advice are crucial to efforts to save Jane before it's too late. The story explores themes of alliances and tolerance through Annie's interactions with the garou (though not with the people of color). The acknowledgements include a list of further reading including works that spotlight Native perspectives. VERDICT A tall tale offered with caveats, filled with found family, fancy shooting, humor, and adventure.-Emma Carbone, Brooklyn P.L.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.