Varmints

Written and Illustrated by Andy Hirsch

This book is like a series contained within itself. Each chapter is a different adventure for Opie and her brother Ned. The thread connecting each chapter is their search for the crime king, Pa, who happens to be their dad. Set in the ol’ west, the story has the stereotypical western scenes: saloon brawl, horse thieves, saloon girls, hoppin’ the train, etc. I wanted to enjoy it more, but the story is disconnected in many places and doesn’t flow well, so it’s just okay. There is violence – the biggest being guns repeatedly placed at the children’s heads. Though the vocabulary could be 3rd to 4th, the subject is 6th grade and up.

Review by Teresa Edmunds, Westbrook Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★✩✩ (3 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 6-9

Varmints
Written and Illustrated by Andy Hirsch
First Second
213 pages
Release Date: September 27, 2016
A review copy was provided by the publisher.