Sonderbooks Book Review of

by Joel Christian Gill

Tales of the Talented Tenth, No. 1

The True Story of Bass Reeves, the Most Successful Lawman in the Old West!

Black History in Action

True Adventures of Amazing African Americans

by Joel Christian Gill

Review posted December 1, 2017.
Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO, 2014. 126 pages.
Starred Review

Tales of the Talented Tenth is a series of graphic novels about actual African Americans who did amazing things. The first in the series tells the true story of Bass Reeves, who was a sheriff in the old west and whose feats sound like a tall tale. I see this is a 2014 book, but it's new to our library, and looks like a wonderful series.

The story’s told creatively, using flashbacks from when Bass learned to shoot when he was a child and a slave, paralleling a tight spot he got into later when chasing outlaws. The panels are varied, colorful and striking. This is an exciting story, and will catch anyone’s interest.

It’s a rip-roaring yarn, told with suspense and flair – and all the more amazing because it’s true.