Gunslinger Girl, and 5 More Must-Read YA Westerns

Gunslinger Girl, by Lyndsay Ely
If you like your westerns mixed with dystopia, Ely’s debut is for you. When the United States fractures after the Second Civl War, the west becomes wild once more. After Serendipity “Pity” Jones abandons her father and the arranged marriage he sold her into, her escape plan goes awry and she winds up in the lawless town of Cessation. Before long she’s performing as a sharpshooter for Selene, the town’s ruthless leader—but being a part of Selene’s dangerous political schemes might ruin Pity’s only chance at freedom. Badass girl power, betrayal, and plot twists galore make this a western you can’t miss.

Under a Painted Sky, by Stacey Lee
When recently orphaned Samantha murders a man in self-defense, she knows her Chinese American heritage will be enough to lock her away. Abandoning her dreams of moving to New York to work as a professional musician, she teams up with Annamae, an escaped slave, to make her getaway. Together, they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys hoping to make their fortune in the California gold rush. Toss in a band of cowboys, a dash of adventure, and secrets that are increasingly difficult to keep, and you’ve got a must-read for anyone who grew up playing Oregon Trail. Under a Painted Sky is the diverse, girl-powered cowboy novel you didn’t know you needed.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, by Rae Carson
The first installment in Rae Carson’s Gold Seer trilogy, Walk on Earth a Stranger introduces Leah Westfall, a Southern girl who can sense the presence of gold in the earth. It’s a useful skill to have—except that Leah also has a monstrous uncle who’ll do anything to gain control of her powers. Forced to leave home, she sets off on the Oregon Trail in hopes of finding her best friend, Jefferson, and starting a new life free from her past. If you like your novels with a side of slow-burn romance and never get tired of heroines who pretend to be boys, the Gold Seer trilogy is the series for you.

Vengeance Road, by Erin Bowman
I grew up watching True Grit, so I have a special soft spot for revenge-driven westerns. Kate Thompson is determined to kill the outlaws who murdered her father and destroyed her home, even though she knows it’s not what her father wanted for her. She goes in search of her father’s friend Abe, only to find Abe is dead and his two sons, Will and Jesse, think it’s their duty to follow her on her quest for justice. But nothing stands in the way of Kate’s mission—not the boys, or the threat of death, or the depth of the secrets her father was keeping from her. Vengeance Road is full of fierce girls, plenty of gore, and the perfect amount of plot twists to keep you in suspense. Plus, when you’re done, you can pick up its companion novel, Retribution Rails.

Revenge and the Wild, by Michelle Modesto
The wild west meets fantasy in Michelle Modesto’s Revenge and the Wild. Westie is yet another orphan seeking revenge; she’s willing to risk anything to take down the cannibals who killed her family and took her arm when she was just a child. Luckily for her, Rogue City is the perfect place to find revenge. In addition to her adopted father, Alistair, the city is home to saloons, gunfights, monsters, and a failing magical ward that stops the monsters from killing humans (and vice versa). Meanwhile, Alistair is looking for investors to back his latest invention, which could stop the ward from falling apart. But there’s a hitch: the prospective investors may be the cannibals who ate Westie’s family. This is a gun-slinging fantasy world you’ll want to crawl into, and then quickly crawl out of before you turn into dinner.

Rebel of the Sands, by Alwyn Hamilton
Rebel of the Sands is half Middle Eastern fantasy, half western, all action-adventure. Amani wants nothing more than to get out of Dustwalk, and to do that she needs money. Hoping to put her sharpshooter skills to good use, she enters a shooting competition. That’s where she meets Jin, a mysterious stranger who may be Amani’s best chance at leaving town. Teaming up with Jin has its complications: namely, the hot pursuit of the Sultan’s entire army. Add in secret magical powers and a horse made of sand, and you’ve got a crossover read you won’t be able to put down.