Official Review: Cowboy Code by Louella Bryant

[Kelebogile Mbangi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Cowboy Code" by Louella Bryant.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Cowboy Code is a fictional book by Louella Bryant. It is set post World War II in the fictional town of Pine Cliff, Virginia.

After an explosion at the mill that kills her father, Bobbie's mother joins the workforce to provide for her children. It does not sit well with Bobbie when her mother becomes friends with tomboyish Phoenix, who also works at the mill. Bobbie feels that her mother's attention has been diverted away from her. Her dilemma grows worse when her mother starts receiving attention from a Navy man, Burr. With her mother's focus divided up between work and these intruders, Bobbie, who feels neglected, starts secretly visiting the nearby African settlement in hopes of seeing Covey Fortune, an 18-year-old black boy she secretly harbours a crush for. There, she becomes friends with Winona, a child prodigy. One night, her visits to the African settlement take a dangerous turn when the KKK come looking for Covey.

Cowboy Code is written through Bobbie's eyes, which makes it all the more interesting to read. Bobbie has quirks and personality traits which make her lovable - like how she lives by laws in Gene Autry's cowboy code of morals. Bobbie also fails to understand why black people are hated so much. It is her unbiased nature that makes the telling of this very honest story possible. I couldn't help but relate to many of the emotions Bobbie experiences.

Bobbie views herself more as her mother's partner in crime than her daughter. She feels an immense amount of responsibility towards her mother after her father's death, doing her best to help and protect her mother. Again, I could identify with her on many levels. Children often burden themselves with the responsibility of looking after their parent's emotional wellbeing, minimising their own needs to achieve that. I thought that this aspect of Bobbie's makeup was very well written. In fact, all the characters have been brilliantly created and developed, making them believable.

I loved how the author hinted towards what was really going on. It is only later in the book where the author confirms or dispels her readers' suspicions. I thought this was a great element to the book. The mystery lied in the unexplained nature of certain relationships between the characters. And when this mystery was dispelled, a beautiful lesson in love was imparted. Bobbie learns that unconditional love is able to push past social constructs. She also learns that really loving someone can mean letting go.

This book is best suited to readers who enjoy reading true-to-life, believable stories. What makes the book interesting is exploring human behaviour and the motives, beliefs, and emotions that steer that behaviour. For example, what is it that moved the Klansmen who came searching for Covey Fortune to behave as they did?

I honestly cannot find anything about the book that let me down. It has been well edited. It contains a beautiful story that has been masterfully conveyed through the author's excellent storytelling abilities. I recommend it to readers who enjoy true-to-life stories. It subtly contains elements of a historical fiction book; so if you enjoy that genre, you might enjoy Cowboy Code too. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It deserves nothing less. I enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

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Cowboy Code
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[Bigirimana Celestin]

This book is best suited to readers who enjoy reading true-to-life, believable stories.

Truly, I love these kind of books because I learn more from them. That is a family based fascinating story.
Great review.

[Miller56]

Thanks for the review. It sounds like there are lots of twists and turns in this book. It also sounds like there are a lot of life's lessons within the pages. Sounds like a great read.

[Kaitlyn Canedy]

I love how a sensitive subject for some can be beautifully told in this book. Sometimes, it is best to let go when you love someone. At the same time, one has to ask themselves "Why am I doing this? Is it to save a family member's, society's, or a friend's feelings?" Great job on your review! This book sounds like a good read for those that love to learn about life lessons.

[rumik]

Bobbie seems like a well-rounded protagonist; I'd enjoy reading her point of view. Thanks for the great review!

[Maríe Wamakima]

I enjoy the character Bobbie. She sounds like a person with integrity. Great review.