Outlaw Heroes
By Deanna Lynn Sletten
150 Pages – Ages 12+
Published by CreateSpace on May 17, 2012
12-year-old Will loves the stories about the outlaws of America’s old west. He especially loves the stories about Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and their gang called “The Wild Bunch.” Will loved to watch old western movies with his dad before he died.
When riding on a train with his mom to go to the birthday party of his great-grandmother, Will falls asleep only to wake up in a different time! Will finds himself back in the old west and the train he is on is being robbed by the Wild Bunch! Will decides to tag along with the Wild Bunch (even though the Sundance Kid doesn’t want him to) and he is present at some of the gang’s most notorious crimes! Pretty soon Will discovers that being an outlaw isn’t really that great and there is nothing heroic about it. He just wants to get back home, but how?
I loved the time period of this book (and that it had time-traveling in the story)! I really like old western movies too, so maybe that’s why I thought the story was so exciting. I learned a lot about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in this book which I really liked. I thought Ms. Sletten showed that outlaws weren’t really heroes and that they had a really hard life. Will is an awesome main character. I felt like I really knew him. The action scenes Ms. Sletten described were great and the story kept me reading! There was a little cussing in the book, one or two da** words but nothing more than that. I liked this book so much that when my grandfather asked me yesterday if I read any good books lately, I handed him Outlaw Heroes!
I give this book 5 out of 5 bookworms!
To learn more about Ms. Sletten and her books, click HERE.
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Categories: Age 12+
Your enthusiasm is contagious. I enjoy time travel and like the way the outlaws are portrayed realistically instead of the Hollywood slant!
Thanks! I think you would love this book!
This sounds like a fun way to learn about American history. Thanks, Erik.
It IS fun! 😀
This is a unique take, isn’t it? I like that he removes some of the glamour from outlaws. I know two boys who might like this one as a read-aloud. (And then I can modify the language–sneaky, eh?)
I wonder who would like it… 😉
Hi Erik,
Thanks so much for this wonderful review of Outlaw Heroes. I’m so happy you enjoyed my book. I had so much fun writing this book and it’s rewarding to hear when someone enjoys it too.
Thanks so much for writing this Ms. Sletten (and taking the time to comment)!
I sure hope Will finds his way home. I don’t like being lost, especially lost in another time. I was lost for 3 years before Mom found me!! Scary!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I am glad you were found Cupcake!
Great review Erik as always! I read Outlaw Heroes too and I loved it. Certainly one of the best mg books I’ve read in awhile. Thanks for the review and best of luck to Ms. Sletten.
Paul R. Hewlett
Thanks Paul. I feel so lucky to have an endorsement from both you and Erik! 🙂
Thanks Mr. Hewlett! It is a great book! 🙂
Great review! I think books like this are always one of the most interesting ways to learn about historical periods and figures! This sounds like the kind of book my elementary students would have liked when I was teaching!
Thanks Ms. Dillon! This is a great book! Please come again! 🙂
This sounds really good, Erik. I like fictional stories that teach you something educational while you’re not looking 🙂 I like that the author made you realize that the outlaws’ lives were hard and that they weren’t heroes. Thanks for sharing!
It is good! 😀
I love time travel and this book sounds so fun! I look forward to reading it and hopefully sharing it with my 5th grade students. 🙂 Awesome review!
Whoops! I wasn’t finished typing. 🙂 I haven’t read many books about the Old West- so this will be perfect.
🙂
Thanks Ms. Peterson! I think your class would like this! 🙂
Great book to teach kids about history in a fun way — time travel. Glad it’s realistic about that period of time. Good choice.
This is a great book Ms. Tilton! 😀
Great when a story also conveys history. As I’ve said before, Erik, I think you have a strong sense of adventure. Wouldn’t surprise me if you travel and have many adventures yourself.
I do plan to travel places… like France, England, Canada, Austraila and New Zealand! Maybe have a world tour as an author… 🙂
I am sure you will!
I love books with time travel in them. What a great way to learn history. Sounds like a realistic look at outlaws! Hope your grandfather enjoyed the book.
This is a great history book Ms. Foster! Actually, my grandfather didn’t read it yet (unless if he can speed read)… He’s been really busy…
Hope he gets a chance to read it. Many adults have said they enjoy the book too. 🙂
He started to read it a couple of days ago… I don’t know if he’s done, or still reading… When I asked how he liked it, he said it was good! 🙂
Two of my daughter’s friends recently had a sleepover here at home and we all watched the film adaptation of The Indian in the Cupboard – your review reminded me a little bit of that with time travel and cowboys and the Old West. Interesting. 🙂
I will ask my Mom about “The Indian in the Cupboard” 🙂