Published in 1968, True Grit tells the story of 14 year old Mattie Ross on a mission to avenge and bring to justice the outlaw who killed her father. Since she can't do it alone, she seizes the initiative and hires the one-eyed U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn. Written in the first person, it is a page turner--clever, entertaining but instructive, humorous, and captures the courage, perseverance, and self reliance necessary for surviving in the late 19th century West or today.
Because Mattie's individuality, self confidence, and bulldog tenacity, character strength, uncompromising principles and unswerving sense of purpose enable her to successfully accomplish her goal, she exemplifies a positive role model to all young adult readers.
Whether a family problem, school trouble, bullying, peer pressure, or challenging situation an individual is confronted with, one must not hide or shrink from it but faces it head on in order to beat it. What he or she most needs to solve any problem or accomplish any desired goal is TRUE GRIT!
Recommended by Robert L. Hicks, Librarian, Arkansas City High School.
