Title: The Tick Rider: A Story of Families, Homelands, Drugs, Redemption, and the Dividing Rio Grande
Author: William Street
Publisher: BookVenture Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1491755024
Pages: 558
Genre: Action & Adventure
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
The Ticker Rider explores the lesser known world of tick riders – experienced cowboys who patrol different sections along the Rio Grande River where they round up any stray livestock from Mexico and send them to be inspected by vets, branded, and later returned to the owner when they come to pay for the expenses of the livestock being housed. While out on a ride, young tick rider Jack meets a young boy trying to round up cattle on his own. After helping keep the cattle from crossing the river, he returns home with the boy where he meets the boy’s lovely sister Gabriella and is immediately captivated. The happiness is short-lived when a cartel takes control of Gabriella’s family ranch. Jack will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves and the family he’s grown to care for. Meanwhile, teenagers Miguel and Guillermo are determined to live out their dream of going to America, but their journey leads them into one danger after another.
The Ticker Rider is a modern western with action-packed adventure, stunning scenery, and strong characters. Author William Street begins with a stunning view of the land and the peaceful ranch life of the Ortez family with peaceful and vivid details, setting up the connections and personalities of the characters before danger takes over. Street tackles sensitive and serious topics including rape, drug smuggling, and immigration with an honest and respectful voice that opens up the eyes. The backdrop is gritty and often has violence, but by putting these characters in these awful and dangerous situations, Street is also showing their strength and bravery. Their lives at the beginning of the story are revealed through serene details that match the way the land is portrayed.
Despite the violence and horror of the cartel, and the fear established quickly when they take over the ranch, lighter moments are seen throughout the story. The dynamic among the Ortez family is strong and sincere. They build each other up and protect each other. Gabriella’s family is her strength and her weakness as she is nearly forced to sacrifice everything in order to save those she loves. She is a highly commendable character and strong heroine that is brave and compassionate. Jack and Gabriella’s romance is sweet and provides needed moments of peacefulness to the plot. They have a strong relationship that is presented like young love.
Woven throughout this story are multiple perspectives, exploring not just Jack and the Ortez family, but the cartel, Jack’s parents, and young Miguel and Guillermo who have a pertinent placement throughout the story. The two teenagers only dream is go to America, so they start off on this trek which lands them into various dangerous situations from a man who refuses to pay them to eventually succumbing into drugs. They’re both idealistic and rather ordinary teens in personality, which makes them easy to understand and to care about, but this also makes more of an impact to watch them make these bad decisions. Street puts precise care into every character and their placement in the story. The Ticker Rider is an astonishing adventure with heroic characters, a story of family and love, and a dangerous fight against a cartel in the stunning landscape along the Rio Grande River.
