What do you think?
Rate this book
Sand
Set against the vast, untamed expanse of the Great Plains, Sand is a classic Western tale of grit, redemption, and the unbreakable bond between man and horse. Written and illustrated by Will James, this timeless story follows a disillusioned young heir who, by a twist of fate, finds himself thrust into the rugged world of cowboys, where survival demands more than wealth—it requires sand, the inner strength to meet life's challenges head-on.
At the heart of the novel is a long and grueling battle of wills between the protagonist and a wild, untamable horse. As he struggles to break the horse, he undergoes a transformation of his own, learning patience, resilience, and the value of honest work. What begins as a test of dominance evolves into a journey of self-discovery, as the "little grain of sand within him" starts to grow.
Through hardship and perseverance, he not only wins the respect of the horse but also earns the admiration of the girl, proving that true character is forged in the face of adversity. A straightforward yet deeply compelling morality tale, Sand is a celebration of the cowboy spirit, where honor, determination, and grit shape a man’s destiny. Fans of Western fiction and stories of personal growth will find inspiration in this beautifully illustrated novel by one of the genre’s most authentic voices.
At the heart of the novel is a long and grueling battle of wills between the protagonist and a wild, untamable horse. As he struggles to break the horse, he undergoes a transformation of his own, learning patience, resilience, and the value of honest work. What begins as a test of dominance evolves into a journey of self-discovery, as the "little grain of sand within him" starts to grow.
Through hardship and perseverance, he not only wins the respect of the horse but also earns the admiration of the girl, proving that true character is forged in the face of adversity. A straightforward yet deeply compelling morality tale, Sand is a celebration of the cowboy spirit, where honor, determination, and grit shape a man’s destiny. Fans of Western fiction and stories of personal growth will find inspiration in this beautifully illustrated novel by one of the genre’s most authentic voices.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1929
4 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Will James
117 books41 followersWill James, artist and writer of the American West, was born Joseph Ernest Nephtali Dufault. It was during his creative years everyone grew to know him as Will James. During the next several years, he drifted, worked at several jobs, was briefly jailed for cattle rustling, served in the army, and began selling his sketches and in 1922 sold his first writing, Bucking Horse Riders. The sale of several books followed.
An artist and author of books about the American west and, in particular, horses, Will James wrote the 1926 book "Smoky the Cowhorse". It was awarded the John Newbery Medal in 1927, and remains in print to this day. Several movie adaptations of the story have been created, including a 1933 version that included Will James himself as the narrator.
His fictionalized autobiography, Lone Cowboy, was written in 1930. He also wrote Home Ranch (1935) and he wrote his last book, The American Cowboy, in 1942. In all, he wrote and illustrated 23 books.
In 1991, Will James was named a member of the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.
An artist and author of books about the American west and, in particular, horses, Will James wrote the 1926 book "Smoky the Cowhorse". It was awarded the John Newbery Medal in 1927, and remains in print to this day. Several movie adaptations of the story have been created, including a 1933 version that included Will James himself as the narrator.
His fictionalized autobiography, Lone Cowboy, was written in 1930. He also wrote Home Ranch (1935) and he wrote his last book, The American Cowboy, in 1942. In all, he wrote and illustrated 23 books.
In 1991, Will James was named a member of the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 26, 2022
Dec 25, 715pm ~~ After my disappointment with the Ross Santee book a couple of days ago, I wanted a sure enough cowboy story so I went to my horse bookshelf again and chose Sand by Will James. Originally written in 1929, it is the story of Gilbert Tilden and what happened to him over the span of a few years in his life.
I was not disappointed with this story, not at all. Even with a bit more inner processes being discussed than most Will James books have, this was a dramatic and enlightening book. Will James was a working cowboy himself, and he had the ability not only to write about what he knew, but also to illustrate it, and the drawings enhance the action in nearly every chapter.
The title and the cover (of my edition) might make a reader think that 'Sand' is the name of the horse that figures in this tale, a wild black stallion that has been in the territory for years. But as the author explains in a simple 'first word', the main character Tilden is a city slicker based on a man James met while James was working on a ranch as horse wrangler, the first job any young cowboy has to master before he can move up to learning how to be a top hand.
And the 'sand' means something inside a person that will help him over the obstacles of life, give him a solid foundation for the future, and the confidence to work to get where he wants to go.
But did our man Gilbert have this grain of sand in him when we first meet him? I can tell you: no, he did not. What I cannot tell you is whether or not he encountered his true grit by the end of the book. That you will have to discover for yourself.
I was not disappointed with this story, not at all. Even with a bit more inner processes being discussed than most Will James books have, this was a dramatic and enlightening book. Will James was a working cowboy himself, and he had the ability not only to write about what he knew, but also to illustrate it, and the drawings enhance the action in nearly every chapter.
The title and the cover (of my edition) might make a reader think that 'Sand' is the name of the horse that figures in this tale, a wild black stallion that has been in the territory for years. But as the author explains in a simple 'first word', the main character Tilden is a city slicker based on a man James met while James was working on a ranch as horse wrangler, the first job any young cowboy has to master before he can move up to learning how to be a top hand.
And the 'sand' means something inside a person that will help him over the obstacles of life, give him a solid foundation for the future, and the confidence to work to get where he wants to go.
But did our man Gilbert have this grain of sand in him when we first meet him? I can tell you: no, he did not. What I cannot tell you is whether or not he encountered his true grit by the end of the book. That you will have to discover for yourself.
May 8, 2023
My Dad introduced me to Will James books which are all centered around a horse or working with horses and cattle for the most part. This was a tale of redemption of a young man who was a dandy living off his father's wealth that got lost after leaving the train depot. He wandered away and had no idea where he was. Fortunately he was come upon as he lay dehydrated and starving on the open range by the cook of a roundup going on. He slowly got better but since he had no knowledge of ranching and roundups or horses and didn't bother to learn and expected to be waited on the cook finally had enough and told him straight up he needed to leave as he was taking advantage of their hospitality.
He ended up living with an old-timer who took him in as he was pretty out of it when he arrived at his door. From there after coming across the story of a Black Stallion and actually seeing him in the distance he decided he wanted to capture the uncatchable stallion. Through his dedication to improving himself physically and mentally he acquired "sand" which is finding within yourself how to tackle life challenges head-on. In the end what he finally realized is without the cook giving him a hard talking to and making him go on his way he would never have realized his full potential.
He ended up living with an old-timer who took him in as he was pretty out of it when he arrived at his door. From there after coming across the story of a Black Stallion and actually seeing him in the distance he decided he wanted to capture the uncatchable stallion. Through his dedication to improving himself physically and mentally he acquired "sand" which is finding within yourself how to tackle life challenges head-on. In the end what he finally realized is without the cook giving him a hard talking to and making him go on his way he would never have realized his full potential.
February 22, 2020
This one is a little slower starting than Smoky or Scorpion, but is still a sweet, inspiring story. I love the development of the character and the very different storyline, as far as the main character, than most westerns. There’s also, of course, the classic pursuit of a seemingly magical horse, which every horse lover will enjoy. There’s so much about horses’ personalities and individual abilities that Will James incorporates that makes his writing uniquely enjoyable for equestrians, because there’s a lot with which we can identify. Loved it!
June 23, 2020
A straightforward morality tale of the dissolute heir who finds himself by chance in the wilderness where he embraces a new vision of himself, builds character, and develops sand (the author's term for grit). We know he's changed for the better as he first wins over the horse, and then the girl.
Will James' prose lilts with a folksy western style that jars at first then settles into an easy cadence. Look elsewhere for sophisticated characterization or nuance, but stick with this one for a fun, quick read that will fortify your grit. Four stars.
Will James' prose lilts with a folksy western style that jars at first then settles into an easy cadence. Look elsewhere for sophisticated characterization or nuance, but stick with this one for a fun, quick read that will fortify your grit. Four stars.
February 22, 2024
This story is fantastic. I think that the way Will James wrote this story had a lot of thought and planning put into it. I really liked the way the main character Gilbert Tilden persevered in catching the black stallion even though no one believed in him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2017
An amazing insight into the redemption of a wastrel. I believe that much of this is autobiographical, and reminds me of the healing qualities of horse and sky.
December 3, 2018
Some disjointed parts, there are parts at the end that are even more difficult to swallow, but it's a nice coming of age kind of story set in the early 1900s.
June 1, 2018
I loved this book when I was a kid and I still love it now.
October 2, 2012
A city slicker gets lost on the wide open prairie, and runs into a cattle drive. He soon falls in love with the cowboy life and decides to leave the city life behind and try and become a real cowboy.
Aimed at young middle school age readers.
Aimed at young middle school age readers.
June 16, 2012
My favorite Will James story about a city boy that stumbles into a cowcamp then becomes a real cowboy.
March 26, 2014
simple kids book
November 26, 2014
Loved it beyond words, an absoloute favorite and one I see myself reading many times over.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews