Review Detail

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?