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Summary
Summary
In this rollicking queer western adventure, acclaimed cartoonist Melanie Gillman (Stonewall Award Honor Book As the Crow Flies) puts readers in the saddle alongside Flor and Grace, a Latinx outlaw and a trans runaway, as they team up to thwart a Confederate plot in the New Mexico Territory. When Flor--also known as the notorious Ghost Hawk--robs the stagecoach that Grace has used to escape her Georgia home, the first thing on her mind is ransom. But when the two get to talking about Flor's plan to crash a Confederate gala and steal some crucial documents, Grace convinces Flor to let her join the heist.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Grace, a young transgender woman, is attempting to outrun the Civil War. Though she identifies as female, she was assigned male at birth. The Confederate army in her native Georgia sees her as a worthy soldier, but she's got other plans. Grace has made it as far as the New Mexico territory, aiming for acceptance and freedom in San Francisco. She is kidnapped by the legendary bandit Ghost Hawk, who is said to be half woman, half hawk. But Ghost Hawk, or Flor, is simply a woman, and a sympathetic and affirming one at that. Romance blossoms, and they bond over their shared yet different manifestations of gender nonconformity; Flor identifies as a woman, but her masculine dress and brusque nature are at odds with traditional gender roles of the time. With the New Mexico territory on the brink of Confederate takeover, Flor and Grace have a chance to team up and spy on the Confederate forces for the Union, raising the stakes of their westward adventure. Exploring themes of gender nonconformity and transgender identity, Gillman deftly avoids anachronisms through their emotive and subtle characterizations of Grace and Flor. The illustrations are gently shaded in colored pencil, the softness underscoring the sweetness of the characters. Despite the rough, Wild West setting, Gillman finds opportunities for tender moments. A thoughtfully researched appendix provides ample historical context. VERDICT This charming and poignant queer romance set against a Civil War--era backdrop will resonate with readers.--Anna Murphy, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn
Publisher's Weekly Review
The Ghost Hawk--otherwise known as Flor--is a queer Latinx bandit with a bird-of-prey helpmate who wields a six-shooter and wears a leather hat atop her voluminous black mane. In the New Mexico Territory circa 1861, stagecoach passengers pass the time making conversation about Civil War strategies and Southwestern desperados. On cue, Flor swoops in, demanding loot and kidnapping a Southern belle, who modestly hides her face under a green bonnet. "Fine young ladies always make for the best ransoms--and company!" Flor quips with a lascivious wink. ("Despite appearances, it ain't my intent to hurt you," she later says, while tying her captive to a tree.) When Flor removes her prisoner's bonnet, however, she meets an angry, green-eyed, apparently transgender beauty named Grace, who is en route to "the theater in San Francisco" and on the run from "conscription" into the Confederacy. Both are smitten, and nervy Flor now has an accomplice for a daring plot involving a sly tailor, ball gowns, and espionage. Euphemisms and ambiguity leave readers to connect the dots in this Wild West whirlwind, though Grace's peach-fuzz facial hair implies trans identity. Gillman, whose As the Crow Flies was named a Stonewall Honor Book, delves into queer history and spins a witty and extravagant yarn about a dashing duo. Ages 13--up. (Sept.)
Kirkus Review
A runaway and a bandit in search of new lives team up to steal war plans from the Confederacy. When Grace, a white trans woman and aspiring actress, runs away from conscription into the Georgia Infantry, she finds herself caught in the talons of the Ghost Hawk, a half-woman, half-hawk demon banditor so the rumors say. Despite the wild stories, the mysterious Ghost Hawk turns out to be a "short brown lady" named Flor who dreams of living out the rest of her life on her own patch of land with some goats as soon as she gets the money from one last, big heist. With the help of Grace's acting skills and understanding of upper-class, white Georgian culture, they plot to steal secrets from a backroom meeting at a cotillion and sell them to the Union. Gillman (Steven Universe: Punching Up, 2018, etc.) captures the Southwestern atmosphere with a soft, dusty color palette. Panels full of movement and vivid character expression create an immersive reading experience. The narrative unites two women with different backgrounds, depicting a relationship in which they support one another. Their romance develops naturally through moments of flirtation and fond glances. An open-ended but still satisfying resolution suggests a bright, hopeful future while leaving room to imagine more adventures for Grace and Flor.An engrossing escapade with a heart-stealing queer romance. (annotations) (Graphic historical fiction. 12-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Flor's a brash, very capable bandit making a living robbing stagecoaches in New Mexico Territory in 1861, and while her latest job doesn't lead to the sort of payout she wanted, she does find a valuable companion Grace, trans and on the run from her home in Georgia, avoiding conscription into the confederate army. Though at first Flor's merely anticipating a healthy ransom, she gradually comes to realize that Grace has the insider knowledge and sweet Southern charm to get them into a party of confederate officers, where they can steal priceless information. In their soft textured colored pencil art, Gillman renders each of the characters with distinct faces; Grace's round cheeks and loose curls are a nice contrast to Flor's angular face and slick, dark hair. The sandy, warm tones, meanwhile, are an ideal match for the desert and canyon setting. Gillman includes notes about historical records of trans people in the nineteenth century and civil war era, as well as landmarks they used as references for some of the scenes. An illuminating western with a refreshingly matter-of-fact queer romance.--Sarah Hunter Copyright 2019 Booklist
