Author: Andy Thomson
Recommended Age: 8-11
Date Published: 1986
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: The town of Waterstop needs a sheriff and when Bret Jensen and his parents move into the town, his Pa, Felix Jensen, might be the one to keep the peace. But being the sheriff comes with a price, and soon Bret finds himself helping his dad keep the law in Waterstop, which is not an easy task.
Notes from The Radical Reader:
- Noble Characters: The story is told through Bret Jensen’s perspective as he and his family attempt to make a new life for themselves out west after his Pa’s conversion. Once a saloonkeeper and now the sheriff at Waterstop, Felix Jensen navigates hate and danger to restore peace to the little town and keep its people safe.
- Captivating Plots: The Jensens wanted a new start to life. And they never expected it to come through being the sheriff at Waterstop. But not too many people are keen on the town being underneath Felix Jensen’s authority, and trouble soon follows.
- Elaborate Worlds: Set in the state of Wyoming during the 1870s, Waterstop is a town that’s ruled by whoever is the strongest. And when a local cowboy singles out Bret’s Pa for trouble, the Jensen family finds themselves facing a runaway orphan, flying bullets, and enemies on all sides.
Noteworthy Elements: none
