
In Peter Carter's historical novel, "Borderlands," readers follow thirteen-year-old Ben Curtis as he is uprooted from his family farm in Texas in 1871. The story chronicles his coming-of-age in the rugged Old West, detailing his experiences on a cattle drive to Abilene, his attempt to establish a store, and his eventual foray into buffalo hunting on the Plains. This book offers a vivid, sometimes stark, portrayal of frontier life, highlighting themes of resilience, independence, and the challenges of growing up in a demanding environment. It's suitable for middle-grade readers interested in historical adventure and the realities of the American West.
After being forced from his meager family farm in Texas in 1871, thirteen-year-old Ben Curtis witnesses some of the excitement and cruelty of the Old West--on a cattle drive, in a frontier town, and on a buffalo hunt.