The Great Turkey Walk

Mostly funny. Almost like a Tall Tale. Doesn't read like historical fiction at all, even though it is sneakily very educational. I should write more, but I think you should just read the book. If you need further convincing, note all the other glowing reviews. I never heard of the author before but I will look for more by her.

The Great Turkey Walk tells the funny first-person fiction narrative of a boy who's failed third grade for the fourth time, and finds success driving a herd (gaggle, group???) of turkeys across the heartland to Denver. Charming and funny.

In a Nutshell: A graphic novel adaptation of the 1998 children’s book by the same name. Loads of fun, but also covers plenty of dark themes. Wild West setting, historical era, adventure, and turkeys! Great for middle-graders and younger teens.

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Plot Preview:

Simon is not really the brightest of bulbs, so his class teacher (in whose class he has spent many years repeating grades) advises him to stop schooling and “explore the world.” His mother is dead and his father disappeared soon after, so Simon, who stays with his maternal aunt’s family, has no clue what to do next. That’s when an opportunity presents itself.
When Simon hears from his neighbour Mr. Buffey that turkeys fetch a higher price in

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Denver, he decides to go into business. He borrows money from his teacher, bids a hearty goodbye to his uncaring guardians, purchases a thousand turkeys from Mr. Buffey and sets off on an 800-mile journey from Missouri to Denver. His sole companion is an old drunk Mr. Peece, who is the only fellow Simon found to help steer the mule wagon while he himself herds the turkeys. Thus begins an epic adventure filled with plenty of memorable moments and close calls.
The story comes to us in Simon’s first-person perspective.

Kathleen Karr originally wrote a middle-grade novel named ‘[b:The Great Turkey Walk|1154350|The Great Turkey Walk|Kathleen Karr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312016492l/1154350._SX50_.jpg|1903443]’ in 1998. A graphic novel adaptation of this book was first published in French in 2022 under the title ‘La longue marche des dindes’. With this new translation releasing in October 2024, the graphic version is now available in English.

Bookish Yays: show less

Kathleen Karr writes with creativity and imagination. To think a not-so-smart boy, who redid third grade how many times before he was 17, could take 1000 turkeys to Denver where he could make his fortune.

Having nothing more than his teacher's endorsement, he meets the right kind of people and the wrong kind of people.

The adventures create a family for Simon working together and caring for each other, in spite of Simon's real family who wants only his money.

Always delightful. Worth re-reading. Enjoy hearing my boys laugh through his adventures and how he sees life.

I read this book aloud to my 11 year old daughter. It's a great piece of history written in a very fun way. There were several times when we laughed out loud together.

Western

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