Frank among the Rancheros

"Frank among the Rancheros" by Harry Castlemon is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows a young boy named Frank Nelson, who has moved to Southern California and is adjusting to life on his uncle's large rancho. The narrative highlights Frank's adventures and challenges, especially as he becomes involved with the local ranchers and their cattle, facing both excitement and danger. At the start of the book, we meet Frank and his cousin Archie in an energetic state, overly excited about witnessing a dramatic event involving a wild steer and ranchers attempting to corral it. The introductory chapter vividly portrays the colorful life on the rancho, emphasizing Frank's spirited personality and his new surroundings. The scene sets an engaging tone for the forthcoming adventures, hinting at the themes of courage and resilience as Frank navigates the perils and excitement of ranch life alongside the rancheros, friends, and animals that fill his world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.