The Original Cowgirl

The Wild Adventures of Lucille Mulhall

Who says girls can’t be cowboys? Lucille Mulhall wasn’t like most girls in the 1890s. She didn’t give a lick about sewing or cooking or becoming a lady. Lucille had her heart set on roping and riding. At a time when most women couldn’t vote or own property, Lucille never let society’s expectations or the dangers of roping and riding stop her from pursuing her passion. Traveling around the country, she broke records and thrilled crowds with her daring acts. Soon cowboys, ranch hands, and folks all over the world cheered for the feisty and fearless girl cowboy.

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  • 9780807529324
  • May 2015

Reviews

  • The lighthearted text is matched by expressive, cartoon-style illustrations that show fear, determination, pride, and jubilation this indomitable woman experienced.

    - School Library Journal

  • Mulhall may not be a household name, but Lang makes her memorable for anyone who admires go-getters who beat the odds and break barriers.

    - Kirkus Reviews

  • The illustrations, a mix of folk art and expressionism done to comic effect (the distended nostrils and meaning-filled eyes of the horses and cattle here are hilarious), perk up what might otherwise be a standard biography. A true story that emphasizes that no one should be barred from pursuing her (or his) dream.

    - Booklist Online

  • Lang tells of Lucille’s real-life journey to cowgirl fame in folksy prose while Beaky’s accompanying illustrations, as big and bold as Lucille herself in their full-page spreads and primary colors, add just the right amount of visual humor to this accessible, enjoyable biography.

    - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Awards & Accolades

  • 2016 Amelia Bloomer List
  • Massachusetts Book Award Must Read Books List for 2016

Illustrator

Common Core

RI.3.1,2,3,4,6,7,9,10 RF.3.3,3a,3c,3d,4,4a,4b,4c SL.3.1,1a,1b,1c,1d,2,3,4,5,6 L.3.1,2,3,3a,3b,4,4a,5,5a,5c W.3.2,2a,2b,2c,2d,4,5,7,8,10

 

  • Accelerated Reader Points: 0.5
  • ATOS Level: 4.7