FICTION

The Original Cowgirl: The Wild Adventures of Lucille Mulhall

by Heather LANG
illus. by Suzanne Beaky. 32p. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780807529317.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2–5—A picture-book biography of Oklahoma trail blazer Lucille Mulhall. Mulhall (1885–1940) was given many nicknames, but she popularized the term cowgirl, and it stuck. She could ride and lasso horses and hog-tie steers better and faster than a man, fascinating onlookers and horrifying her mother with her unladylike behavior. When Theodore Roosevelt saw Mulhall in action, he encouraged her family to allow her to pursue a life in the saddle. Single-minded and fearless, she followed her dream, traveling the country going from one rodeo competition to the next, breaking records and winning prizes. The lighthearted text is matched by expressive, cartoon-style illustrations that show the fear, determination, pride, and jubilation this indomitable woman experienced. A more detailed afterword and time line flesh out Mulhall's life.
VERDICT An inspiration to young riders, this title will round out biography sections. For a more complete treatment, look for Sylvia Branzei's Rebel in a Dress: Cowgirls (Running Pr., 2011).
Reviewed by Carol S. Surges, formerly at Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI
Zesty art and energetic prose with folksy inflections tell the tale of the original "girl cowboy." Young Oklahoman Mulhall defied turn-of-the-last-century gender norms (defended by her ultra-traditional mother), entering rough-riding and roping competitions at thirteen and ultimately traveling the country showing off her prize-winning and record-breaking skills, including for President Teddy Roosevelt. An author's note fills in some gaps. Timeline.
, Feb 01, 2015

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