Cute story about a girl who is just starting to get into the cattle breeding business. Though it does have a few moments that might be hard to deal with if you're an animal lover, it deals with the truth of the industry with gentleness. ( )

The Beef Princess of Practical County

Summary- The book tell the a of a young girl living on the farm with her grandfather.

Comment- I am not sure how to use this book in a classroom setting.

This book is one of those books that you shouldn't judge by it's cover. (or by it's name) it was a very good book actually. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. With a surprising ending.:) ( )

One of the odder storylines, Beef Princess still manages to hold onto the readers’ attention while maintaining its rural background.

I am not quite sure what to say about this book—it is unlike anything else I have read. The storyline focuses more of the growth of the steers and Libby’s ambition to make her father proud. In some ways I can relate to Libby. Being overshadowed to an older sibling you are forever compared to and judged by their accomplishments. Can you do better? The struggle to perform well is what drives Libby. Even so you have a great admiration for your old your sibling and Michelle Houts show that through Libby’s training with her brother’s help.

The more agricultural background shows a great deal of knowledge from the author and she crafts it into the novel quite well. She talks about caring for the animals, machinery, contests, and the job to raise and let go of some of your cuddly friends.

Michelle Houts was also able to bring in some humor to the book. I found the names to be the most funniest. From Precious, Lil, and Ohma their last name Darling combined gives off a “what were the parents thinking” type of chuckle. I found the irony of naming the steers other animal names, such as Piggy and Mule, was cute.

I feel that if the book fell into a different set of hands it might have received a bit higher grade. While some scenes were adorable the overall set of tone childish (being a 12-year-old girl I kind of expected this). The plotline was slightly drab and predictable.

Overall: The Beef Princess of Practical County manages to showcase a good old county side lovin’ with an interesting set of views ( )

Awesome, real, fully believable. It's real. Love farming, so the entire thing was amazing. Had awesome reality. Only thing is that the Darling sisters could have seemed a little more real. In FFA, so they couldn't have had a better mention. AHS/KG