This was a really interesting read. I have never read a middle-grade novel about such an alternative sport, and really enjoyed the narrator's internal struggle. I also loved how he is supported by his family and teachers, and balances his different passions.
Trigger warnings: serious injury (concussions and more), alcoholism and child neglect. This is definitely an older middle-grade novel, not for elementary or early middle school readers.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I connected so deeply to Canyon from the very beginning. I felt every emotion he felt and was rooting for him the whole time.

Dusti Bowling returns to the desert for the well-crafted tale of Canyon Cress - a junior bull rider who just wants to make his dad pay attention to him again. Canyon gets (another) concussion while participating in his sport and begins to question if riding bulls is worth it for his health. Meanwhile, he turns to the violin as the only thing that connects him to his dead mom and calms him down. When he gets the chance to make music his new dream, will he take it? Bowling does a phenomenal job at bringing readers into the "toughest sport on dirt" and deftly handles social class in this middle read novel. An important exploration of what to do when the things we love don't always love us back.

Dusti Bowling does it again. Canyon's character will grip your heart and keep you reading, praying the whole time that everything works out for the young cowboy.

What a book. I learned so much about bull riding. I think all young riders should read this book as part of their training. This book will help some students feel seen and give others a glimpse into the lives their peers might be experiencing.

Dusti Bowling has hit it out of the park with Holding On For Dear Life! It’s perfect for fans of Before The Ever After, What About Will, and And Then, Boom! Canyon’s story was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I spent the whole book cheering for him to find his voice and speak his truth. I would love to continue reading his story in a sequel. This will make a fantastic addition to my middle school classroom library and be an amazing First Chapter Friday feature!

Dusti Bowling does it again! Middle school students are going to love this book. It has it all - a sport they probably don't know much about, suspense in every ride, tough topics - a dad battling alcoholism, death of a parent, first crush, and making hard decisions about what's important to you. Kids deal with these issues every day so reading how others deal can be super helpful. I LOVE her characters - always want to meet them when I've finished reading one of her books!

Canyon is hoping to make it to the Junior World Championship for bull riding. He thinks that winning the championship will heal his father, who is struggling to cope with the death of his wife, Canyon’s father. While Canyon thinks this is the only way to help his father, bull riding may break him.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. For so many reasons. 1 I love to read about things I don’t know a lot about, and this was my first introduction to bull riding. 2 I think stories that help young men recognize that there are many ways to “be a man” are so important right now. 3 Because this story touches on friendship, family, grief, alcohol abuse, poverty, and identify, this book will resonate with so many readers.

Educators need to preorder this one!

“…it wasn’t just fun. It was so much more than that. It was like . . . Freedom but without the fear. Excitement but without the pain. Promises and dreams. It felt like hope.”

This middle-grade book chronicles a bull-riding teenager in his quest for the Junior World Bull Riding Championship. Canyon is a generational cowboy that wants to make everyone in his family proud. This book covers family drama, sports, and friendship.

As an adult, I did cry during some sentimental moments, I don’t know if a middle-schooler would cry or not 🤷‍♀️ I will be adding this book to my middle school classroom library.

My feelings about Holding On For Dear Life are complicated. I loved the end, but it felt a bit rushed and unearned. The writing, like Bowling’s other work, was captivating and vivid. But as an adult and a parent I cannot imagine letting my child or any child continue to participate in a sport when they are already injured. The amount of time that passes between Canyon’s severe concussion and him getting back on a bull is significantly less than any kid I’ve ever known going back to their sport post concussion. I was honestly appalled by the behavior of a lot of the adults here, and not just the times they’re supposed to be appalling.

I know I’m not the target audience for this book, so I’m curious to see how it’s received there. And although I’ve been to the rodeo a few times, rodeo culture is not my culture. I’m also curious to see if Bowling adds an author’s note to the finished copy to explain more about bull riding as a sport.

Overall, I wouldn’t hand this to any kid I know without being prepared to have a lot of intense conversations about many of the things that happen.

Canyon Cress dreams of being a champion bull rider like his father, but his dad gave up riding the night before the world championship when a drunk driver killed Canyon’s mom. His mom was a concert violinist so he knows he gets his love of fiddling from his mom, but he feels he must leave that aside to continue chasing dreams of a bull riding championship so his dad will finally climb out of his whiskey bottle and see him again. Thankfully Canyon has a supportive grandma and a little sister who adores him, but watching his father’s actions is pretty difficult. Readers who like dead/tragic parent stories will like this one, but I hope more pick it up for the bull riding vs fiddling dilemma.

Dusti has done it again with this heartfelt book about finding out what really matters, courage, and taking risks. Canyon is a bull rider and wants to win the Bull Riding World Championship for the money so his family can move into a house. At home he and his sister watch American Superstar, and his teacher wants Canyon to send in a video for his fiddle playing. When Canyon finds out he needs his dad’s signature he throws the permission slip away. Even after his third concussion, Canyon still wants to compete even though his dad says I don’t want you to die.When Canyon’s friend gets hurt, he tells Canyon you have to compete and win. What will Canton end up doing? And, why does American Superstar expect him to show up for an audition?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thirteen-year-old Canyon is caught between two worlds: the dangerous thrill of bull riding, which keeps him connected to his distant father, and his secret passion for playing the fiddle. Ever since his mom died, bull riding has been the only way Canyon and his dad relate, even though it's taking a serious toll on his body. Canyon believes that winning the Junior World Bull Riding championship will finally earn his dad’s approval and bring them closer. But when he's unexpectedly chosen for a music competition show, Canyon begins to see a different path—one that offers healing and hope. As his father's health declines and the pressure to hold the family together grows, Canyon is forced to make a difficult choice between pleasing others and protecting himself. Ultimately, he must decide what truly matters and what he's willing to let go of to move forward.

Dusti Bowling is one of my go-to authors because I can always count on her to deliver heartfelt stories with relatable, likable characters. Canyon’s story is no exception—it’s emotional, powerful, and sure to tug at your heartstrings. The only hesitation I have with recommending this to students is that Canyon's family knew what was going on, but they didn't step in to help sooner.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for this honest review.

I’ve never read a bad Dusti Bowling book. In this story, a preteen is struggling with his father’s alcoholism, his mother’s death, and symptoms associated with multiple concussions from his rodeo stunts. This is an important book about families, the dangers of concussions, dealing with alcoholism, and exploring your passions.

Canyon is determined to become the Junior World Bull Riding champion. Bull riding is in his blood. His dad was great at it, many of his heroes are champions, and it's how he and his best friend bond. He loves it, right? Unfortunately, every time he rides he has to see the looks of fear on the faces of his sister, his grandmother, and his other best friend. He hasn't exactly mastered the 'get off' and often lands on his head, suffering many concussions along the way. But it will all be worth it when he claims the title, and finally earns his dad's respect.

Facing the bulls isn't Canyon's only obstacle. He is also dealing with grief from his mother's death, and trying to survive and take care of his sister while his father is spiraling out of control. His one solace is his nightly playing of his fiddle which he uses to get his sister to sleep and calm his own rising anger and fear. Canyon's music is the one place at school he feels content, the thing that brings peace at home, and his final connection to his mother.

This story is beautifully told. Bowling's descriptions of the injuries from bull riding had me physically cringing and wanting to put the book down. The topics of grief and family alcoholism are heavy and may not be for all middle school readers. But the characters and mentors that circle around Canyon both in the bull riding arena and at school are to be admired. I will happily recommend this book to some of my mature readers.

This is by far my favorite book of Dusti Bowling. I’ve loved many of her books, but this one is really special. I truly enjoyed getting to meet our main character Canyon Cress and reading his story. I highly recommend reading this book once it comes out.