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Ryan Standley has written hundreds of news articles and lived in US cities from coast to coast. His award-winning debut novel, To the Top of Greenfield Street (2020), is set 1993, in Freeport IL, the author's hometown. The realistic YA novel describes one teenager’s rocky path toward several unforgettable firsts.
“I tried to make the book as honest as possible,” Standley says, “Each character is flawed yet endearing. We all make bad decisions, but that doesn’t make us bad people. We take so many risks as teens, it’s amazing we survive."
His follow-up novel, When To Fire, a YA sci-fi-western, releases in February 2025. "It's way different and way shorter," Standley says, "But the emotional honesty still shines through."
Ryan Standley, a high school teacher, lives north of Boston, MA, with his wife, kids, and fluffy dog. @RyanPStandley
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
When to Fire by Ryan Standley is an action-packed Western novella set in the American frontier. Matthew Frimm, a young man in search of his parents, unwittingly finds himself becoming an infamous outlaw known for his sharp aim with the pistol. They call him The Pistol Kid. While trying to rob a bank, he loses his friend, Chaske, forcing him and Chaske's new widow, Euna, to continue their journey on their own. However, after Chaske's death, Kid starts having visions of the future and the past, allowing him to stay one step ahead of Deputy Perry Eugene Winchell and his lawmen. Kid and Euna eventually find their way to Chaske's tribe, where he comes across a mysterious relic that may have answers to some of his questions. Can he save Chaske's people from the Federal cavalry?
If stories featuring swashbuckling outlaws, native magic, and breathtaking gunfights are your jam, When to Fire will be right up your alley. Author Ryan Standley spins a fast-paced yarn filled to the brim with action, adventure, mystery, and intrigue. From the very first page onward, you will find yourself sympathizing with Kid and Euna, even knowing they are outlaws. The plot is very hard to predict, and you're not entirely sure if your favorite characters will make it out alive by the end. It keeps the stakes high and the reader engaged all the way through. The supernatural elements enhance the storytelling and make the book even more enjoyable. As someone who loves Westerns, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. All in all, this is tailor-made for readers who love stories with gunslingers as protagonists.
