I'm biased, I don't really like westerns... movies or books. I read this book for a group read, it's not one I would choose for myself, and to my surprise, I didn't hate it. I expected to hate it, but I did get through it and actually enjoyed it. I like how the story was told, (view spoiler)[as a recollection 25 years after the fact, (even though you don't realize that until the end) in Mattie's voice. I thought her voice too grown up but at times but it makes sense considering the ending. (hide spoiler)] I think this is an interesting coming of age novel and empowering for girls. I wish I had come across this book earlier when my daughters were younger. 
 I'd seen both of the movies the '69 starring John Wayne/Glen Campbell and the 2010 remake staring Jeff Bridges/Matt Damon. I enjoyed the later much more. Having completed the book, as I suspected, the 2010 remake stated truer to the book, both in the dialogue as well as the story line. However, I'm not here to review the movies.