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My Name Is America
The Journal of Joshua Loper, a Black Cowboy, he Chisholm Trail, 1871
In 1871 Joshua Loper, a sixteen-year-old black cowboy, records in his journal his experiences while making his first cattle drive under an unsympathetic trail boss, in an addition to a best-selling series composed by a Newbery Honor-winning author.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1999
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726 people want to read
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
232 books1,183 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 19, 2025
Being a cowboy back in the late 1800's was not for the weak. It was a pretty tough job for an adult, but could you imagine being a 16 year old boy and going on your first cattle drive from Texas all the way to Kansas? You had to deal with all sorts of weather, the dust, cattle rustlers, and the actual cattle themselves being obstinate. This had to be one of the toughest jobs there was for that time frame and the book described it so well.
July 12, 2018
Well let me start off by saying I only know about cowboys from books and movies. So this was enlightening about the cattle drive cowboys.
This is from the series My Name Is America, A Dear America book. This is the boys version of the historical fiction diaries.
In this one we get to know Joshua Loper. He was what we would call a teenager, but at the time was expected to be a man. You actually wanted more of his story when the book was done.
There was one spot in the book that made me ball my eyes out.
This is from the series My Name Is America, A Dear America book. This is the boys version of the historical fiction diaries.
In this one we get to know Joshua Loper. He was what we would call a teenager, but at the time was expected to be a man. You actually wanted more of his story when the book was done.
There was one spot in the book that made me ball my eyes out.
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January 14, 2024Black cowboys were something that I just learned about recently, and it makes me really happy that there is a book like this for kids.
April 20, 2021
The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy, is a fictionalized diary written convincingly by Walter Dean Myers. It is a Dear America book, a series that had a place on school library shelves in the 1990's and early 2000's. My belief as a school librarian is that students would gravitate toward reading this book if it were part of a class project.
I had noticed different Dear America books through the years, and appreciate the effort to bring history to life through characters that young people might be able to relate to, about the trials of a different time period. I had just finished The Little House series, and am trying to read different perspectives of Westward Expansion, in this case where Joshua is a sixteen year old young man learning how to be a cowboy along The Chisholm Trail in Texas, in 1871. His mother had taught him to read, plus he was a good shot with a rifle, he was eager to learn how to be a cowboy, and we learn that he could sing; all of these skills make him an asset to the team.
Mr. Muhlen, who owns the ranch, hired Captain Hunter to manage the ranch and workers and to manage a crew to drive the herd of cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kansas. When Joshua is asked, "I said I would do my best. Ain't nobody who went up the trail was talked about like they was a boy. You went up the trail you were a man" (p. 4). There are references to slavery, as Joshua's father, Nemiah, was born free, served in the Union Army during the Civil War, "had been shot at by some Ku Kluxers" and had to leave the Sough to find work in Ohio, in order to buy his wife's freedom and marry her. There are also terms not used today, such as "Coloreds" or "Negro" (p. 31)for people with darker skin (p. 5). The cowboys are a diverse group, and they each have important roles in driving the herd. Isaiah and Joshua observe as they pass by that the people picking cotton "ain't no money and no land and no learning...what's free about that?" (p. 38) The cowboys encounter former Buffalo Soldiers, an interesting part of history included, "There was something about those black soldiers that was special. They carried themselves like they owned the world." (p. 80).
Joshua describes the many roles involved in driving the herd, and how they work to survive along the trail, including forging dangerous rivers where the cattle in the front don't want to move and they risk losing the entire herd. Joshua is scared by the danger of snakes, and even tells a ghost story of Little Tom that keeps him awake at night. Joshua encounters "tailbone shock" from sitting too long on a horse (p. 43) and the hardships of other injuries, such as almost losing his thumb while roping cattle, really bring this story to life. Joshua, a good shot with a rifle, becomes sick over being ordered to shoot at rustlers (p. 65) when it is not clear the group is actually stealing cattle, later to find out the group falsely tells other cowboys that they had been "ambushed by Indians" (p. 70). There are incidents that are hard to read about, like what happens to "the new guy" Liam, who was among the cattle when they stampeded (p.77). The saddest of all revolves around Joshua's beloved horse, Pretty, who suffers along the trail.
The cowboys encounter Osage Indians (p. 86) who charge them two cattle to cross their lands. (p. 86). Captain makes derogatory comments, "If you ride on their range and shoot their buffalo they have a way of not liking it. Then soon as you shoot a few of them and then tell them that you are taking down their homes they get mad again. They're touchy that way." (p. 92) Both Jake, another cowboy, and Joshua don't think that is fair. The buffalo were so overhunted that several times the cowboys encounter Native Americans who want to trade for cattle, probably to eat.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the Historical Note, Life in America, and how photos and illustrations were included. It was an awesome read!
I had noticed different Dear America books through the years, and appreciate the effort to bring history to life through characters that young people might be able to relate to, about the trials of a different time period. I had just finished The Little House series, and am trying to read different perspectives of Westward Expansion, in this case where Joshua is a sixteen year old young man learning how to be a cowboy along The Chisholm Trail in Texas, in 1871. His mother had taught him to read, plus he was a good shot with a rifle, he was eager to learn how to be a cowboy, and we learn that he could sing; all of these skills make him an asset to the team.
Mr. Muhlen, who owns the ranch, hired Captain Hunter to manage the ranch and workers and to manage a crew to drive the herd of cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kansas. When Joshua is asked, "I said I would do my best. Ain't nobody who went up the trail was talked about like they was a boy. You went up the trail you were a man" (p. 4). There are references to slavery, as Joshua's father, Nemiah, was born free, served in the Union Army during the Civil War, "had been shot at by some Ku Kluxers" and had to leave the Sough to find work in Ohio, in order to buy his wife's freedom and marry her. There are also terms not used today, such as "Coloreds" or "Negro" (p. 31)for people with darker skin (p. 5). The cowboys are a diverse group, and they each have important roles in driving the herd. Isaiah and Joshua observe as they pass by that the people picking cotton "ain't no money and no land and no learning...what's free about that?" (p. 38) The cowboys encounter former Buffalo Soldiers, an interesting part of history included, "There was something about those black soldiers that was special. They carried themselves like they owned the world." (p. 80).
Joshua describes the many roles involved in driving the herd, and how they work to survive along the trail, including forging dangerous rivers where the cattle in the front don't want to move and they risk losing the entire herd. Joshua is scared by the danger of snakes, and even tells a ghost story of Little Tom that keeps him awake at night. Joshua encounters "tailbone shock" from sitting too long on a horse (p. 43) and the hardships of other injuries, such as almost losing his thumb while roping cattle, really bring this story to life. Joshua, a good shot with a rifle, becomes sick over being ordered to shoot at rustlers (p. 65) when it is not clear the group is actually stealing cattle, later to find out the group falsely tells other cowboys that they had been "ambushed by Indians" (p. 70). There are incidents that are hard to read about, like what happens to "the new guy" Liam, who was among the cattle when they stampeded (p.77). The saddest of all revolves around Joshua's beloved horse, Pretty, who suffers along the trail.
The cowboys encounter Osage Indians (p. 86) who charge them two cattle to cross their lands. (p. 86). Captain makes derogatory comments, "If you ride on their range and shoot their buffalo they have a way of not liking it. Then soon as you shoot a few of them and then tell them that you are taking down their homes they get mad again. They're touchy that way." (p. 92) Both Jake, another cowboy, and Joshua don't think that is fair. The buffalo were so overhunted that several times the cowboys encounter Native Americans who want to trade for cattle, probably to eat.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the Historical Note, Life in America, and how photos and illustrations were included. It was an awesome read!
January 26, 2016
The Journal Of Joshua Loper, A Blake Cowboy by Walter Dean Myers is one of my most favorite books that I have read. I give this book a 5 star rating because of all the conflict. Joshua Loper was a black man that was for Texas that brings cattle to Abilene Kansas and lode therm p on trains and brings the to the butcher so that they can get the hide from the cattle.
The thinks the I liked is everything. The most thing that I like the most is the that it is a western and it is just good. There is not anything that I would change about the book. The people that should read it is anyone that like ranching, western thinks, and that like to read historical things.
The thinks the I liked is everything. The most thing that I like the most is the that it is a western and it is just good. There is not anything that I would change about the book. The people that should read it is anyone that like ranching, western thinks, and that like to read historical things.
January 8, 2012
Even though these are kids books, I love reading them. I can finish one in 2 hours and I love the historical content. I love that it's in journal form. I love how they do an epilogue about the rest of the child's life and then about that time in history.
This was a subject that I knew nothing about. I've never really paid attention to the cattle drives of the late 1800's, and I didn't know anything about black cowboys. Interesting book.
This was a subject that I knew nothing about. I've never really paid attention to the cattle drives of the late 1800's, and I didn't know anything about black cowboys. Interesting book.
December 22, 2014
Walter Dean Myers Coms through again.
Thought of "The Life and the Legend of George McJunkin, Franklin Folsom, and of the "Virginian".
Riding the trails will make a man of you.
Thought of "The Life and the Legend of George McJunkin, Franklin Folsom, and of the "Virginian".
Riding the trails will make a man of you.
July 30, 2020
This historical fiction book is the diary of sixteen year old Joshua Loper. He dreams of becoming a Cowboy and his dream comes true. His Father is off somewhere else to find a job and has to leave behind his worried Mother. Joshua Loper talks about some of the situations and obstacles they face plus the interactions between him and the other cowboys while on a cattle drive. The book is based loosely off a real cowboy. Some of the story line is off putting but it does give a very real peek into the life of a Cowboy on a Cattle drive.
I have been enjoying reading this series.
I have been enjoying reading this series.
September 26, 2024
An informative book about a black cowboy named Joshua Loper. It is fictionalized journal but based in historical facts, situations and even had features historical figures of the time. I learned a lot about the history of cowboys and Joshua was a likable and relatable character. The reason I gave it 3 starts instead of higher is because it wasn't a read that I wanted to pick up all the time. Sometimes felt like a chore but I used to read a lot of these as a kid and I did enjoy the nostalgia.
January 1, 2025
3.5 stars
An entertaining, sometimes gruesome, glimpse of the realities of the oft-romanticized cowboy life. I enjoyed some of the humorous moments, and the hero's narration. But I would have liked an ending with a bit more punch to it. It felt like the story just fizzled out once they reached Abilene.
An entertaining, sometimes gruesome, glimpse of the realities of the oft-romanticized cowboy life. I enjoyed some of the humorous moments, and the hero's narration. But I would have liked an ending with a bit more punch to it. It felt like the story just fizzled out once they reached Abilene.
February 16, 2021
This was certainly something I never learned about in school, and very interesting to learn about now.
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April 23, 2021Very interesting. I did not know that most cowboys started out at Mexicans and African-Americans.
August 10, 2022
Enlightening! So many terrific books by this author. This won’t be my last Myer’s book!!
February 19, 2025
3.5 Enjoyable read for lovers of historical fiction. MC is 16 and some alcohol and violence makes this more appropriate for older intermediate to middle school (grades 5-8) CW for death of a pet
September 14, 2025
Very interesting to learn about cowboys especially poc cowboys.
April 6, 2023
The cattle wrangling parts were a bit dull, but I liked Joshua's voice and the context of 1871 post-war Texas. The historical note at the end was great too.
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February 28, 2017 In the book The Journal of Joshua Loper, A Black Cowboy by Walter Dean Myers from the book series “My Name Is America”, it talks about Joshua Loper’s experience with the cattle drive. The book is in the form of a journal, with day by day entries.
Joshua Loper is a teenager of a former slave. He joined the cattle drive from Texas to Kansas. The leader is strict, and kind of picks on Joshua for keeping a journal. They all have to keep watch in shifts at night, which is difficult for them. In their venture, they need to go through some tough encounters with rustlers and other difficulties and challenges. Through all of this, Joshua shows that he is a good, hard working kid, and the leader of the drive starts to like Joshua. It is all in all difficult to live with the drive. Then, there is a stampede where one of the cowboys dies.
I didn’t like this book a lot, as it was in the journal form, but It wasn’t really bad. I would probably give it a 3.5/5 rating.
Joshua Loper is a teenager of a former slave. He joined the cattle drive from Texas to Kansas. The leader is strict, and kind of picks on Joshua for keeping a journal. They all have to keep watch in shifts at night, which is difficult for them. In their venture, they need to go through some tough encounters with rustlers and other difficulties and challenges. Through all of this, Joshua shows that he is a good, hard working kid, and the leader of the drive starts to like Joshua. It is all in all difficult to live with the drive. Then, there is a stampede where one of the cowboys dies.
I didn’t like this book a lot, as it was in the journal form, but It wasn’t really bad. I would probably give it a 3.5/5 rating.
March 11, 2018
Good book, not just got kids. Really get a feel about what it was like in that time period.
February 20, 2017
This was such a sweet book of a son who truly carried for his mother and tried to maintain his morals during some really tough situations. Joshua is a well rounded character who is kind to all and tries his best to keep doing the right thing even if the right thing is very hard for him. He is a deep love of animals specifically his horse Pretty and his a young but good cowboy from the start.
March 3, 2014
1971 The Chisholm Trail
Josh is 16 and on his first cattle drive. The trail boss does not want him because of his age and his color. Josh is a quick learner and soon experiences the different parts of the cattle drive. The "pointers" are the first 2 riders who lead the entire herd, the "swings" who wander from the points to the "drags" at the rear. The pointers also set the pace and the drags need to be aware of the gait so they don't speed up the rear into the swing area.
The time of the cowboy and trail drives was a rather short period in our history. It was primarily between 1871 and 1882. Most drives were between Texas and Kansas stockyards and later when rails went to Wyoming, Texas to there. Sleeping under stars, singing to cattle to calm them, sleeping but ready to spring up for stampedes or rustlers after horses or cattle.
This was a factual journal of a cowboy's first trip, with rustlers and stampedes. It was a good read for anyone who loves horses and western culture.
Josh is 16 and on his first cattle drive. The trail boss does not want him because of his age and his color. Josh is a quick learner and soon experiences the different parts of the cattle drive. The "pointers" are the first 2 riders who lead the entire herd, the "swings" who wander from the points to the "drags" at the rear. The pointers also set the pace and the drags need to be aware of the gait so they don't speed up the rear into the swing area.
The time of the cowboy and trail drives was a rather short period in our history. It was primarily between 1871 and 1882. Most drives were between Texas and Kansas stockyards and later when rails went to Wyoming, Texas to there. Sleeping under stars, singing to cattle to calm them, sleeping but ready to spring up for stampedes or rustlers after horses or cattle.
This was a factual journal of a cowboy's first trip, with rustlers and stampedes. It was a good read for anyone who loves horses and western culture.
March 27, 2013
The Journal of Joshua Loper tells the his story from the first person point of view. The story illustrates the events of a cattle drive. Joshua captures the details of the drive's movement from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas in 1871. Although Joshua is excited to go out on this cattle drive,his mother is reluctant. This story is enlightening and insightful for it underscores a contribution of an African American in U.S. History.
Overall, this was a good book. I particularly enjoyed Joshua's "aha" moment which was when he realizes that his breakfast is costly and it truly is not worth the cost of his earnings.
A curriculum use for this book might be towards improving good citizenship. Since racism is often noted, teachers might reinforce non-bullying rules and find ways to demonstrate good citizenship to others.
Overall, this was a good book. I particularly enjoyed Joshua's "aha" moment which was when he realizes that his breakfast is costly and it truly is not worth the cost of his earnings.
A curriculum use for this book might be towards improving good citizenship. Since racism is often noted, teachers might reinforce non-bullying rules and find ways to demonstrate good citizenship to others.
May 17, 2013
It reads more like a first person narrative than a "found journal" story. Which wasn't bad so much as different. Not really too my taste. I'm more for the actual journal nature of the other Dear America series books. The history is fascinating but I found myself being a little bored by the story. I can't really say why. It was a cattle drive, which is hard grueling work but not really tension filled. I'm not sure... can't really put my finger on why exactly I was bored through most of the book but I was. And for that reason I have to give it a lower score.
Maybe it's just that I already know a lot about cowboys and cattle drives since my mother used to live on a cattle ranch. It's not really new to me. Interesting but nothing new.
But if you like cowboys and you're a beginning reader then I could see this story being a good fit for you. Just wasn't so much for me. :)
Maybe it's just that I already know a lot about cowboys and cattle drives since my mother used to live on a cattle ranch. It's not really new to me. Interesting but nothing new.
But if you like cowboys and you're a beginning reader then I could see this story being a good fit for you. Just wasn't so much for me. :)
March 22, 2012
My class is doing a unit on the author Walter Dean Myers. This is my first "Dear America" book. Are they all based on real journals?
I really enjoyed the book. The writing is simple and honest. According to the historical note, the characters were real people. I wonder if the photo on the front is actually Joshua Loper.
I liked that the book is a Texas book, set in Texas during the cattle drive years. I appreciate the story told.
I'm definitely recommending it to my 7th graders who are required to read Texas books for Texas history.
I really enjoyed the book. The writing is simple and honest. According to the historical note, the characters were real people. I wonder if the photo on the front is actually Joshua Loper.
I liked that the book is a Texas book, set in Texas during the cattle drive years. I appreciate the story told.
I'm definitely recommending it to my 7th graders who are required to read Texas books for Texas history.
June 3, 2012
This is about a African American boy and his time on his first cattle drive. He was free and there were very though jobs for them. It about Joshua being a cowboy and the prejustice of being black.
It a good read. Though this is mostly about the time in American History. It tells you more about being Black cowboy and on the trail of "The Chisholm Trail in 1871."
If you enjoy history this is good. This is told though the boys prospective as in Dear American is told though a girl prospective. It good for children to learn about our history at that time. Learn about Cattle drives as well as what it was like being African American in the 1871.
It a good read. Though this is mostly about the time in American History. It tells you more about being Black cowboy and on the trail of "The Chisholm Trail in 1871."
If you enjoy history this is good. This is told though the boys prospective as in Dear American is told though a girl prospective. It good for children to learn about our history at that time. Learn about Cattle drives as well as what it was like being African American in the 1871.
April 8, 2016
I have never read a Historical Fiction book before but after I read The Journal Of Joshua Loper, A Black Cowboy I saw historical fiction differently. When I started this book I thought it was going to be a long, dry, and boring experience. I think the reason I actually like this book was all the trouble and hardships He had to face to achieve his goal of being a black cowboy. This book was set a long time ago so blacks were seen very differently back then and treated harsh, that is why it was rough for Joshua.
October 26, 2025
The first time I read this book as a young reader, I loved it. I like learning about cowboys and thought it was so exciting.
Reading it this second time kind of changed my opinion. The problem was the writing. I felt like most of the time it was written like Joshua was a seventy old man telling his cowboy life to his grandkids. Like what he was writing wasn't happening but had already happened. I don't know if anyone else read it like that but it just seemed weird to me.
Still, I'm keeping the book because I do still kind of like it and I have a son now who may be interested in cowboys someday.
Reading it this second time kind of changed my opinion. The problem was the writing. I felt like most of the time it was written like Joshua was a seventy old man telling his cowboy life to his grandkids. Like what he was writing wasn't happening but had already happened. I don't know if anyone else read it like that but it just seemed weird to me.
Still, I'm keeping the book because I do still kind of like it and I have a son now who may be interested in cowboys someday.
October 23, 2009
This book is amazing to me which is why I gave it five stars. I like thinking about what it would be like to be back in the old days when they rode horses and drove cattle. I really wish I could ride a horse like Joshua the main character does. I would probally not like to ride a horse as long as he does like on the chisolm trail. That would probally be to long of a ride he gets a sore back and gets really bad. Then again I might not even like riding a horse since I never have. I would never do what he did because some people die on the trail along.
November 12, 2012
This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.
May 5, 2011
This was a quick read, but good. It was an interesting look back into the life of a black cowboy in the 1870s. I had not read anything depicting this place and time, and I enjoyed learning about it. A historical note at the end of the book provided some background on the characters and locations. Period pictures also provide a nice background for the book. There are a few instances of blood and gore, but nothing serious.
March 5, 2016
This is an excellent and very detailed look at a cattle drive...it just turns out cattle drives are kind of boring.
That said, the spot where it very bluntly said 'History has been whitewashed and movies are lying to you. The old west was very diverse and don't believe anything otherwise' was worth cheers and a standing ovation.
That said, the spot where it very bluntly said 'History has been whitewashed and movies are lying to you. The old west was very diverse and don't believe anything otherwise' was worth cheers and a standing ovation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews