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The Blue Mustang
When seventeen-year-old Button Starbuck finds his father murdered, he swears to track down the man who shot him and get his revenge. The only friend he can rely on is a blue mustang with the cunning and heart of a fighter.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 1955
29 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Will Henry
130 books17 followersAlso wrote westerns as Clay Fisher.
Henry Wilson Allen (September 12, 1912 – October 26, 1991) was an American author and screenwriter. He used several different pseudonyms for his works. His 50+ novels of the American West were published under the pen names Will Henry and Clay Fisher. Allen's screenplays and scripts for animated shorts were credited to Heck Allen and Henry Allen.
Allen's career as a novelist began in 1952, with the publication of his first Western No Survivors. Allen, afraid that the studio would disapprove of his moonlighting, used a pen-name to avoid trouble.[3] He would go on to publish over 50 novels, eight of which were adapted for the screen. Most of these were published under one or the other of the pseudonyms Will Henry and Clay Fisher. Allen was a five-time winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and a recipient of the Levi Strauss Award for lifetime achievement.
Henry Wilson Allen was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Allen died of pneumonia on October 26, 1991 in Van Nuys, California. He was 79.
Henry Wilson Allen (September 12, 1912 – October 26, 1991) was an American author and screenwriter. He used several different pseudonyms for his works. His 50+ novels of the American West were published under the pen names Will Henry and Clay Fisher. Allen's screenplays and scripts for animated shorts were credited to Heck Allen and Henry Allen.
Allen's career as a novelist began in 1952, with the publication of his first Western No Survivors. Allen, afraid that the studio would disapprove of his moonlighting, used a pen-name to avoid trouble.[3] He would go on to publish over 50 novels, eight of which were adapted for the screen. Most of these were published under one or the other of the pseudonyms Will Henry and Clay Fisher. Allen was a five-time winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and a recipient of the Levi Strauss Award for lifetime achievement.
Henry Wilson Allen was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Allen died of pneumonia on October 26, 1991 in Van Nuys, California. He was 79.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 6, 2016
The Blue Mustang is an excellent argument for a theory that I have about Westerns: that it's eminently possible to elevate a book above the perceived clichés of the genre merely by taking the effort to populate your story with living, breathing human characters instead of cardboard cutouts. What makes this book stand out beside other Westerns I've read is the messy reality and complexity of the young narrator's relationships with his formidable father and brothers and various other characters who cross his path (Sheriff Blackburn and the unnamed doctor being standout examples), even minor ones. It elevates what is essentially a simple chase/escape plot into an honest-to-goodness work of fiction. (Kind of surprised this was never made into a movie, especially since I think some of the author's other books were.)
That, and good writing. Will Henry has an undoubted way with words; the first-person narration crackles with lively similes and metaphors and wry humor, while still maintaining the naiveté and stubbornness of a seventeen-year-old boy who still has plenty to learn. Henry obviously has a fantastic knowledge of Texas history and geography as well, giving the reader a sense of time and place sometimes missing from Westerns that take place in a fictional, detached town or ranch (to be upfront about it, this is something I struggle with in my own writing, not being native to the West).
A perfect book? No. It could easily have been a solid five-star read for me if not for a pretty generous serving of profanity, and a few rather crude/suggestive scenes involving the narrator's descriptions of or interactions with women. Those elements are just not my style. Still, I'd be willing to roll the dice on trying another book by this author, from having been impressed by his strength in writing style and characterization.
That, and good writing. Will Henry has an undoubted way with words; the first-person narration crackles with lively similes and metaphors and wry humor, while still maintaining the naiveté and stubbornness of a seventeen-year-old boy who still has plenty to learn. Henry obviously has a fantastic knowledge of Texas history and geography as well, giving the reader a sense of time and place sometimes missing from Westerns that take place in a fictional, detached town or ranch (to be upfront about it, this is something I struggle with in my own writing, not being native to the West).
A perfect book? No. It could easily have been a solid five-star read for me if not for a pretty generous serving of profanity, and a few rather crude/suggestive scenes involving the narrator's descriptions of or interactions with women. Those elements are just not my style. Still, I'd be willing to roll the dice on trying another book by this author, from having been impressed by his strength in writing style and characterization.
June 27, 2016
Some western tales never get old
Despite the fact that this story was written a long time ago it still provides an interesting, although somewhat predictable, western tale. A fun read.
Despite the fact that this story was written a long time ago it still provides an interesting, although somewhat predictable, western tale. A fun read.
February 8, 2019
just an enjoyable clean G rated little western. Fast moving with very interesting characters.
March 25, 2023
Mustang
a surprisingly good read. Sad in places, tissues used. The story has a good ending. I can imagine the little horses running their hearts out to save their riders.
a surprisingly good read. Sad in places, tissues used. The story has a good ending. I can imagine the little horses running their hearts out to save their riders.
June 15, 2024
"After that there was a crawly twenty seconds of roller-bar bits and cartwheel Sonora spurs jingling, stirrup leathers squeaking, tired ponies grunting and blowing out as they picked up the welcome smell of the Fork water. And a last, endless, held breath when their shadows ran out of the cut ahead of them, long and tall and twilight black in front of the backing set of the six o'clock sun.
Then Rance Buchanan rode out."
In "The Blue Mustang" (1955) our first-person protagonist Walk Starbuck has two older brothers, Doak and Brack, and the three of them have specific jobs in the Starbuck household and ranch with their Dad after the Mother has passed on. Pa Starbuck manages to make a deal for a cattle purchase and quick-turn sale of those cows that stands to make the family operation a good chunk of change, but a bad guy named Rance Buchanan kills Pa to kill the deal. The Starbuck boys are now wrestling with each other to figure out how to proceed - do they attempt to salvage the deal, or at least stave off a loss if they renege on either half of the transfer (there is a time constraint on both the buy and the sale)? Or do they immediately seek revenge on the man who killed their father and who has numbers against them in the event of a prospective confrontation? The younger brother Walk is all talk, diminutive and not a fighter, while his two older brothers are opposites, one quick-tempered and one more cautious.
Also playing into this adventure is an old Mexican ranch hand named Sec, a strong horse perfect for a younger rider like our protagonist Walk named Mozo, and then the "Blue Mustang" in the book's title named Gavilanito ("little hawk") who Walk buys later while trying to dodge some scary hombres.
Will Henry's gift here is in putting us in the POV of the young protagonist who can see what's going on and has insight into how his two older brothers process the world around them, and also in relating the uncertainty and discomfort he has when either of them drift from something he thinks his father might have done, or from some way to get revenge for his brutal murder. Where Henry falls short for me, when compared to other western authors from that 50's/60's era, is just his writing style, choppy at times (example, the intro quote above) with some odd sequencing.
Verdict: A good western with a smart protagonist but challenging prose at times.
Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
Then Rance Buchanan rode out."
In "The Blue Mustang" (1955) our first-person protagonist Walk Starbuck has two older brothers, Doak and Brack, and the three of them have specific jobs in the Starbuck household and ranch with their Dad after the Mother has passed on. Pa Starbuck manages to make a deal for a cattle purchase and quick-turn sale of those cows that stands to make the family operation a good chunk of change, but a bad guy named Rance Buchanan kills Pa to kill the deal. The Starbuck boys are now wrestling with each other to figure out how to proceed - do they attempt to salvage the deal, or at least stave off a loss if they renege on either half of the transfer (there is a time constraint on both the buy and the sale)? Or do they immediately seek revenge on the man who killed their father and who has numbers against them in the event of a prospective confrontation? The younger brother Walk is all talk, diminutive and not a fighter, while his two older brothers are opposites, one quick-tempered and one more cautious.
Also playing into this adventure is an old Mexican ranch hand named Sec, a strong horse perfect for a younger rider like our protagonist Walk named Mozo, and then the "Blue Mustang" in the book's title named Gavilanito ("little hawk") who Walk buys later while trying to dodge some scary hombres.
Will Henry's gift here is in putting us in the POV of the young protagonist who can see what's going on and has insight into how his two older brothers process the world around them, and also in relating the uncertainty and discomfort he has when either of them drift from something he thinks his father might have done, or from some way to get revenge for his brutal murder. Where Henry falls short for me, when compared to other western authors from that 50's/60's era, is just his writing style, choppy at times (example, the intro quote above) with some odd sequencing.
Verdict: A good western with a smart protagonist but challenging prose at times.
Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
August 10, 2020
I really liked this story. 16 year old who was raised quite differently from his brothers suddenly finds himself in a fight with others over a ranch.
While listening to the story using text-to-speech, one woman is referred to as a squaw. Years ago when I read lots of westerns, I had assumed that the word simply referred to a Native American woman. I found out sometime in the 90s that it was actually derogatory. So it kept bugging me every time I heard it.
While listening to the story using text-to-speech, one woman is referred to as a squaw. Years ago when I read lots of westerns, I had assumed that the word simply referred to a Native American woman. I found out sometime in the 90s that it was actually derogatory. So it kept bugging me every time I heard it.
August 22, 2025
Very old fashioned western
I actually didn't finish the book because I intensely disliked how the author described indigenous and Mexican people. I know the book was written some time ago when racism and stereotyping was normal... but I can't stand it now.
I actually didn't finish the book because I intensely disliked how the author described indigenous and Mexican people. I know the book was written some time ago when racism and stereotyping was normal... but I can't stand it now.
December 25, 2018
All I need to say, it is a book written by Will Henry!
A great story, non-stop action. Not a full moment in the book. A classic Will Henry book, sit back and enjoy!
A great story, non-stop action. Not a full moment in the book. A classic Will Henry book, sit back and enjoy!
June 17, 2020
Great old western
Will Henry gives a realistic feel of the old west before fences. Love his portrayal of life in those unforgiving times.
Will Henry gives a realistic feel of the old west before fences. Love his portrayal of life in those unforgiving times.
June 7, 2019
Coming from a cow town on the Colorado prairie, I grew up with wheat girl cowboys, and cow horses. Loving horses, I was either on a horse, or reading about horses. Will James's "Smokey the Cow Pony" was one of the first horse books I read. It was a treat to find Blue Mustang. It is a typical "coming of age" western story; one where the horse plays a major part. Will James wrote well, and he wrote with authenticity of cowboys and the horses they rode. In the part of the country were I grew up, both "blue" horses, and the grullo dun were particularly valued. According to cowboy legend, these animals combined unusual intelligence with iron endurance.
April 19, 2011
I first read this book when I was in high school and thought it was great then. I've since bought both the paperback and the Nook version. It was the Nook version that I just finished reading. This is a typical "kid makes good after going through trials" novels told from the point of view of "Button" Starbuck, a ranch kid living in post-Civil War Texas. In trying to take delivery of a herd of cattle that their father bought on a hunch, Button loses his father and his two brothers but finds love and friendship from some unlikely sources. This is a western that is immortal...
June 14, 2016
Hard reading for me. The jargon was hard for me to follow at times. I had to push myself to finish.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews