The Thicket by Joe R. Lansdale

by:  Joe R. Lansdale
published by:  Mulholland Books
publish date:  September 10, 2013

Jack Parker thought he'd already seen his fair share of tragedy. His grandmother was killed in a farm accident when he was barely five years old. His parents have just succumbed to the smallpox epidemic sweeping turn-of-the-century East Texas--orphaning him and his younger sister, Lula.

Then catastrophe strikes on the way to their uncle's farm, when a traveling group of bank-robbing bandits murder Jack's grandfather and kidnap his sister. With no elders left for miles, Jack must grow up fast and enlist a band of heroes the likes of which has never been seen if his sister stands any chance at survival. But the best he can come up with is a charismatic, bounty-hunting dwarf named Shorty, a grave-digging son of an ex-slave named Eustace, and a street-smart woman-for-hire named Jimmie Sue who's come into some very intimate knowledge about the bandits (and a few members of Jack's extended family to boot). 

Jack and his merry band of miscreants have to travel deep into the thicket to rescue his poor kidnapped sister Lula.  Jack is learning how to grow up fast to everyone in line and stay in control of his rescue attempt.  Jimmie Sue is speeding up the process by making a man of the virginal Jack. 

I loved this book so much.  It kinda reminded me of the movie True Grit, but at little more humorous.  I had been really looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint.  The characters in this book were fantastic and defintely memorable.  I highly recommend this book and if you're looking for a last minute Christmas present, get this book.