My AR Book Review, "All The Pretty Horses"

All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy is about John Grady Cole is a boy who wants to be a cowboy so he leaves his home in Texas to go to Mexico where he and his best friend Lacey Rawlins meet Jimmy Blevins, a boy who's real name is unknown. The three travel until Blevins loses his horse and so he goes to find him. Rawlins and John Grady Cole find this ranch and they work there. Meanwhile John falls in love with the ranch owner's daughter Alejandra.

But then one day Rawlins and John get arrested and they found out Blevins killed someone so the Mexico police kills Blevins and sends John and Rawlins to prison. In prison, John is forced to kill someone (this is where he becomes a 'man') and then Alejandra's aunt bails him and Rawlins out with the promise that Alejandra doesn't see John ever again. In the end Alejandra choose to go to Paris (or something) to further her studies instead of staying with John. John continues on his pursuit to be a cowboy while Rawlins goes home.

I enjoyed reading All The Pretty Horses because it delves into the world of a coming-to-age teen who struggles with finding both his home and his dream in a world that no longer caters to his personal wants. He strives to be a cowboy, but in a society that is evolving and advancing, it is hard for him to find a place where he can call his own. In that aspect, I think it is very relatable because many teenagers nowadays are struggling to find their sense of belonging as well.