Editorial Book Review For ‘The Box M Gang’ by Mark L. Redmond

Children’s 1800s US Historical Fiction.
Intended For Middle Grade+ Readers!

5-Stars: Siblings Forced To Keep A Secret And Band Together To Save Their Ranch!

The Box M Gang by Mark Redmond.

Children’s 1800s US Historical Fiction.

The year is 1875. The Arizona Territory is a wild, sparsely settled place. The Martin family’s Box M Ranch is ten miles from their nearest neighbor and twenty miles from Tucson. Ma has been gone for two years, and Pa hasn’t been the same since she passed. Something inside him broke when he lost her. Fifteen-year-old Ruth, fourteen-year-old Thad, twelve-year-old Sarah, ten-year-old Bart, and eight-year-old Billy have been doing most of the work to keep the Box M running. Consequently, when Pa passes away, the Martin siblings face little change in their daily routine as far as their chores go.

They do, however, face an ominous threat. Ruth, Thad, and Sarah know they can continue to run the Box M without Pa. They also know if folks discover Pa has passed away, the local lawman will load the Martin siblings into a buckboard and haul them off to the orphanage near Tucson. Ruth is confident she, Thad, and Sarah can protect their secret from the occasional travelers who visit the Box M, but she’s concerned about Bart and Billy. They need to practice their conversations with each other to prepare for talking with strangers. They need to pray for God’s help as they tackle a nearly impossible task. They need to work together. They need to become the Box M Gang.

During the next few months, visitors to the Box M include the sheriff, a bounty hunter, cattle rustlers, and a family with five small children. Some of the visitors stay long enough to rest and water their livestock. Some spend the night and move on the next day. Others overstay their welcome. All of them pose a threat to the Martins.

Can they keep their secret and remain on the Box M? Saddle up, and let’s find out!

5-Stars: Siblings Forced To Keep A Secret And Band Together To Save Their Ranch!

Fifteen-year-old Ruth Martin is the oldest of the five Martin children. Her bravery, love for her siblings, her faith, and her leadership take “The Box M Gang” on a path to secure their future together and save their ranch. It can’t be easy for 5 kids to keep the biggest secret of their lives, and yet their very survival will rely on their promise to each other.

As an adult and grandparent, I bonded with these kids on the first page. I held my breath as I imagined the wild, sparsely settled Arizona Territory in 1875. The Martin family’s ranch is ten miles from their nearest neighbor and twenty miles from Tucson. The dangers to the children and their ranch animals are compounded by thieves, cattle rustlers, squatters, outlaws, the local sheriff and a possible murderer in the area.

Let me bring you into their story here. This is the morning after the kids have made their secret pact. I quote:

…The next morning, as usual, we left the house just after sunrise, ready to begin our daily chores. I saddled our bay mare so I could ride out to check on our livestock. I led the mare from the stable and paused to look around me. Sarah was scrubbing our clothes in a wooden tub. Bart was milking the cow.  Billy was gathering eggs in the chicken pen. Thad was replacing a broken post in the corral fence. Everything looked the way it should on the Box M Ranch.

…I smiled as I mounted the horse and started her toward the pasture. The sun was shining; the morning air was cool and fresh. The day would be beautiful. I had just started to hum an old hymn when I spotted the buzzards.

…Now, I know that buzzards have a purpose, just like most of God’s creatures. Ma had told me one time that if buzzards didn’t clean up dead animals, the whole world would stink. I believed her, but I still felt a little sick whenever I saw those nasty birds circling over something dead or dying.

…These buzzards were already flying low, and they were dropping rapidly. When I realized they had to be flying over our pasture, I nudged the mare to a gallop. As I approached the pasture, I slowed her to a walk, rode to the gate, and reached down to let myself in.

I invite you to join Ruth as she makes a startling discovery.

No one brings fictional western drama to life for young readers like Mark L. Redmond. You can rest assured when your middle grade reader has Mr. Redmond’s book in his or her hands: their imaginations will soar, their spirits will be lifted, and their lives will be better for the lessons woven into action-adventure drama with captivating characters their own age. Don’t forget to also pick up The Box M Gang and the Army (Book Two) In the Box M Gang Series. In addition, The Adventures of Arty Anderson, a 6-book series, is also available in print and kindle for your middle grade readers.

Editorial Review by Book Marketing Global Network.

Product Details:
Print Length: ‎120 Pages
Publisher: ‎Author; 1st Edition (June 3, 2022)
Language: ‎English
Fiction Historical (1800s US)
Fiction Historical (Action & Adventure)
Fiction Historical (Christian)
Westerns For Young Readers

Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Box-M-Gang-Mark-Redmond/dp/B0B33N3J7C/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1655314077&sr=1-1

Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Box-M-Gang-Mark-Redmond-ebook/dp/B0B27HWF7L/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1655314077&sr=1-1

Customer Ratings:
https://www.amazon.com/Box-M-Gang-Mark-Redmond/dp/B0B33N3J7C/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1655314077&sr=1-1#customerReviews

The Box M Gang And The Army by Mark L. Redmond.

Book Two In The Box M Gang Series.

In 1876, five siblings on an Arizona Territory ranch have to hide the fact they’re orphans. If the authorities discover their secret, the Martin children will be removed from the Box M and placed in an orphanage in Tucson. The secret is safe with fifteen-year-old Ruth, fourteen-year-old Thad, and twelve-year-old Sarah; but can ten-year-old Bart and eight-year-old Billy keep it? To make matters worse, the Martins have made a commitment that they won’t lie to Sheriff Packard or any other people who visit the ranch and wonder where the adult Martins are. These five siblings are about to have their faith and their courage tested as they’ve never been tested before!

Review by G: Fantastic read! Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2022. Verified Purchase. In The Box M Gang, newly orphaned Ruth Martin and her brother Thad, along with their younger siblings, tackle the challenges of running their ranch themselves rather than hazarding their future to the local orphanage. They must work together, be brave, and keep their secret quiet! Author Mark Redmond delights his audience once again with his knowledge of the old west, strong characters (both male and female!), charming storytelling, and clever dialog. His writing will enchant young readers and also entertain any older readers invited along on this adventure. All five stars are shining over this great read.

Review by Geibe: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Excellent book! Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024. I teach 3rd grade at a small, Christian school. I read this book aloud with my students, and every one of them LOVED it! From the opening sentence that hooked us in to the problems and solutions that were revealed throughout, it is a WONDERFUL book! I have students who are now interested in a new genre- western books! Thank you, Mark, for sharing your gift with us!

Review by Kathryn: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Wholesome and entertaining for any age. Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022.Just seeing Mark L. Redmond’s name lets me know I’m in for some refreshing good reading and another book I can gift or recommend. “The Box M Gang” didn’t let me down. As usual, it’s a great family read-together, youngsters read-alone, and no upper-age limit on enjoying. Written in the manner so many of us grew up with, the story has adventure and a moral without sounding teachy or preachy. Appreciate Redmond’s not lowering his standards as so many writers have done, thinking it necessary to reach today’s youth. We who write have the responsibility to keep those standards high.

Review by MomTimes4: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Another fun book from Mark Redmond. Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2022. I really enjoy getting Mark Redmond’s books for our kids…. they are clean and well-written, without annoying proofing mistakes. I can trust them to my kids without previewing them and know there will be nothing objectionable in them. But we have also enjoyed reading his books WITH our kids over the years. They are even great for grandparents to read with their grands. His Arty Anderson was a favorite series for my dad and the grandkids to enjoy and discuss together. In this new Box M Gang book, we are introduced to an entirely new cast of characters, some loveable, some that I’m still not sure about, and a few that absolutely made my blood pressure rise in frustration. :)Redmond has the knack of character development! The story resolved well but leaves you ready and waiting for the next in the series. We’ll be waiting for it…. 🙂

Review by Tholritz: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. You won’t be disappointed. Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2022.After reading & loving the Arty Anderson series and the Nate Landry series, we weren’t sure what this new series would be like, but we were sure we’d love it too. We were right! I read the first book in The Box M Gang series to my 10-year-old son, and he would beg me to keep reading each night. We both enjoyed the humor and suspense. As a mom, I loved the family/ godly values presented and the way the siblings work together as a team. The chapter sizes were the perfect length for reading before bed and kept us excited for the next night we could read again. We can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. In the meantime, we are starting the Arty Anderson series again. ? I highly recommend everything Mark Redmond writes. We’ve never been disappointed.

Review by Phil Truman: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Growing Up Fast on the Arizona Frontier. Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2022. Mark Redmond’s initial setup of his new western series about 5 orphaned siblings in the Arizona frontier, is a compelling read for teens. Packed with drama and captivating characters, the story weaves through the trials of fifteen-year-old Ruth and her brother Thad as they struggle to keep their young family together after their father’s death. On their small ranch, they bravely battle through threats from rustlers, squatters, outlaws, and the local sheriff. It is a gripping read striped with faith-based undertones. I highly recommend this opening novel in what promises to be a strength-of-character series. Phil Truman, author of Dire Wolf of the Quapaw and other Western novels.

Review by Amy: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Perfect book for readers! Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2022. In a world full of books for kids that are shallow, full of terrible grammar, and iffy on subject matter this book is a welcome breath of fresh air. The author tells a captivating story while exemplifying great writing, good morals, and fantastic values. If your kid is going to read a good book this is worth their time. I, as an adult, thoroughly enjoyed it too as a quick read. You won’t regret spending time reading this book or any of the others by this author.

Review by Mac Rollins: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Terrific Western Story for Young Readers! Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2022. Author Mark L. Redmond has done it again. The Box M Gang is back with another Western Adventure. It is great to see a book that any parent, would feel good about giving to their child. Full of action to draw you into the story with likable, believable main characters. No, you won’t find zombies or aliens. There’s nothing that will embarrass you or your young reader. The Box M Gang is a great way to hook a child on clean, adventure books with a sprinkling of Old West History & Lore.

Review by Mike Wson: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Awesome book. Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2022. This author is a very good writer. The Box M Gang is a very good book! When I heard that a new series was coming out, I was very excited! I started reading from this author in his book Arty Goes West and very soon we had the whole Arty series and also his Nate Landry books and his book 5 For the Trail too. I am really looking forward to not only reading his future books but also rereading the books I already have. GET THE BOOK! YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED ??

Review by Earlita Hampton: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Great story line. Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2022. I am so glad to be able to tell you how awesome this book is. I sat down and read this in one sitting and loved the storyline. I can’t wait to get a copy for my daughter to read. If you have had a chance to read any other books by Mark Redmond, this book follows right in line with those great writings. You will not be disappointed!!!

Review by MARI: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. It captivates you immediately. Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2022. I read this book in 1 day. It was so captivating. The story line has some unexpected twists & turns that kept me from putting the book down. It doesn’t disappoint. It leaves you salivating for more. I’m looking so forward to next on-line in this series! Love that it is for any group!

Review by Kindle Customer: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Redmond does it again. Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2022. Mark Redmond once again hits the mark with his second book in the series. You are pulled into the story with the characters you have already fell in love with eagerly turning the page as the story progresses. Highly recommend.

Product Details:
Paperback: ‎174 Pages
Publisher: ‎Redmond Publications (March 15, 2024)
Language: ‎English
Fiction Historical (1800s US)
Fiction Historical (Action & Adventure)
Fiction Historical (Christian)
Westerns For Young Readers

Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Box-M-Gang-Army/dp/B0CX8W1RG9/ref=monarch_sidesheet

Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Box-M-Gang-Army-ebook/dp/B0CW17SVNM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Customer Ratings:
https://www.amazon.com/Box-M-Gang-Army/dp/B0CX8W1RG9/ref=monarch_sidesheet#customerReviews

About Mark L. Redmond: Mark L. Redmond taught high school English for 28 years in South Bend, Indiana. He has published over 25 short stories and articles, a six-book middle grade fiction series (The Adventures of Arty Anderson), a collection of short stories (Five for the Trail), and two western novels for more mature readers (Bounty Hunter Nate Landry: Major Issues and Bounty Hunter Nate Landry: Family Fury). Redmond and his wife Susie were workcampers, who lived in their motor home for eight years and enjoyed exploring the West.

A member of Western Writers of America, Western Fictioneers, SCBWI, ACFW, and the Single Action Shooting Society, Redmond has been studying the West through reading and travel for most of his life (and he’s an old timer, born in 1953!). Mark and Susie now live in Arizona, where Mark continues to write.

Amazon Author’s Page
https://www.amazon.com/Mark-L.-Redmond/e/B001KISXXW

YouTube Videos
https://www.youtube.com/@cowboy.writer

Author’s Website
http://www.marklredmond.com

Author’s Blog
https://marklredmond.com/my-blog

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Mark-L-Redmond-172539199495467/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/SheriffRedmond

Author’s Page At Book Marketing Global Network:
http://bookmarketingglobalnetwork.com/book-marketing-global-network/mark-l-redmond

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