Jim-Dandy

by Hadley Irwin

Living after the Civil War on a Kansas homestead with his stern stepfather, thirteen-year-old Caleb raises a beloved colt and becomes involved in General Custer's raids on the Cheyenne.

135 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic! Great story suitable not only for young readers but even old readers like me. At the end, it said it took liberties with history which wasn't expected as I took this as sheer fiction and it mostly is. Ironically, the final battle of mentioned General is where history has taken lots of liberties!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! Horse isn't dead by the end!

[A.M. Swink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting little book. It’s an historical fiction children’s story set on the 1870s Kansas prairie. Its protagonist, Caleb, begins the story very naive and becomes disillusioned about the way the world truly works by its end. Along the way, he demonstrates the many small kindnesses of a good-hearted child. He befriends his neighbors, a young Cheyenne named Hawk, and the Custers’ cook Eliza, in addition to his colt Dandy.

The horse story is more ancillary to the book’s central moral, though Dandy is the next major character in the book after Caleb. But their boy-and-his-horse bond comes to a rather abrupt, bitter end, making for a rather bleak conclusion to the book.

I found this book filed with horse racing books, but this has nothing to do with the Jim Dandy Stakes. It’s ultimately a coming-of-age tale about how cruel the world really is and how killing is justified by others. The massacre of Black Kettle’s village by the 7th Cavalry is a horrific event to learn about, and this book underscores the tragedy in a way kids can understand. It’s a rather solemn, mature story that reminded me of books like Sounder, Shiloh, and Where the Red Fern Grows. It’s a good story for kids that treats its dark subject matter seriously and impresses a sober lesson on the reader.

[Angey Mahmoud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Beautifully Written Story about a Young Boy and His Horse who face and Overcome many Challenges. The author brings a little too much 1990s sensitivity to the 1870s, creating a world which just didn't exist. In the author's view, the indians were good, pure, clean, and represented just about every good quality; while the settlers and cavalry were less than bright exploiters of the wilderness and ravagers of the environment and the local populace. Teachers can let the students read this book individually then act it, write summary about it, or review it. This book is suitable for grades 5-8

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Taken from the Goodreads synopsis. "Caleb's life with his harsh stepfather on a Kansas homestead just after the Civil War is painfully bleak, until the birth of Dandy, a young horse, but Caleb's relationship with his horse is threatened when economic hardship forces his stepfather to sell Dandy."

Yet another story about a horrible Stepfather. I did not like the story line, but I do like Hadley Irwin’s writing style. The story line is either way too realistic or leaves one to roll their eyes. I would have a little more consistency.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

gr 5-8 133pgs


13 year old Caleb doesn't get along with his Quaker stepfather. When his stepfather sells the foal that Caleb has been caring for, Caleb leaves home to follow the horse, purchased for Custer's army, and ends up involved in the Cheyenne massacre.

[April Suter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caleb raises a colt, Dandy, who becomes a favorite horse of Custer.
A short read for those who enjoy the West, horses, history and war.

135 pages