The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty

This town’s a little too quiet for my taste. Ever since me and Pa decided to hunker down here, I been looking for a fella with a thirst for adventure, ready to throw caution to the wind. A fella who’s got the right stuff.

~The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson

Twelve-year-old Eugene Appleton is the son of a preacher in the sleepy frontier town of Rattlesnake Junction, Colorado. The most exciting part of his week is going to the general store to get Ma a bottle of molasses for her famous gingersnap cookies. That is, until Tumbleweed Thompson rolls into town.

Tumbleweed gives Eugene a taste of the adventure he’s only ever read about in Dead-Eye Dan novels. Together, the pair gets up to all kinds of mischief. Looking for treasure, attempting to steal gunpowder, and trying to win an elite sharpshooting lesson. It’s all fun and games until real villains show up in town. The Clean Shave Gang is up to no good, and Eugene and Tumbleweed may just be the only ones who can stop them.

The odd-couple dynamic between Eugene and Tumbleweed is thoroughly entertaining. Eugene’s brains and caution contrast starkly with Tumbleweed’s creativity and boldness. What’s even better is how both of them grow over the course of the story. Eugene in particular turns from a timid, adventure-starved boy to a quick-witted young man taking risks for all the right reasons. His young love story with the mayor’s daughter, Charlotte, is a sweet picture of “first crush,” and Charlotte herself is resourceful and brave, a heroine in her own right rather than merely existing to inspire Eugene. And right from the start, I loved Wendell Jenkins, owner of the town barbershop with a mysterious past and a heart of gold.

Throughout the book, young readers will learn all about frontier life, and it’s a period in history that is long overdue for us to revisit for kids. Pistols, dynamite, bandits, and unforgiving desert all make appearances in this historically accurate tale, making for one heck of a ride.

Tumbleweed is an exciting, heartwarming read for families. The illustrations by Joe Sutphin are charming, and the audiobook (narrated by the author) was highly enjoyable. Saddle up, readers!

Overall rating: ★★★★★
Worth reading?: Darn tootin’
Best parts:
– The character growth of Eugene is beautifully done.
– The climax of the book had me rolling with laughter and then fighting back tears!
Content concerns: No concerns for my family, but if yours is sensitive to guns or other wild west weaponry, keep in mind this book is historically accurate and doesn’t shy away from their presence.