Kings of Colorado is about ruthless people in the harsh environment of a boys' reformatory ranch far from civilization in the Colorado Rockies. William Sheppard is thrown into a land of violence and corruption because he tried to protect himself and his mother from an abusive father. The unfairness of his situation is only the beginning of the injustice that he faces.

In a world where tradition dictates that the newest resident be attacked by the last new boy and the inmates and guards bet on the outcome, anything is possible. Guards regularly look the other way when fights break out, that is, when they aren’t responsible for the cruelty themselves.

Yet William finds friends at Swope Ranch Boys’ reformatory and memories, both good and bad, that stay with him for a lifetime. Benny and his box of jacks was one such friend who changed William’s life, and as a result, also saved his life.

Although I winced repeatedly while reading of the fierce brutality of characters with no conscience, the relationships between William and those who were just trying to survive kept me turning the pages. This is a book that is definitely not for the squeamish. Many will not be able to see beyond the violence. But I felt that David E. Hilton did an amazing job of pulling the reader into the minds and hearts of his characters. It is a book that I will be thinking about for a long time.

I received this book in a giveaway from the Goodread’s First Reads program. ( )

Because I read that it was a coming-of-age book (somewhere), I started to read it to my boys. The profanity, crude jokes and violence were not appropriate for them, or me (for that matter), though maybe it fit the setting for juvenile delinquits (which it is about.)

I did finish the book, although I skipped parts (to avoid crude jokes, descriptions). The violence was harder to predict.

Wouldn't read it again. ( )

Kings of Colorado (Simon and Schuster, 2011) by David E. Hilton
Will Sheppard stabs, but does not kill, his father, and pays the price for the rest of his life. Sent to the Swope Ranch Boys’ Reformatory in Colorado across the country from his Chicago home, thirteen-year-old Will learns lessons one would hope a child protecting his mother from his abusive father would never have to learn. Two years at the brutal boys’ ranch toughens Will, but does not leave him devoid of emotions. His saving graces include friendships, a special horse he trains, and a kind nurse. Will endures one violent and tragic hardship after another, leaving the reader wondering if he can possibly survive.
The quote on the book’s cover compares it to The Outsiders, which I personally wished it hadn’t. While reading the book, I kept thinking “Wow – kids are reading this?” This tainted my initial thoughts on the book. When I finally came to grips with the fact that the book was intended for adults, not kids, I relaxed and read with interest. The story includes extreme violence and detailed descriptions of fights, beatings, and language appropriate for a boys’ prison. I was relieved that Hilton chose not to get too graphic in some situations, in which he could have. But even with the violence, I found myself unable to put the book down. I rooted for the characters, got to know them, and wanted to know what happened next. I especially liked Hilton’s writing style, rapid pace, and the subplots.
A former middle grade teacher, Hilton used his experience and captured the thoughts of that age group in his characters well. As his debut novel, I hope to see more in the future. Hilton’s characters, pacing, and style would also greatly appeal to a younger audience, but this particular book contained too much violence for me to recommend it to anyone other than adults. And I do recommend it for adults. I hope Hilton will write for the middle grade audience in the future so they, too, can hear his voice. Those who read Kings of Colorado, you will not easily forget it, or its impact. I realized this as I drove past the Maryland Sherriff’s Youth Ranch last week, became uneasy…and wondered what stories may exist beyond that gate.
(The publisher, Simon and Schuster, provided me a copy of this book for review.) ( )

This is a brutal novel. And it was very difficult for me to get beyond the violence and appreciate the book's heart. It certainly has heart. I couldn't help but feel compassion for Will and the friends he makes at the Colorado ranch reformatory where he's sent when he's 12. The novel certainly has its share of emotional and touching moments. But the horrendous beatings, rapes, knifings and shootings were nearly too much for me. ( )

I thought this was an excellent book. The last 15 pages or so were a little corny but over all it is definetly one to read. ( )