Ramblin’ Red

by Michael Easterling

It’s tough being the new kid in school, especially when you’re the smallest and the smartest. The combination of all three is like a sign on your back saying, “Kick me!” to every passing bully. No wonder Milton Mickelsen escapes into the stories he writes about Ramblin’ Red. Ramblin’ Red is a hard-riding, straight-shooting cowboy straight out of an old Western movie. Tall, strong, resourceful and confident, Ramblin’ Red is everything Milton yearns to be. But when the school van crashes in a remote wilderness area, Milton cannot look to Ramblin’ Red for help. If they hope to survive, it will be up to Milton, calling upon his own resources, to make his way across country in a snowstorm to get help.Ramblin’ Red is a book for any for middle-grade reader who has ever experienced being the odd person out. A high adventure, it is told with insight, humor and fast-paced action.

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[George SR & JR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one by myself. It was cool to read about a city kid that moved to the country. I'm a city kid and it would be scary to move to a new place. Its a good story about making friends and being brave. I liked that Melton is a writer and is writing a story in the story. Rambling red is a cool character too in that part of the story.
My dad will add what he thinks when he's done.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not easy transitioning to a new middle school, especially for a child who is both smarter and smaller than his classmates. But Milton Mickelsen does not let the difficulties he faces get him down. While life is challenging on the outside, Milton turns inward as he creates a world in the old west using his advanced writing skills. Ramblin' Red, Milton's protagonist, is always ready for adventure, and his story is one Milton returns to again and again. But before long, Milton's own life becomes just as exciting as Red's as he makes friends and finds himself on adventures of his own.

This middle grade novel is written as a story within a story, where snippets of Ramblin' Red's tale appear alongside the advancing storyline that features Milton and his companions. Dialogue is the primary propellant of the narrative, and each character has a clear and distinctive voice as they interact with one another. Additionally, the difference between the old West dialect and that of modern day Milton is easy to distinguish, and readers will appreciate the way the two timelines work together to tell the story.

The book itself is printed on large paper, making the novel stand out among others in its genre. While this design means there are more words on each page than in a typical publication, the dialogue and pacing of the plot make the book accessible for middle grade readers nonetheless. There are no images within the novel, but the writing offers readers a way to easily dive into Milton's world and envision it in their own minds. Readers with an interest in the Wild West, science, discovery, and adventure will enjoy this engaging and approachable novel. It is a fun and lighthearted addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramblin’ Red is really a story within a story. On the one hand it is the story of Milton. His parents and grandfather were killed in an accident when he was young, so he is being raised by his grandmother. They were living in the big city but Grandma moved them back to her hometown. Now Milton is bored all the time and is not being challenged in school. He has one friend, two if you count the bus driver who befriends him and eventually does “dad stuff” with him.
The second story is the story of Ramblin’ Red - a story being written by Milton. My problem lies with this story of Ramblin’ Red. He lives in the Old West and there is much shooting and drinking and drunkenness. I think older elementary and middle school boys will enjoy this part of the story but it isn’t appropriate for all audiences. Parents will want to read this book before giving it to their children to read to make sure their child can handle those aspects of the story. There will be some in the intended age group who want to emulate Red and the other characters in that story.
Because of my concerns I cannot recommend Ramblin’ Red for the K-12 Christian school library. I do, however, invite librarians to read the book and form their own opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of Ramblin’ Red. This is my honest review.