Release Date: February 4, 2016
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Rated: YA 13+
Format: Paperback
Source: Pansing
Buy: Available at all good bookstores!
Goodreads ● Website
Bullet catchers: a legendary band of outlaws who can deflect bullets with their hands.
In the small town of Sand, populated by gunslingers and surrounded by endless desert, Imma washes dishes and grieves for a life she never had. She and her brother, Nikko, dreamed of escaping to become bullet catchers, a legendary band of outlaws who can deflect bullets with their hands. But they were wiped out years ago, Nikko with them. And leaving is impossible when walking into the desert means certain death.
When she sees a stranger catch a man's bullet and turn it back on him, Imma knows it can only mean one thing: the bullet catchers live on, and this is her way out.
Determined to follow him, Imma starts a journey that will take her to her physical extremes and force her to question just what family means and who she really is: bullet catcher or gunslinger; hero or monster.
In the small town of Sand, populated by gunslingers and surrounded by endless desert, Imma washes dishes and grieves for a life she never had. She and her brother, Nikko, dreamed of escaping to become bullet catchers, a legendary band of outlaws who can deflect bullets with their hands. But they were wiped out years ago, Nikko with them. And leaving is impossible when walking into the desert means certain death.
When she sees a stranger catch a man's bullet and turn it back on him, Imma knows it can only mean one thing: the bullet catchers live on, and this is her way out.
Determined to follow him, Imma starts a journey that will take her to her physical extremes and force her to question just what family means and who she really is: bullet catcher or gunslinger; hero or monster.
I haven't had much experience with Westerns in young adult fiction, with the exception of Vengeance Road, but I really enjoyed Bowman's novel, so I decided to give this one a go. I really liked this one! It's been a while since I've read about a mentor and mentee relationship, and one that's got a good adventure to go along with it. Bullet Catcher had grit, guns, and a whole lot of badassery.
I loved Imma's character. Even though she's a bit younger than most young adult heroines, she's hell of a lot stronger than most of them. I'm glad there's the internal conflict that plays out when she tries to understand who she is and whose side she's on. Also? No love interest! While, yes, I do love a good romance and all, I enjoyed the fact that there's no boys distracting her from her goals with relationship drama.
There's a pretty big twist halfway through the book, and this is pretty much where the internal conflict starts, as well as the gunslinger side of the story. I liked that there were two sides to this, and Imma gets to explore the both of them. While she's trying to figure out what exactly is going on, her emotional struggle felt real and personal. There's a lot of stakes that comes with her choice, and of course–a bunch of guns flying off at every corner.
A wonderful adventure set in the wild, wild west that middle grade and young adult readers will enjoy, Bullet Catcher was a heck of a story. Historical fiction with a touch of magical realism, don't hesitate to pick up this one because you're in for a real treat.
If you like this, try...
- Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman ● Goodreads
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I'm not into Western as well, but I've got to admit that I miss the mentor/mentored relationship since The Vampire Academy. Lol.
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