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Photobiographies

Bull's-Eye (Direct Mail Edition): A Photobiography Of Annie Oakley

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"At last, National Geographic's award-winning photobiography of Annie Oakley bursts into paperback. This stirring story of an enduring American heroine has won widespread acclaim and was named a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Annie's amazing life comes sharply into focus in a compelling narrative, period photography, and in her own words. Two historical maps and a chronology ground the legend in time and place. Readers ride through a life filled with adventure. Annie grows up in the backwoods of Ohio, hunting game to feed her family. Discovered by Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, she wows crowds with target shooting and daring horse riding. Annie's hardships are examined too, as is her inspirational status as a role model for women. Awards "American Library Association Notable BookBest Book of the Year―School Library JournalTexas Bluebonnet Award Master List

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

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Sue Macy

25 books15 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Alicia.
8,507 reviews150 followers
November 29, 2016
This book does well to showcase a few things: Annie Oakley's life of travel and fame, but also the darker side of celebrity which she fought including slander or misinformation along with her approach that all women should know how to shoot a gun as confidently as holding a baby. She wanted to teach more than entertain and spent most of her time when traveling with groups or a circus providing shooting demonstrations and lessons that garnered more money than the shows including with Buffalo Bill.

I particularly enjoyed the story of how Frank and Annie met, with her besting him on a 25-shot shoot where he missed the 25th and she didn't. He fell in love with her then and they traveled with their dog who was their go-between on all matters. It was about her practice and resilience and her ability to never forget where she came from as the books intent showcases in the foreword: she spent a few hard years being beaten by a couple who wanted her help in exchange for her ability to hunt and instead beat and worked her to the point where she had to escape. She lived with neighbors for a time when her mother couldn't care for so many children after the death's of Annie's father and a stepfather, and her time working with a wonderful couple who operated an orphanage/infirmary.

The book demonstrates her talent and practice and the act that she worked hard to sculpt. She worked well into her fifties saying that every time she was going to say no to another tour, she always said yes. And I love the sad and romantic tragedy that she knew of her upcoming death and prepared for it with her husband passing eighteen days later.

She led a full life visiting overseas and across the United States, meeting dignitaries and royalty and truly making a name for herself in a way that created a musical and movies, comics and shows.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
1,520 reviews
June 9, 2011
Excellent introduction to this vivacious and adventurous woman who did not let the social norms limit her. Loved the variety of interesting photographs and the text was interesting without being overwhelming.

The inaccurate articles that were first printed in the Chicago Examiner and the Chicago American newspapers and then went viral as newspapers across the nation picked up the story without checking their facts was new to me and interesting. Out of the 55 newspapers that she sued, she won a judgment or settled out-of-court with 54 of them. It is sobering to realize the terrible lack of quality in accurate news reporting continues to be a long-standing problem.

Factual, well-written books about strong people who didn't let "glass ceilings" or "social pressures" keep them from succeeding are so important. I am glad to have run across this one.

Profile Image for Aspasia.
795 reviews10 followers
September 11, 2011
A good intro on Annie Oakley for young readers and an interesting read for older readers who want to know the truth about Annie Oakley. Annie Oakley was a petite, well-mannered, and well-educated woman who had a talent for sharpshooting. She was also a dog lover and married to the love of her life. Depictions of Annie as rough and uncouth are inaccurate. Macy shows us proof that Annie took her skills and reputation very seriously (if only more female celebrities did that today!).
January 17, 2019
This biographical nonfiction recounts the life of Annie Oakley, the best sharpshooter of the Wild Wild West... and the whole world. The book follows her childhood to her last days as a "champion rifle shot" (24).

Annie Oakley was a pacifist who knew how to defend herself. Some parents and educators may not want this book to taint children's minds with guns, but this book is not advocating violence in any way.

It was interesting to read about Annie's skills, but I loved reading about her morals and her charity. She was, and is, truly a role model.
Profile Image for Johnny G..
806 reviews20 followers
February 13, 2022
This was a quick, interesting journey through the life of Annie Oakley - a person I’ve always wanted to know more about but never found the right book to check out. At just 64 pages, I devoured this photobiography in one sitting. She has New Jersey connections…having lived in Nutley after her European expedition in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in 1893. Bottom line: she inspired women to do whatever men could do, if they got out of the house and away from their traditional “roles” to try new things.
Profile Image for Samantha.
1,084 reviews54 followers
November 29, 2019
Very interesting book about Annie Oakley, famous trickshooter. I didn't know too much about her before, so this was a really interesting book. It covers the full range of her life and provides a lot of detail and information. Definitely a good biographical text.
Profile Image for Bethe.
6,912 reviews69 followers
September 5, 2020
Read this several years ago when it was a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award. Enjoyed it then, still do now. Can’t remember how much I learned about her while growing up in Ohio. Well researched and full of photos. I know when I was young, we didn’t have compelling biographies like this.
Profile Image for Nav.
1,518 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2023
Very quick given the length of the book, but its use of images/photographs means it can fit more information than the length implies. I'm glad the family was afforded a chance to set the record straight.
Profile Image for A.R. Mitchell.
Author 26 books2 followers
November 29, 2024
Wonderful kid friendly detailed biography of an amazing lady sharpshooter. Contains maps, original photographs, show flyers and shows the humanity and hard work of Annie Oakely throughout her entire life.
Profile Image for Mellanie C.
3,008 reviews3 followers
January 26, 2020
Excellent book. Of course the photos were fantastic and very evocative of Annie's life and times.
Profile Image for Jaycee Knoulton.
24 reviews4 followers
April 25, 2016
Culture, history, women empowerment, Wild West
In a history class you could use Annie Oakley and her role in wild west shows to talk about culture.
TEKS: 113.18. Social Studies, Grade 6
b.15(A) define culture and the common traits that unify a culture region
Profile Image for Denise.
1,163 reviews
January 24, 2011
Great starter book on Annie Oakley. General history of the life and times Oakley lived and talks about Oakley as a person not just the famed Little Sure Shoot.
34 reviews
August 2, 2011
It's wonderful to see that Annie Oakley was the best shooter in the west compared to all the men in the west.
21 reviews
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December 5, 2018
1. Bull's-Eye is the photobiography of Annie Oakley. There is a detailed description of her life from birth to death and even Annie's legacy after she passed. The book is filled with photos, illustrations, and quotes; the photos being accurate and portraying Annie the way she truly was, the illustrations benefiting the story, and the quotes being actual quotes from Annie, herself.

2. There is a lot information in this 62 page picture book, almost double what normal picture books have! This may be intense for younger readers and I would have them use pieces of this text if they needed to. The photos are amazing and the text goes into great detail about the life and lifestyle of Annie Oakley.

3. This book can be connected to Lincoln: A Photobiography, which is another photobiography, and Girl with a Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery, another biography of Annie Oakley.

4. "In one of her most famous shoes, Annie spied her target in a mirror and shot it clean without turning around."
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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