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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stories for Children Magazine 5 Star Review, October 25, 2009
This review is from: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades) (Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux) (Library Binding)
Reviewed by: Wayne Walker
Did you know that, in spite of what we've seen in the movies and on TV, there were African Americans in the Old West? Bass Reeves was born around 1838 as a slave in Texas but ran away from his master during the Civil War and lived with the Native Americans in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) until after the war was over, when he settled in nearby Arkansas. However, in 1875, the U. S. Government sent Judge Isaac C. Parker to bring law and order to Indian Territory. The judge hired 200 deputy marshals to track down outlaws, and Bass Reeves was one of the marshals. Author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson describes some of the truly amazing feats that Reeves accomplished during his 32 years of service. He even captured bandit queen Belle Starr. You might also be interested to know that Gary Paulsen wrote a fictionalized account of Reeves called The Legend of Bass Reeves.
Anyone, young or old, who is interested in the Old West should really like Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves! However, beyond its connection to the wild frontier, this book, with great illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, is a good one for children generally because it describes the life of a man who exhibited admirable character in his life through his dedication to duty and his courage, honesty, and strong sense of right and wrong. While it would be excellent for Black History Month, it should not be relegated to that month alone and could be used at any time that late-nineteenth-century American history is studied. Features at the end include a glossary of Western terms, a timeline of Reeves's life, further reading and websites, and more information on Judge Parker and the Indian Territory, along with a note from the author on how she came to learn about Reeves. It is a fascinating story that I highly recommend.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This was a wonderful story to honor the memory of a deputy marshal who, although the best in his day, has all been but forgotten, December 3, 2009
This review is from: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades) (Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux) (Library Binding)
Bass Reeves was born a slave, but even when he was a boy there was something special about him. He was the type of boy that stood out from the crowd. He had a lot of "pluck" and he "had a special way with animals, especially horses." All the positive qualities he possessed as a boy would come together and make him one of the most feared and respected U.S. Deputy marshals in history. When he was young, his mother thought no good would ever come of him because he was overly fascinated with weapons, but he would prove her wrong and grow up to be an upstanding citizen. Unfortunately, his chance to move into the state that would later accept him as a deputy came when he stuck his owner. He had to either run or die!
And so Bass ran. He ran to Indian Territory. After the Civil War he bought some land in Arkansas and raised a family until Judge Isaac C. Parker hired him and many other deputy marshals to "track down outlaws in an area covering 74,000 square miles." It was a tall order, but Bass was up to it and soon became Parker's right-hand man. He was a crack shot, honest and would bring in hundreds of outlaws in thirty-two years. This book has some marvelous tales of some of his more unusual captures. For example, one time he "pretended to be a farmer" and deliberately ran over a stump and caught up a wheel. Four outlaws didn't want him near their hideout and went to help him. They helped him and he then helped them right off to jail.
This was a wonderful story to honor the memory of a deputy marshal who, although the best in his day, has all been but forgotten. I loved the setup of the story because it almost reads like a chapter book in that every two or three pages seemed to have an interesting stand-alone story. It's no easy task to bring someone's personality to life when there is so little information about him, but the author did an outstanding job. The full page, full color artwork brought out the feeling of the old West and some of the pages were framed to look as if they came out of an old stained book. In the back of the book is a photograph of Bass, "Western Words," a timeline, brief blurbs on Judge Parker and the Indian Territory and additional recommended book and website resources. This is a Junior Library Guild Selection.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Deputy Marshal, February 9, 2010
This review is from: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades) (Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux) (Library Binding)
An outstanding U.S. Deputy Marshal, Bass Reeves, makes his mark as "a true champion of the American West." Deputy Marshal in Indian Territory, Bass Reeves brought law and order to the post Civil War West. Big and tall, Bass was a square shot, one who rounded up outlaws with surprising ease. Bass was one of the most respected and feared marshals in the land. Best suited for children ages 7-10, this picture book is full of stark illustrations and graphic accounts of violence. For these older children, however, this story tells the life and achievements of one heroic man.
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