Holding On For Dear Life

What worked:
Bull riding is the backdrop for the plot. Readers will know something about the sport, but a whole book dedicated to it should pique their interest. Readers will learn that riders can only use one hand to stay on the 1,000-pound bucky bulls, and there’s a science to holding the rope. Riders falling off before eight seconds have elapsed do not receive scores. For those who stay on for the full time, judges score them based on their performances and the activity of their bulls. It is almost impossible to earn a high score riding a bull that won’t buck or twist. Readers learn about different bulls, and Canyon shares a brief story about his choice for the greatest bull of all time. The book tries to describe the whole bull riding culture.
Canyon is the main character, and his life presents several conflicts. He loves bull riding, but he’s been seriously hurt many times. Other characters joke that he falls on his head more times than he lands on his feet. However, Canyon doesn’t reveal the truth to anyone; he constantly suffers excruciating headaches and has recurring dizzy spells. His love for bull riding is a means to impress his father and perhaps help the man find a way to fix his life. The father is an alcoholic, and he often neglects the care and supervision of Canyon and his little sister, Josie. Canyon is left to fill the void of his father’s emotional absence, and Canyon’s anger and frustration are building inside of him. He loves playing his fiddle, and it’s the only thing that brings him peace. Canyon is so good with the fiddle that his music teacher suggests he send an audition video to a television talent show. Readers will be able to predict the scheduling conflict that ensues.
Female characters have important roles in this book. Canyon’s grandmother keeps a watchful eye on the children’s welfare and expresses anger when she feels the father is falling short. She takes Canyon and Josie to her home when she sees they’re being neglected or if they’re in danger. Josie appears to be an innocent little sister, but her spunk blossoms as the plot progresses. She loves to have Canyon play his fiddle at bedtime, and these moments offer him solace, too. Finally, Dakota is a close friend, and she shares caring, kind, and playful comments with Canyon. She provides a balance to the bull riding obsession of other characters, and Canyon slowly appreciates company more and more.
What didn’t work as well:
Bull riding and rodeos may not appeal to urban and suburban middle-graders in general. It’s a foreign culture to their lives, so will they want to read a whole book about it? However, Canyon’s issues with his father and the loss of his mother are universal problems, and Josie is an adorable character.
The final verdict:
Canyon’s complicated life creates an emotional, heartfelt story. Bull riding may not be familiar to most middle-school readers, but his family issues and desire to please his father are relatable. I recommend you check this book out for yourself.

Canyon Cress is a bull rider. It's been a huge part of his identity ever since his father Austin first put him on a bull. His two best friends, Dakota and Tate, whose father figure, Uncle Ty, works with Canyon at the Rodeo, understand this. Dakota (on whom Canyon may have a crush!) is a barrel racer isn't thrilled that her sport isn't given the attention it deserves, and Tate is in direct competition with Canyon. The two boys hope to qualify for the Junior World Bull Riding Championship that will be held in Las Vegas. It's especially important to Canyon, because he thinks the prize money might help his family get out of the trailer in which they are living. Austin was a bull rider who did very well until he and Canyon's mother were in a car accident. They were hit by a drunk driver, and the mother was killed. While her mother is very supportive of both Canyon and his younger sister Josie, the accident has completely knocked Austin for a loop. He is finally back at work, leaving for construction jobs at 3 a.m., but is back to drinking, not buying groceries, and relying on Canyon to get Josie off to school. Grandma helps by being at the bull Riding competitions and feeding the children, but Canyon doesn't want to let on how bad things have gotten at home. Canyon is also a talented fiddle player like his mother, who was a violinist with the Phoenix Symphony. Bull riding is a tough sport, and its toll on Canyon's body is harsh. He's had at least three concussions, and now even the slightest fall or jostle causes him to have horrible headaches. Again, he keeps this to himself. His music teacher encourages him to pay more attention to his music, and Canyon even uploads a video of his playing for the American Superstar competition, and fills out the application, although in a fit of despair, throws it away. When a bull named Wonderstruck head butts him in competition, Canyon ends up in the hospital. The doctor warns him that any other head trauma could be very serious, but Canyon feels he needs to "cowboy up" because injuries are all part of the sport. Thanksgiving doesn't go well, with Austin behaving erratically. Drunk, he fights with Canyon and forces both Canyon and Josie into the truck to go to the mother's grave. Josie manages to get out of the car to call Grandma, but at the cemetery, Austin hits Canyon, who runs away. Grandma has said that if Austin drove drunk or hit the children, she would not let him near them, and Austin ends up in jail. Canyon still hopes to compete in the bull Riding championship, but after Tate is assigned Wonderstruck and is "hung up" during his ride and has his arm shattered by the bull, it's harder than ever to continue. Tate, however, begs Canyon to go in his place. Grandma takes the children to Las Vegas for the bull riding championship, and Canyon gets a taste of the American Superstar scene as well. When it turns out that his application was sent in with a touching letter of recommendation from Ray, Canyon's long time spotter (and friend of Grandma's), Canyon has a choice: will he continue the dangerous life of a bull rider, or turn to the safer passion of music?