Bull Rider

Cam O'Mara comes from a Nevada ranching family with deep roots in bull riding, but he prefers skateboarding to following in his brother Ben's rodeo footsteps. After Ben returns from military service in Iraq with a traumatic brain injury, Cam makes the decision to take up bull riding. Training to stay on a bull for eight seconds proves more challenging than Cam imagined, requiring intense physical and mental preparation. With help from his family and community members connected to the rodeo world, Cam works to develop the skills needed to compete while also helping care for his injured brother. The story follows Cam's parallel journeys of mastering bull riding and supporting his brother's recovery, set against the backdrop of a modern Western ranch lifestyle. His relationships with his mother, grandfather, and brother evolve as he pursues this dangerous sport. The novel explores themes of family tradition, personal identity, and how trauma impacts entire families. Through Cam's experiences, the narrative examines what it means to honor one's heritage while forging an individual path.

Readers appreciate the realistic portrayal of a young bull rider's struggles to balance family obligations with his passion for the sport. Many note the authentic depiction of ranch life, rodeo culture, and the physical/emotional challenges of bull riding. Reviewers highlight the book's handling of a military family dealing with trauma and the strong brother-brother relationship. Several mention its appeal to reluctant teen readers, especially boys. Common criticisms include a slow start and some repetitive passages in the middle sections. A few readers found the ending rushed. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (379 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Captures the grit and determination needed in both bull riding and family healing" - Goodreads reviewer "The technical details about bull riding feel well-researched" - Amazon reviewer "Would have liked more development of the secondary characters" - School Library Journal reader review

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🎯 Author Suzanne Morgan Williams extensively researched bull riding culture by attending events and interviewing professional riders to ensure authenticity in her portrayal of the sport. 🐂 Professional bull riders must stay on a bucking bull for 8 seconds to qualify for a score, and the sport originated from Mexican charreada competitions. 🌟 The book addresses traumatic brain injury (TBI), a serious concern in bull riding, as riders are 10 times more likely to experience head injuries than football players. 🎭 The main character Cam's struggle reflects real-life situations of many ranch families, who must balance maintaining traditional Western lifestyles with modern economic pressures. 🏆 Bull riding is one of the fastest-growing sports in America, with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization offering more than $10 million in prize money annually.