Customer Reviews

Another Kind of Cowboy

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One of the first authors that springs to mind when I think Canadian YA lit is Susan Juby. Her first book, Alice, I Think featuring the amazingly quirky and amusing adventures of a girl named Alice was a hit inside Canada and outside of it (giveaway of the second book of the series here). In fact the main character is so bizarre, that whether you loved her, hated her or questioned her sanity, you most definitely couldn't forget her. It was refreshing to read about a character who didn't try to fit in and preferred to revel in her strangeness. In fact, all of Susan Juby's character's ultimately choose to be themselves (no matter how strange or not strange they are).



Another Kind of Cowboy introduced to us more loveable and quirky characters. The novel is told from the point of view of two such characters, namely Alex and Cleo.


Alex has wanted to ride for as long as he could remember (in fact, as a child, he used to ride his bicycle around the neighbourhood pretending it was a horse). And, as a cowboy he's got the chance to do for years. But what he really wants to do is dressage (an English style of riding) and now, he's finally got that option.


Cleo is rich and bratty. After a rather stupid mistake, she finds herself exiled to a boarding school and enrolled in dressage lessons.


The two couldn't seem more different and yet they might just be exactly what the other one needs.


(Okay, I realize this isn't the best summary. But trust me, it's much, much better than I'm making it sound).


Don't rule this book out if you're not a horse fanatic (I'm not!), it's a fully relatable story about friendship and growing up. There's a lot going on in this book (Alex being truthful about his homosexuality, both of them dealing with family issues, alcohol and drugs, and of course, horses). Juby manages to pull all of these with relative ease-the book never seems overwhelmed.


And, of course, one of the best parts of the book (as with Juby's other books) was the sense of humour-there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.



My only qualm was that it took a little while to adjust to the shifting points of view especially since Cleo's sections were in first person and Alex's were in third.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a fun read with a high dose of humour, this is definitely one you'll want to pick up.

I read somewhere that the author started to plan this book as the story of Cleo, the spoiled daughter of absentee parents who is living in a boarding school, and she ended to write about Alex, a gay teenager living in a small town where they barely know what riding is, let aside what dressage means. And sincerely it's clear that, while Cleo is a nice supporting character, Alex is the real life of this story.

Alex's passion for riding, and dressage, is almost an obsession; and if you read between the lines of his childhood, you will understand that is also an escape from reality. His mother divorced not only her husband, but also her children; Alex is alone in raising two little sister, since not his aunt or his father are of much help, his father even moved in a roulotte in the front garden, probably to not have to live in an house without the woman he loved. But Alex's father is not a bad man, nor when he is sober or drunk, he is only extremely sad; he is really not able to take care of his children but that doesn't mean he doesn't love them, and so, when he gets a chance, he brings home an horse, a real horse, for Alex (see living in a country small town? You can have a barn in the backgarden instead of a shed for a dog...).

Problem is that, a) the horse is not a dressage horse and b) even if the horse was, there is no one around there that can teach Alex dressage. And so Alex becomes a little champion of western riding, with cowboy hats and boots, all the while dreaming of tight breeches and top hats. If an external viewer can see that, other than being an escape from reality, Alex's obsession for dressage is also a proof that he has a sensibility that is completely different, and greater, than a normal boy, it's not until he hits puberty that Alex realizes that he is gay. But there is no "gay" in the small town, no one he knows who is, no one he can relate, same as it was for dressage: dressage and gay are "stranger" things, not "normal", and if you like them you are not normal as well.

Alex's luck changes when Ivan and Fergus move in town: both former dressage champion, they have a beautiful house with attached horse riding and they are willing to teach Alex. To an adult reader, it's clear that Ivan and Fergus are a couple, but there is no hint of sex, no kiss, nothing: Ivan and Fergus are two horse lovers who are eager to share their love with the others. They are not an example for Alex of how being gay is, but maybe they are giving him an idea of what being gay and having a career related to horses can be. Alex will discover his sexuality (but only for what concerns kisses) with another teenager, finding out that he is not so strange after all, and that even in the small town where he lives there are other like him, and more than what you will expect.

Another Kind of Cowboy is a really sweet and tender story, a romance between teenagers that remains on a teenager level, not adult feelings or issues to ruin the discovery of first love; and even if you read it from an adult perspective, the sweetness is so nice that is good to lose yourself in an innocent world.

Alex has been obsessed with it since he was a kid, and Cleo spent her first jumping lesson sobbing. I appreciated that, actually. The book skips around between Alex and Cleo, telling Alex's story in third person and Cleo's story in first person. It sounds a little weird, until you start reading it. They're both sixteen. They both live in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, Alex because he's always lived there and Cleo because she was sent to a girl's boarding school centered in equestrian sports.

Cleo is filthy rich because her parents are movie producers/directors, and thus leave her alone for vast quantities of time while they're off shooting movies in exotic locales. Alex's mom abandoned his family and his dad is a budding alcoholic living in an RV in front of their house. He's got an aunt and two sisters, twins, making sure things get done rather slowly around the house as Alex's dad spends all his time sleeping with a balding woman who is the island's most prolific realtor because her face is most commonly seen plastered all over areas destined to become strip malls.

Of course, they've got problems. Alex is struggling with his sexuality, which is to say he's a sixteen-year-old gay kid and horrified by the idea of having to tell anyone. Cleo is rich and selfish and lazy, but she's also dealing with the fact that her parents basically dumped her in Vancouver when her actions lead to their massive house in L.A. being stripped of all its expensive televisions, vases, and other possessions. She has no friends, and because she rides dressage and most of the girls at the school don't, that leaves her with one other girl who is a friend by proximity.

They both have horses. Cleo's parents bought her a ridiculously expensive and talented mare called Tandava. Alex has an elderly paint named Turnip that his dad won in a poker game. In a twist of fate, they both start training with Ivan and Fergus, dressage coaches recently retired to the area. Initially Cleo is interested in Alex, but when she tries to kiss him he just winds up screaming "gay!" at her.

I have learned that stumbling across a good horse-themed book is a miracle, so I'm treasuring this moment. Another Kind of Cowboy is a fun story. It's well-written and the characters are hilarious in a realistic way. The dressage and general riding descriptions are not in any way dry and boring, and while the story might tie up a little too neatly for Alex, it's still a satisfying read.

What a good book! Another Kind of Cowboy was a pleasant surprise for me. Normally I don't read YA books, but this one caught my attention and I decided to give it a shot - I'm so glad I did!
The story focuses on two characters, Alex and Cleo. Both are around 16, and very different from each other. Other than their age, the only thing they seem to have in common is that they ride horses Dressage style and take lessons from the same instructors. Yet, the two form an unlikely bond. Cleo is a spoiled rich girl from California, and Alex is from a lower middle class family in a rural community in Canada. Initially, Cleo develops a crush on Alex, who is gay and in the closet, and their friendship evolves from there.
The character of Alex was the best. Cleo was interesting, but a bit whiny for my taste. Although because Cleo was a good friend to Alex, and helped him come out of his shell, I liked her. Alex is ultimately the one I kept turning the pages for, I would love to read more about his story in another book! He was really a great character.
Anyhow, I loved this book, like I said I'm glad I got it. I'd like to read more about Alex (and Cleo) if the author picks the characters back up.
I'd recommend it for readers of all ages. Enjoy!

Cleo O'Shea rides horses. Her wealthy parents work in the movie business and have raised Cleo through a series of housekeepers, drivers, and other assorted caretakers. When Cleo's poor choices lead her into troubled times, they decide to enroll her in a boarding school on Vancouver Island.

An early interest in horses prompted Cleo's mother to enroll her in riding classes. In keeping with this interest, Cleo finds herself at Stoneleigh, a school that focuses on equestrian training. As a hobby, riding had always been fun, but now that Cleo's school experience revolves around riding and competition, she is not so sure about it. Finding Alex Ford seems to improve things a bit.

Alex has never truly fit in. His early childhood was spent pretending his bicycle was a horse. His odd obsession with competitive dressage didn't win him many friends or even acquaintances. When his mother left, Alex became more and more responsible for his twin sisters. His father's interests became more focused on staying drunk and living in the driveway in an old RV. Grappling with a drunken father, a lack of money, and the possibility of being more interested in boys than girls, has Alex feeling anxious and alone. Meeting Cleo gives Alex a courage he never realized he had.

Life in ANOTHER KIND OF COWBOY revolves around dressage riding and competition. Cleo and Alex meet and then find themselves sharing the same trainers, a couple of retired horsemen living on a nearby farm. Filled with Susan Juby's refreshing humor, one-of-a-kind characters, and some serious teen issues, this book is sure to be popular with both male and female readers. As a result of the detailed dressage descriptions and interesting storylines, I found myself imagining what might be a fun film version of the book.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Cleo O'Shea, wealthy and selfish, and Alex Ford, dedicated and focused, couldn't make a more unlikely pair. But yet they're thrown together when they both begin dressage lessons with two of Europe's finest trainers. Alex can't believe his good luck, but for Cleo, it's just an excuse to get away from the stuffy Stoneleigh Riding Academy she is forced to endure, thanks to her always absent parents. Yet a series of events will show them that people aren't always as they seem, and sometimes the most unlikely person can become a friend.

From the author that brought you the Alice McLeod: Realist At Last, Another Kind of Cowboy is funny, unique, and distinct. The witty and insightful plot is full of mulitlayered and likable characters that come alive with Juby's knack for descriptive detail, and their problems are those that any teen can empathize with. This one is sure to be a winner with horse enthusiasts and non horse lovers alike.

For Alex Ford, dressage is an oasis. In the stable, he can slip into his riding pants, shed the macho cowboy image, and feel like himself for a change. For Cleo O'Shea, dressage is a fresh start. She's got a new boarding school, absentee parents, and, best of all, no one to remember her past. At Limestone Farm, their lives collide and while originally Alex doesn't want anything to do with privileged Cleo, he soon realizes that maybe she could be the only person around to fully understand him.

From the author of the Alice series comes a fun, but heartbreaking stand-alone story, with two realistic main characters with not-so-great pasts and not much better presents. Told through both Alex and Cleo's perspective, the reader really gets a sense of both of these characters. The voices are very different from each other and are very believable. But it's not only the main characters that get screen time, the side characters, particularly Alex's aunt Grace and sisters May and Maggie, as well as Cleo's friend Phillipa are also extremely fun to read about as well. The novel is also filled with Juby's trademark humor and clever, subtle ways of showing that humor. Another highly recommended read (especially as it seems like people are wanting to ban it, so you know it's a great novel, hee!)

"Another Kind of Cowboy" is an easy read story, but not a very good one. The plot of the story is filled with some stock characters; the rich girl with very distant parents who pay hardly any attention to her at all and the young boy whos appears to be the only stable one in his family. His mother ran off years ago, his father is an alcoholic living in a RV in the driveway and his Aunt, the woman of the house, spends her trying out cosmetics and hair products on people while making bad meals. Cleo O'Shea and Alex Ford are the characters names repsectively. By the way, Alex also happens to be gay, which is dealt with very little.

The story centers around Alex and Cleo's tentative friendship. Cleo is a spoiled rich girl who does not give much thought to the consequences of her actions. One of these, which got her shipped off to boarding school, was giving the alarm code to the family's driver because she was attracted to him and she thought he attracted to her as well.

Alex loves dressage and dreams of performing in it one day. His father wins a horse in a poker game and Alex begins to ride western. Later in the story he does begin to ride dressage though he keeps it from his father who thinks that dressage is "girly."

As the plot moves along Alex learns to have better self esteem and Cleo through the requesit "crisis climax" has an underdeveloped ephiphany and becomes less self-centered.

This book reads like a poor after school special. Neither of the characters are very developed. Cleo is so self centered and stupid that you can feel any sympathy for her. Alex's feelings and acceptence of being gay is dealt with very little, eventhough his father is clearly homophobic. It appears that the only reason that the author made Alex gay was so that he could not be in a relationship with Cleo. It's clear due to the easy that Alex accepts himself that the author did much research into gay male teens and their struggle to accept themselves.

Another thing that makes the book difficult is that Cleo's character is first person and Alex's is third person narrative. This takes some getting used to; especially as the narration of Alex's part of the story is the first few chapters before it switches to Cleo's first person narration.

If you are an English teacher and are looking for something that you can use and demonstrate the different styles of narration, this book is a good choice. If you are interested in dressage riding, this book is good for your as the dressage scenes are quite detailed in their descriptions. If you are looking for a book with a good gay teen plot, choose something by Alex Sanchez or Bret Hartinger.