Customer Reviews

The Beef Princess of Practical County

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderfully funny, touching and entertaining book. I am so anxious for our county fair in August because I will now be seeing a lot of it through Libby Ryan's eyes.

I had no idea everything that goes into getting an animal ready to exhibit at a fair and I was fascinated to see it all unfold. You could feel every emotion that Libby was feeling from the joy of it all to the hard realization that you must let your animal go, and Libby learned to do that with style and grace.

Readers need to be aware that this is not just a story about getting a steer ready for exhibit, far from it. It is a story about family and friends and even "enemies" and learning what a family tradition is and how to come to understand the importance of that tradition.

Libby's family and friends give her unconditional support during her journey. Her Grandad's quiet nature and wonderful sense of humor gets Libby through some hard decisions. Her parents are also there to help Libby but they are also smart enough to let her do what she needs to do. Her brother Ronnie is a guiding force even though he is away at college. Frannie, Libby's 4 year old sister brings humor and patience to Libby's life. I was particularly taken with Frannie's "grandchildren", each time they appeared I could not help but chuckle and smile. Carol Ann is the essential friend that we all had growing up, the one that got us through each day, always there to understand and offer advice and know just what to say and sometimes knowing what not to say.

I enjoyed seeing the way Libby and Carol Ann dealt with the Darling sisters, who did their best to make life miserable and less than "darling" for everyone they knew. As much fun as I had watching Libby grow and mature I was just as taken with Ohma Darling. It was just so wonderful watching her get to learn to like herself. In many ways she changed even more than Libby and I just burst with pride when she realized it was ok to like who you are and not worry about living up to her sisters.

I highly recommend this book, it will make you think, laugh and realize that doing what is right and doing your best is exactly what we should all be lucky enough to get out of life.

I've read this book twice, but never had enough money to buy it. Now, I read it all the time! I love this book!!!

This book follows Libby through a year of getting ready to show her calves at the county fair. It's a very accurate portrayal of the responsibility, hard-work, and sometimes heart-break of showing animals and then selling them at the fair.

As a ten-year 4-Her this book hit home. The chores, the prep work, the practice, and the joy of the fair are all fully broadcast in the book. (Though my rabbits were probably slightly less work than two calves!) Libby's voice shines through as she raises her calves and tries to convince her dad to be proud of her. I enjoyed the friendship between Libby and Carol Ann-one being the spontaneous one and the other the voice of reason. And the Darlings; great "villains" with just the right amount of spunk and stupid-ness.

Through the challenges, the heartache, and the joy, this book follows a determined girl on her path to the fair. A great book for rural girls or urban ones, and a perfect window into what it takes to raise and show an animal.

Anyone of any age would like this book. It gives you more insight of what happens at a county fair. Awsome book

I love a fun quick read. THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY by Michelle Houts is both. Libby is a 12-year-old girl who lives on a cattle farm in Indiana. Raising cattle has been a family tradition for years. When Libby's older brother goes off to college it is Libby's turn to raise a calf into a full grown steer and show it at the annual fair. After the contest the steers are auctioned off and Libby has a chance to start her college fund by getting a good price for her steer. Libby also decides to compete in the pageant to try to win the title of The Beef Princess. Middle grade girls will love this book.

this was one of the best books ive ever read! i loved how realistic it was: libby names her calves and gets so affectonate with them and then when she had to sell ne her heart was broken. but its not just that, it makes you laugh and you ca connect to her at times. it is sad but also a great book and it will touch your heart. i loved it

I LOVED It!!!! really enjoyed the story, so full of details I really felt it all. I am buying this for my nephew who loves to read and has never set foot on a farm. Great Choice, I highly recommend it!!

THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY is a sweet coming-of-age novel.

Libby loves the cow farm she's grown up on. But she's lived in her brother's shadow and her father has never noticed her when it comes to the farm. When her brother heads off to college, Libby is granted the chance to raise two calves for the next county fair. She will only be able to show one of the calves, but she has the opportunity to show her father what she can do.

When her dear Piggy becomes too injured to enter, Libby has to work with the more obstinate of the two calves. She can't imagine that he can possibly be a winner, but Libby is determined to win the Grand Champion designation, something even her brother has never accomplished.

Libby's competing against the Darling girls. The two eldest have been the fair princesses for the past few years and are entering their own cattle. The youngest one, Ohma, is the same age as Libby. And although Ohma isn't in the same princess league as her sisters, she's still a Darling.

Libby finds herself learning to love the calf that wanted to be left alone. And more surprisingly, she finds her mom has talked her into running for the princess title against the Darling sisters. As the summer winds down and the fair looms closer, Libby grows more confident in herself and her abilities.

For a first-time novelist, Ms. Houts has written a tender story of growing up and becoming who you are meant to be. Growing up in a small town that holds annual fairs similar to that depicted in THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY, I felt a special connection to the story. Ms. Houts captures the spirit and the competition of a county fair to a T.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Books set in the country tend to appeal to me since I live in the middle-of-nowhere but since I can relate to them easily, I'm always more picky about the details. But Michelle Houts can obviously relate too because there was very little for me to pick apart in Beef Princess.

The Beef Princess of Practical County begins a little slow but once you get to know the characters, you're instantly drawn in. I know very little about raising cattle, which is a huge part of the plot, but Houts wrote about it in a way that didn't include every detail of what went into it but enough to explain what was going on so everyone could relate a little bit.

Libby is a character that I'm sure everyone can relate to, whether you're twelve or sixteen or even thirty-five. She's young and stubborn but willing to put others before herself. Most importantly, she stands up for what she believes in, whether or not it's always a realistic choice.

The plot stays fairly simple and even though I kept waiting for some surprise ending, it never came. At first, it was slightly disappointing but in the end, it worked for the novel.

I definitely recommend this one so pick it up the next chance you get!

Although this book maybe best suited for a teenage girl, the book was written well enough that it captured my attention and held my attention for the whole book. As I kept reading the anticipation of how it would end continued to build. I felt like I could be a beef farmer by the end of the book. I thought the book had many great moral messages (Don't judge a book by its cover, be willing to change, stick to the facts, etc.). Most people can connect with the main character because like most she has a tough goal to reach and so much opposition and doubt. I highly recommend this book to anyone!