A Man in the West

Book excerpt: Those of us who love westerns, love heroes. Whether they are winning the west or winning the woman, beating the bad guys or beating the elements, we follow their every move and cheer their every victory. But do all heroes have to be tall, handsome, able to ride hard and shoot straight? Not in A Man in the West. The story is narrated by Moot, a teen age boy who has never been able to talk. As was common in the nineteenth century, he has been treated as little more than a nuisance, “more like a pet,” he says. He has not made the simplest of decisions that he can remember. The reader follows his growth and development throughout the book, from inside his head. We see not just what he learns, but how he learns. His goal is someday “to be considered a person.” What he becomes is the kind of person everyone wishes they were, the western hero. This story generates discussion and understanding of those who are not perfectly made and perfectly functioning. Readers of every age will identify with all of Moot’s insecurities and self doubts, but will be motivated by his incredible performance and growth.