There is something mysterious lurking in the forests around Davy Crockett’s home. He’s been away for a long time, driving cattle across the country. It was hard work, dirty work, but now he’s home again, and something strange has been happening since he left. All the skilled hunters are disappearing in the forests and Davy’s determined to find out why. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s about to confront a prehistoric creature and a stately gentleman from the past. It’s quite the mystery. And then there’s the dysfunctional family with an abusive father who makes unfathomable demands on his children, especially Davy. Which is worse? The unsettling nature of family life? Or the growing danger in the forest where Davy feels most comfortable?

Kevin James Breaux’s young adult novel, Young Davy Crockett: The Wild Frontier with Dinosaurs, is a historical mystery with an interesting twist of prehistoric fate mixed with time travel. The plot follows Davy’s return home, with enough backstory to place the series of events that will follow. Young Davy is quite young; he was thirteen when he left home to join the cattle drive and now, returning home, he’s fourteen. But the author has presented a character who appears much older than fourteen and definitely more mature. The setting is well described, there is engaging dialogue which helps develop the characters and move the story along, and lots of drama to keep young readers intrigued with the developing story. The story ends with a cliff-hanger so readers will want to stay tuned to find out what happens next in Davy’s frontier adventures with dinosaurs.

Young Davy Crockett: The Wild Frontier with Dinosaurs by award-winning author Kevin James Breaux is set in Tennessee in 1798 and follows the exploits of the young but capable hunter. Davy had just returned from a month-long task that was forced upon him by his father when he found out that local hunters who had ventured into the forest never returned. This is troubling news, as it can only mean one thing; the hunters are now the hunted. Davy sets out to track the mysterious beast and kill it before more lives are lost, but his quarry is a fierce beast and even deadlier than a cougar. Davy isn’t aware that such a beast should not be taken lightly nor that it should not be possible for such an animal to be alive in this day and age. In this thrilling book, two worlds collide as animals from the Jurassic period roam the Earth once more. Will Davy, the greatest hunter of all, bring home a prized trophy, or will he be the hunted?

Young Davy Crockett was a thrilling and imaginative book. It was my first time reading a western that had dinosaurs in it and though outlaws, gunslingers, and duels weren’t present, it was still a blast to read. The main reason is the thrill that I got from the scenes where Davy is out hunting. I had no idea that a hunt could be so suspenseful and exhilarating, as I believed that hunting mainly involved waiting in a bush followed by more waiting in a bush for one’s prey. To my surprise though, it turns out that hunting involves a lot more than simply waiting and that it is very interesting. Kevin James Breaux has conveyed the thrill of a hunt perfectly. The author described the hunts beautifully and with ample details. Another good thing about this book for me was the plot. The plot was extraordinary, considering that this was a short story, yet it felt complete and not rushed or lacking anything crucial in any way. It held my interest and focus throughout its duration and had a few surprises for me. It was an excellent and unique plot as well, and I can tell that the next entries in this series will be a joy to read. I’d like to recommend this compelling and memorable read to readers that desire a short but excellent book.