Cowboys Don't Cry

by Marilyn Halvorson

Shane Morgan's world is shattered when his mother is killed in a car accident. His father and hero, a famous rodeo star, drowns his sorrow in booze and soon is just a rodeo clown with a drinking problem. Then the two inherit a small ranch, and Shane looks forward to having a real home, making friends, and getting through a whole school year in the same place. But things don't go well at school or at home. In fact, Shane and his father seem to be growing further and further apart. Will his father ever change? Will things ever be different?

Genres: Young Adult, Canada, Read For School, Middle Grade, School, Fiction

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Blue Moon is Marilyn Halvorson's second book in the Orca Soundings series. Bull Rider was an ALA Quick Pick nominee. When she is not caring for cattle on her ranch, Marilyn spends her time writing.

Reviews

[Jillian Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in middle school. I think I picked it because of the horse on the cover... I honestly don't remember, but that sounds about right. I do remember reading Cowboys Don't Cry all these years later because it was such an eye opening experience for me. Before then I had only read books like Nancy Drew and Little House on the Prairie. Safe, happy books that had safe, happy characters and safe, happy endings. Cowboys Don't Cry was anything but.

The situations in the book may seem a little outdated compared to what kids have to face nowadays, but I think this is a coming of age novel that is a must read for anyone who ever felt they just didn't fit in where they should. This book remains one of my favorites and will be something my children read someday as well (whether they like it or not).

[David Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the title makes this book sound like a horrible romance novel, but it’s assigned reading for grade 8 classes for a good reason. It’s a really compelling story, with some really fantastic characters. Maybe really important reading for some people and cultures that struggle to work out their issues.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like to pre-read the books my children are required to read in school. I want to know if I disagree with it as an age-appropriate choice. It's also handy for helping with homework.
This book was lame. I dont' know why a teacher would put a book that reads like it was written by a 13 year old into the hands of a 12 year old. I think kids should be exposed to better literature than this!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Rangifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this book. Assigned to read it at the start of Grade 9, in the very first English class of my high school career, even though I believe it is written at the Gr. 4-5 level. This was unbelievably ironic to me at the time, considering I had been told in Gr. 6 that I was reading below my grade level and needed to challenge myself more. I think it took my class a good six weeks to get through it and analyze it to death, too.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was assigned to read this for school. I hated it. I can't possibly understand why I had to read this. I found it mostly depressing, and filled of terrible literature. I also think it's targeted for teenage boys. The main character rates a girl like a horse, then thinks his teacher is good looking. This is an awful and disgusting book. Do not read this book, it's a waste of time.

[Zieglberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give this more stars but I just can’t. I used this as a read aloud for grade 9 students. It was recommended by a colleague. My students enjoyed the story and appreciated that it was set in Alberta. I would probably read it for grade 7 or 8 next time. It’s short and sweet, has some really good vocabulary in it, and it has a great message. The 9s were underwhelmed with the ending.

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the title feels like a yucky Harlequin romance it is actually a quick read from the novel sets at school. This is a look at the idea of men’s complex ways of handling grief, some healthy and some very destructive.

[Tangerine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know why it took me so long to finish this book. I only read this book because it was by Halvorson and I didn't even read the back. To my surprise it was pretty angsty and got me in my feels a few times.

[Brian Marion]

I read this with a student a few times and then she was ready to go it alone. We are now looking for a copy of Cowboys Don't Quit.

[Kian]

Great book.

[Lexah Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought it had great vocabulary and it was just a good book in general.

[Stephen Cunningham-Dunlop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good

[Krista B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still just as good as I remember it being when I read it as a 12yo.

[Emilia Harris]

If you like modern westerns with cowboys who have no mom and a drunk father, then this book is for you. It was a little sad. I loved it!

[Avery McLarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing it has so many details and plot twists I definitely recommend this book for all ages

[Kiki Yaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very good book in my opinion. it has a lot of emotions mixed in with different characters.we read as a class and all the students liked it.

[kal0193 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable book

[pip :D · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in school, so it may have really dampened the experience, but I didn’t enjoy it that much. The book started off quite strong with a cohesive plot line, but nearing the middle to end of the book it felt like it started to fall apart. It felt as though details were missing or ideas were never fully portrayed, conflict felt like a mishmash of details, and it felt like so much was happening at any given time but also nothing.
Overall it’s not a horrible book but it is not a book that I would reading again in the future or recommending to another person.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager and wanted to re-read it as an adult. It holds up extremely well, and I really enjoyed it. It's a good story, set in Alberta, with characters that seem realistically flawed and authentic. Hope to write a book like this someday.

[Genesis Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story! This book actually made me cry . . . it's very well written and you feel everything along with the character, Shane, who has spent his life on the road. He loses his mother in a car accident and basically loses his father, as well, to drink.

[Kate Larkindale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I read this the first time when I was 12 and I loved it. It was a surprise to come across it again in the library's sale, and even more of a surprise to find it still has the power to move me.

[Partridge Public]

Halvarson, Marilyn

[Alessia]

The book is SOOOOOOOO boring and i just hated it completly. Sorry Marilyn Halvorson

[Liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

read this in high school. remember not liking it too much. maybe I'll give it another chance at a later date. :)

[Arielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

worst book ever.

[Megan Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dont really my type of book

[K-kla Lm']

i like this book

[Amy Mathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/cowboys...

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with granddaughter for school