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Banjo
Danny, a rising rodeo star whose border collie, Banjo, has been wounded by neighbors, and Meg, who has a way with animals, come together to keep Banjo safe, aided by Danny's brother.
ebook
First published October 8, 2019
About the author
Graham Salisbury
27 books92 followersGraham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 8, 2019
This one is a 3.5 for me, and I wholeheartedly agree with the blurb on the back of the book from author Chris Crutcher remarking on the book's authenticity and the fact that it doesn't offer easy answers to tough life problems. I have come to trust the storytelling talents of Graham Salisbury. Whether his books are set during WWII or during modern times, he has the unique ability to make me care about his characters and to ponder the complexity of life and the difficult choices we often face. Because the story is told from two points of view, readers may find themselves vacillating in their sympathy for the characters and hoping against hope for a happy ending. Thirteen-year-old Danny Mack enjoys training for the rodeo and helping out on his father's ranch in Oregon. He works hard, but loves spending time with his beloved border collie, Banjo, who is a very good dog. But Banjo is shot by one of the teen sons of his neighbor, Mr. Brodie, because the boys say they saw him and a pack of wild dogs attacking their sheep. Mack knows this can't be true, but he also knows that his neighbor won't allow Banjo to live even if he is suspected of harming the sheep. Since he knows impounding the dog would be cruel, he agrees to kill Banjo himself. He has no intention of doing so, and he persuades his older brother Tyrell to drive several miles away to a wilderness area where they leave Banjo. Traumatized by his abandonment and the gunfire Tyrell uses to scare him away, Banjo is befriended by Meg Harris while she is out riding her horse. She becomes determined to save the dog, find out who left him there and confront his previous owner. Mack, of course, is completely riddled with guilt about what he and his brother have done and about the many lies he tells his father. It's clear that Mack is a fine young man who has made a big mistake that he's trying to rectify, but it's also true that he has felt backed into a corner with no way out. Readers will savor this story while wondering what they would have done in his situation and perhaps consider the perils of judging someone until they know the whole story. My heart ached for Mack but also for poor Banjo who did nothing wrong but be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Readers who enjoy books featuring animals or those that prompt exploration of ethical dilemmas are likely to gravitate to this book and think about it long after they've reached its final pages.
October 17, 2021
Great book! Good for boys or girls, especially animal lovers. Very clean and wholesome. The story ends with the implication that the boy and girl character may be interested in each other. Well, as friends now, but maybe... It is left open-ended, and I think it is very clean and appropriately done. Reading level is technically 3rd grade, but the characters are in 7th grade. This combination results in what's called a "hi-lo," a book that catches the interest of an older child but doesn't over-tax their reading skills.
August 10, 2019
@Kidlitexchange #partner
Thank you to the publisher @randomhousekids and the author @grahamsalisbury for sharing an advance copy of Banjo with the #kidlitexchange network. Banjo will be released October 8, 2019. All opinions are my own.
Danny Mack is a young rodeo star in eastern Oregon. He lives on a ranch with his dad, brother, and his dog, Banjo. One night, the brothers hear shots and Danny discovers that Banjo is missing. The next day, they find Banjo hiding in a cave with a bullet wound. Mr. Brodie, Danny's neighbor, then accuses Banjo of attacking his sheep and says that his boys protected the sheep by winging Banjo. He demands that Banjo be put down. Danny knows that Banjo is innocent and comes up with a plan to save him, but it goes wrong. Days later and many miles away, Meg Harris finds a scared and abandoned dog. Her family takes the poor pup in and is set on figuring out what happened to him and who his former owner is.
Banjo was a fairly fast-paced book. The story is engaging and their is a big focus on relationships in the book both between humans and animals and human to human. Trust is a huge theme running throughout the novel. The trust between Danny and Banjo, between Danny and his father, between Danny and Meg, and between Meg and Amigo. Danny learns the hard way about trust and lies. I really enjoyed that this book took place in Oregon as it's my home state, and I know that I have some students who will pick it up just for the setting. Other students/readers will enjoy the rodeo scenes. The thing I enjoyed the most though was the focus on the relationship between Danny and his father. The author stated in the forward that he wanted to capture a meaningful father-son relationship and totally did. This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and perfect for thos who love stories about the bond between humans and animals.
Thank you to the publisher @randomhousekids and the author @grahamsalisbury for sharing an advance copy of Banjo with the #kidlitexchange network. Banjo will be released October 8, 2019. All opinions are my own.
Danny Mack is a young rodeo star in eastern Oregon. He lives on a ranch with his dad, brother, and his dog, Banjo. One night, the brothers hear shots and Danny discovers that Banjo is missing. The next day, they find Banjo hiding in a cave with a bullet wound. Mr. Brodie, Danny's neighbor, then accuses Banjo of attacking his sheep and says that his boys protected the sheep by winging Banjo. He demands that Banjo be put down. Danny knows that Banjo is innocent and comes up with a plan to save him, but it goes wrong. Days later and many miles away, Meg Harris finds a scared and abandoned dog. Her family takes the poor pup in and is set on figuring out what happened to him and who his former owner is.
Banjo was a fairly fast-paced book. The story is engaging and their is a big focus on relationships in the book both between humans and animals and human to human. Trust is a huge theme running throughout the novel. The trust between Danny and Banjo, between Danny and his father, between Danny and Meg, and between Meg and Amigo. Danny learns the hard way about trust and lies. I really enjoyed that this book took place in Oregon as it's my home state, and I know that I have some students who will pick it up just for the setting. Other students/readers will enjoy the rodeo scenes. The thing I enjoyed the most though was the focus on the relationship between Danny and his father. The author stated in the forward that he wanted to capture a meaningful father-son relationship and totally did. This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and perfect for thos who love stories about the bond between humans and animals.
July 8, 2020
Banjo by Graham Salisbury, 212 pages. Wendy Lamb Books (Penguin Random House), 2019. $17
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Two parallel stories of two young teens on farms meet up through the trauma of a dog. Danny’s dog Banjo is accused of killing a neighbor’s sheep and Danny is forced to kill Banjo. Danny is unable to follow through and instead the dog is on the loose and Meg, the second voice of the novel, finds him and cares for him, eventually caring for Danny as well.
This novel lacked the emotional depth necessary when writing about traumatic experiences. There was a lot of shame and trauma presented in the book, but it was never really processed or dealt with. My 10 year old had a hard time with the repetitiveness of the plot given that bad things constantly happen to Banjo.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Two parallel stories of two young teens on farms meet up through the trauma of a dog. Danny’s dog Banjo is accused of killing a neighbor’s sheep and Danny is forced to kill Banjo. Danny is unable to follow through and instead the dog is on the loose and Meg, the second voice of the novel, finds him and cares for him, eventually caring for Danny as well.
This novel lacked the emotional depth necessary when writing about traumatic experiences. There was a lot of shame and trauma presented in the book, but it was never really processed or dealt with. My 10 year old had a hard time with the repetitiveness of the plot given that bad things constantly happen to Banjo.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
March 10, 2023
Banjo is definitely a book to tug at the heartstrings of the reader.
Danny is in the seventh grade. He rides in the rodeo with his Dad and together they rope calves. Danny, his dad, and older brother, Tyrell, live on a working Oregon ranch, farming cattle (it seems, that was kind of unclear) while their neighbor, Mr. Brodie and his sons, Ben and Billy, run sheep.
One night, Danny and Tyrell wake to the sound of rifle fire and run outside - and their dog, Danny's dog, Banjo, is missing. Danny and his friend Ricky find Banjo the next day, wounded - and Mr. Brodie drives up to let Danny know Banjo's been harassing his sheep and needs to be put down. Danny insists Banjo would never chase sheep but no one listens, not his Dad, not the county sheriff. So Danny and Tyrell try to find a new home for him but no one in ranching country is willing to take a dog who chases livestock.
Meanwhile, a county over, Meg is showing her ability to work horses by hosting a demo wherein "anyone can bring a horse and she'll saddle it". A man brings in a spooky horse who hasn't been ridden in three years and Meg is able to get him saddled and ride him around the ring. At home, she's working with an abused BLM Mustang she bought* and her family knows she'll rescue just about anything.
When Meg's out riding her horse, Molly Montana (not the Mustang), she heard gunfire. It's too late in the day to search then but she and Molly go back the next day to find a border collie with a wound on its flank. Rescuing the dog, she and her family work to find the owner - only to discover Danny and his family.
To keep from shooting Banjo, Danny and Tyrell drive him to the forest and dump him, scaring him off with rifle fire. Danny's sick over it, realizing maybe he could've given Banjo to the Humane Society or something else rather than scare his dog away but what's done is done. Everyone believes he's shot Banjo and the lies compound, with only Danny's friend Ricky, his brother, Tyrell, and a few other friends knowing the truth.
This all comes to a head at a rodeo where Meg and her family have gone, hearing Danny will be riding, so Meg can confront Danny over Banjo.
While this was a book younger me would've enjoyed there would've been a few things I'd have liked to have, even then - Danny's supposedly famous but there's no mention of his rodeo skills until about halfway through the book, or maybe the last third, just that he team ropes with his Dad. He's more worried about making a good showing for his Dad, who I thought was the rodeo star. There's a mention of ribbons and Danny hoping to get a rodeo scholarship but again, those are later in the book.
I also would've loved some more description as it would've made the book that much more rich. Still, it's a good book and very enjoyable, even though the ending is a bit sad, it was ultimately a hopeful rather than a happy ending.
Danny is in the seventh grade. He rides in the rodeo with his Dad and together they rope calves. Danny, his dad, and older brother, Tyrell, live on a working Oregon ranch, farming cattle (it seems, that was kind of unclear) while their neighbor, Mr. Brodie and his sons, Ben and Billy, run sheep.
One night, Danny and Tyrell wake to the sound of rifle fire and run outside - and their dog, Danny's dog, Banjo, is missing. Danny and his friend Ricky find Banjo the next day, wounded - and Mr. Brodie drives up to let Danny know Banjo's been harassing his sheep and needs to be put down. Danny insists Banjo would never chase sheep but no one listens, not his Dad, not the county sheriff. So Danny and Tyrell try to find a new home for him but no one in ranching country is willing to take a dog who chases livestock.
Meanwhile, a county over, Meg is showing her ability to work horses by hosting a demo wherein "anyone can bring a horse and she'll saddle it". A man brings in a spooky horse who hasn't been ridden in three years and Meg is able to get him saddled and ride him around the ring. At home, she's working with an abused BLM Mustang she bought* and her family knows she'll rescue just about anything.
When Meg's out riding her horse, Molly Montana (not the Mustang), she heard gunfire. It's too late in the day to search then but she and Molly go back the next day to find a border collie with a wound on its flank. Rescuing the dog, she and her family work to find the owner - only to discover Danny and his family.
To keep from shooting Banjo, Danny and Tyrell drive him to the forest and dump him, scaring him off with rifle fire. Danny's sick over it, realizing maybe he could've given Banjo to the Humane Society or something else rather than scare his dog away but what's done is done. Everyone believes he's shot Banjo and the lies compound, with only Danny's friend Ricky, his brother, Tyrell, and a few other friends knowing the truth.
This all comes to a head at a rodeo where Meg and her family have gone, hearing Danny will be riding, so Meg can confront Danny over Banjo.
While this was a book younger me would've enjoyed there would've been a few things I'd have liked to have, even then - Danny's supposedly famous but there's no mention of his rodeo skills until about halfway through the book, or maybe the last third, just that he team ropes with his Dad. He's more worried about making a good showing for his Dad, who I thought was the rodeo star. There's a mention of ribbons and Danny hoping to get a rodeo scholarship but again, those are later in the book.
I also would've loved some more description as it would've made the book that much more rich. Still, it's a good book and very enjoyable, even though the ending is a bit sad, it was ultimately a hopeful rather than a happy ending.
September 11, 2019
@Kidlitexchange #partner
Thank you to the publisher @randomhousekids and the author @grahamsalisbury for sharing an advance copy of Banjo with the #kidlitexchange network. Banjo will be released October 8, 2019. All opinions are my own.
I live and work in the West. A lot of my students actually are interested in rodeo, their families participate in rodeo, or they’ve been to a rodeo. I already know this book will do well in our library!
Our protagonist in Banjo is a rising rodeo star who lives on a ranch in Oregon. He has a brother, a father, and a mother who left their family a long time ago. His family works hard for what they have, and they take pride in this.
Salisbury does a wonderful job creating a setting for young readers, from the smells, tastes, and different animals Danny encounters on his property. Danny’s relationship with his dog Banjo is well drawn, and when he has to separate from his dog due to unfortunate, very ranching specific circumstances, it’s heartbreaking. Young readers will empathize with Danny as he grapples with losing his dog, and what must come next. There is a very tidy ending with a blossoming, possibly more-than-friendship with a horse whispering girl who lives in the next town over. Additionally, Danny learns some hard lessons about truth, bravery, and standing up for himself. All important lessons for middle and upper elementary readers.
Will it circulate? You betcha. Kids gravitate toward books with animals on the cover, especially cute dogs. That fact that Salisbury writes another popular series, Calvin Coconut, that my younger students read, will help with promoting this one.
Thank you to the publisher @randomhousekids and the author @grahamsalisbury for sharing an advance copy of Banjo with the #kidlitexchange network. Banjo will be released October 8, 2019. All opinions are my own.
I live and work in the West. A lot of my students actually are interested in rodeo, their families participate in rodeo, or they’ve been to a rodeo. I already know this book will do well in our library!
Our protagonist in Banjo is a rising rodeo star who lives on a ranch in Oregon. He has a brother, a father, and a mother who left their family a long time ago. His family works hard for what they have, and they take pride in this.
Salisbury does a wonderful job creating a setting for young readers, from the smells, tastes, and different animals Danny encounters on his property. Danny’s relationship with his dog Banjo is well drawn, and when he has to separate from his dog due to unfortunate, very ranching specific circumstances, it’s heartbreaking. Young readers will empathize with Danny as he grapples with losing his dog, and what must come next. There is a very tidy ending with a blossoming, possibly more-than-friendship with a horse whispering girl who lives in the next town over. Additionally, Danny learns some hard lessons about truth, bravery, and standing up for himself. All important lessons for middle and upper elementary readers.
Will it circulate? You betcha. Kids gravitate toward books with animals on the cover, especially cute dogs. That fact that Salisbury writes another popular series, Calvin Coconut, that my younger students read, will help with promoting this one.
November 12, 2019
Danny, a young rodeo star in Oregon, lives on a ranch with his father, older brother Tyrell, and border collie Banjo. One night, Danny hears gunshots and Banjo is nowhere to be found. Their neighbor claims that Banjo was going after their sheep and they are within their rights to shoot him. Danny finds Banjo hiding in a cave, the bullet having grazed his leg. The neighbor calls the police and Banjo is to be quarantined and euthanized. Danny insists that Banjo would never chase livestock, having not done so in the 7 years that he has owned him. Danny and Tyrell try in vain to find a new home for Banjo, leaving Danny to contemplate the unthinkable. He tells his father that he will put down Banjo himself, bringing him to the state forest 20 miles away where he and Tyrell scare him off to give him a chance to survive. Meanwhile, Meg who lives near that forest finds Banjo, wounded and scared. She brings him home determined to find his owner, furious that he was abandoned.
Banjo is told in alternating points of view between Danny and Meg. I really wanted to like this book, having enjoyed Night of the Howling Dog several years ago. It is appropriate for grade 3 and up. I found the father’s lack of support for Danny and Banjo disturbing and the ending unsatisfying, making it difficult to recommend.
Banjo is told in alternating points of view between Danny and Meg. I really wanted to like this book, having enjoyed Night of the Howling Dog several years ago. It is appropriate for grade 3 and up. I found the father’s lack of support for Danny and Banjo disturbing and the ending unsatisfying, making it difficult to recommend.
March 25, 2020
Close to a 5 for me. I really did love this book.
I especially appreciate that the characters are ranch kids and are portrayed as complex human beings, not just "hicks." This part of American life is often either overlooked, or it's disrespected. Salisbury shows he knows these kids and respects the way of life.
Plus, I love the dog. And the horses. And the two main characters. Both people of integrity who make mistakes but own up to them. They also work hard and help one another. Somehow Salisbury demonstrates the challenge of becoming an adult with integrity without being heavy-handed.
Some things I took note of:
* 4-H has a belief in learning by doing. (yep - that's the way it works best)
* alternating character views (Danny, then Meg) makes it more suspenseful
* Page 20 - You don't make a horse learn something - you let him learn it.
* Telling lies has consequences. The bigger the lie, the harder it is to live with. But, it's also hard to own up to it. Salisbury shows this so well.
* page 186 when Danny contemplated his bad decisions. "I guess I failed that class." His dad responds, You win...or you learn." (great wisdom in that)
More books like one!
Such a satisfying read.
I especially appreciate that the characters are ranch kids and are portrayed as complex human beings, not just "hicks." This part of American life is often either overlooked, or it's disrespected. Salisbury shows he knows these kids and respects the way of life.
Plus, I love the dog. And the horses. And the two main characters. Both people of integrity who make mistakes but own up to them. They also work hard and help one another. Somehow Salisbury demonstrates the challenge of becoming an adult with integrity without being heavy-handed.
Some things I took note of:
* 4-H has a belief in learning by doing. (yep - that's the way it works best)
* alternating character views (Danny, then Meg) makes it more suspenseful
* Page 20 - You don't make a horse learn something - you let him learn it.
* Telling lies has consequences. The bigger the lie, the harder it is to live with. But, it's also hard to own up to it. Salisbury shows this so well.
* page 186 when Danny contemplated his bad decisions. "I guess I failed that class." His dad responds, You win...or you learn." (great wisdom in that)
More books like one!
Such a satisfying read.
June 4, 2021
Okay So I felt slightly obligated to read this book as my high school friend, Ashley's, dad wrote it. That is where my obligation ends this book was a good read. It is about learning right from wrong. Growing up fast and how rules can be highly unfair. It is also "the underdog wins" in the end. Easy read for an adult, though still a good story, but could be read by junior high or high school. It is easy enough to be read to a younger age if desired.
March 22, 2020
I struggled between rating this a three and a four. The first 75% of the book was okay, but not great. It wasn't until the last 25% that I really saw the authenticity that I've seen other reviewers talk about, and came to see the novel's message. I'm not sure I would have read this outside of the class I read it for, but I'm glad that I did. It's not a great read, but it's a pretty darn good one.
April 1, 2020
Easy read- very young adult. But that’s apart of the genre. Banjo the dog goes through so much in order to reveal character development which I don’t quite agree with. But it’s cute and a good beach/pool read.
November 25, 2020
This was great. My great uncle has two border collies, and I love the breed. I also ride horses (my favorite is one named Potato), so I really liked the book. It was kind of sad, but at least no one dies.
August 14, 2021
Hand to 4 H club members or anyone that loves dogs and living in the country. As an adult reader, I found it a tad preachy, but I think the intended audience will be more focused on the characters and the story.
November 22, 2021
This book has a lot of life’s lessons in it-mainly telling the truth. A cute dog named Banjo and his owner Danny are the main characters in this story, but there are also strong secondary characters such Meg and Tyrell.
October 31, 2019
Salisbury sets his latest novel in Oregon ranch country, where he explores themes of loyalty, honesty, and the delicate balance between livestock and pets.
January 3, 2020
Kind of heartbreaking, but it had a good ending.
Want to read
January 10, 2022it is areally great book.
July 3, 2022
Banjo is a really sweet dog, and I am sad that he had to go. This book is kind of sad but really good. I hope that there is a second book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews