"Jan Young: Writing books for kids about ranching, cowboys and Nevada"

In The Orange Slipknot, a 35,000-word middle-grade novel, 12-year-old Ben lives in a man's world and wants to be accepted as a man, especially by his dad. But a boyish prank results in serious consequences on the Nevada ranch where his dad cowboys--one of the ranch horses breaks a leg and has to be put down. Now his hot-tempered dad, Pete, is furious with him and Ben must redeem himself.

Crusty old Fred, the cow boss on the ranch, hates Ben. Pete thinks Ben has lied about something he's done to Fred, and Ben can't prove that he hasn't. Fred holds Ben responsible for the horse and threatens to take the money out of his dad's paycheck. He says Ben is "bad news" and banishes him from the barn. Ben must find a way to earn the money and keep Fred from docking his dad's pay.

Over in the bunkhouse, the ranch hands sympathize with Ben and try to help him. A visit from his high society grandparents heightens the tension at home. Ben's grandpa offers to help him financially but his parents resent the interference.

When it's time to trail the cows down off the mountain before the first big winter storm, the flu is going around the bunkhouse, and Ben gets roped into helping at cow camp. Fred is furious and tangles with Pete. Because of Ben, Pete loses his temper, and will be out of a job as soon as they get home.

Fred won't let Ben trail the cows home with his dad, so Ben returns to camp with Fred, where he learns what it means to do a man's job, and finally finds the solution to his problem.

In this authentic contemporary cowboy setting, young readers will identify with Ben's ups and downs--wanting to pleasing his dad, forming his own values, trying to resolve several conflicts, coming face to face with death, and learning that God answers prayer in ways we don't expect.