Under a Comanche Moon

This is a very interesting book! Set in Texas in 1872, it is an intriguing look at history being made in the form of a journal by Jane McGregor. Jane is a precocious 12 year old when this story starts and ends when she is 17. She is a fantastic character! She is a tough and stubborn young lady! I suppose you would have to be, living in Texas in the 1870's. She faces many challenges, but overcomes most of them. She has my utmost respect.  This story follows Jane through the trials and tribulations of being a young girl in the town of Comanche County. This is a fantastic historical fiction book for young readers (11+). As I was reading this book, the characters and places came alive in my mind. Even though the dialogue was set in the Texas colloquial, I could follow it quite easily. However, there is a glossary of terms at the end of the book for the youngsters to check out if they are unsure of the words and what they mean. The story is touching in places, funny in others and kept me entertained! I don't usually like reading journal type books, as they can be boring. But, I can say with out doubt, that this book is far from boring as you can get! I struggled to put it down! I'm looking forward to reading more of Jane's experiences in the second book of the trilogy, Shadows of the Comanche. Pat Capps Mehaffey has written an exciting and interesting historical fiction story. I don't know how much research went into putting this book together, but I can guess that there was a lot done! The descriptions of the town, costumes and even the language used were very vivid and brought the book to life. I highly recommend this book as not only an educational tool, but an exciting adventure for young readers and adults alike. - Lynn Worton