The Misadventures of Maude March

Maude March Misadventures #1

by Audrey Couloumbis

Eleven-year-old Sallie March is a whip-smart tomboy and voracious reader of Western adventure novels. When she and her sister Maude escape their self-serving guardians for the wilds of the frontier, they begin an adventure the likes of which Sallie has only read about. This time however, the "wanted woman" isn't a dime-novel villian, it's Sallie's very own sister! What follows is not the lies the papers printed, but the honest-to-goodness truth of how two sisters went from being orphans to being outlaws—and lived to tell the tale!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Middle Grade, Childrens

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Audrey is a recently transplanted (yet again) New Yorker (by choice), now in Bunker Hill, West Virginia (also by choice), where Civil War ghosts scare the dogs at night, where a CSX train track runs behind the house and the romantic sound of a faraway train can be heard three or four times a day, where she is starting a new garden of rambling roses and assorted deer-resistant flowering shrubs and renovating an old house.

Leisure time, what little there is of it, is spent watching how-to acrylic painting videos on youtube and occasionally getting out the paints to play.

New books are on the way: If Wishes Were Princes, Life and Death at the Warwick Arms, and Anthony Was Here. Stay tuned.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh.

I was really looking forward to this tale of girls gone wild mild in the wild, wild west, but I was disappointed. The story, as narrated by eleven-year-old Sallie March, tells of her adventures with her big sister, Maude, as they set out alone to find a mystical place called Independence, Missouri. We are told, rather than shown, that Sallie is something of a tomboy, while Maude is a homebody, but it's kind of hard to tell as the girls speak in the same voice, and seem to share the same personality. The tale is enlivened only by the recurring character of Marion, an outlaw with a heart of gold, who shows up when the girls are in need of rescue or a snappy quip. I suspect that he'll be Maude's love interest in later volumes, but I won't be sticking around to find out.

The book seems to be aimed at middle-grade readers, though - be warned - some may be upset by a Tarantinoesque scene where a digit gets shot off, and an appendage is stabbed. I had planned to give my copy to a young library patron I know who loves historical fiction, but I fear her Mama Bear might come after me with a gun or knife . . . and I'd like to keep all of my digits and appendages, thank you very much!

[Brooklyne E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book via the audio book from the library with my sister. I don't normally listen to audio books, but this one was great! I love the story of these two sisters, Sally March and Maude! I think that Maude is a very unique name! ;)

I felt like the ages of these girls were off somehow. They seemed really young... Sally was 11. But then their guardians wanted to marry Sally's older sister (Maude) off to some older man. That's why they escaped in the first place. Then they became "wanted." (little unrealistic, but it made for an exciting story...)

This was a exciting western tale that is probably geared more for a younger audience, but I personally really enjoyed it! It was sweet, fun, and full of adventure!

Funny story: we (me and my older sister) were at a exciting part in the story, listening to it in the car. Then, all of the sudden, my little sister comes up and bangs on the car widow where I was sitting. I jumped and screamed out loud! Hehe, still laugh about that!

It was a while ago when I read this, but I remember my favorite part. When they found their uncle, he was working as a blacksmith, and they came up beside him and saw that he had scars on his back (from Indian attack arrows). When they asked him why he was called "Duck," he just simply replied, "Cause I didn't." I think that might be my favorite part! XD

Thanks for reading this jumbled review!

[Stacy-ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and let me tell you... The narrator, Lee Adams, is a gem. This is a highly entertaining Western story told fr the POV of an 11-year-old. I do like that despite the very Western rootin tootin vibe with guns and horses and bank robberies, the main characters essentially want to be good and don't want the big notorious reputation.

It was touch and go with the story at first, but I've grown to really enjoy it and look forward to the second book. Also, it may be weird cuz of the ages but it's a western so that's normal, but I ship Marion (Joe Harding) and Maude. The end.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the back of the book, and I created a first impression. I had thought of what the book would be about and how the story would go. However, not only did the storyline not follow what I had first thought, it turned out better than the plot I outlined in my head.

I could see myself as Sallie and at times, as Maude. Two amazing characters, each having a weak moment but having the other make up for the other's weakness. It is a great story about two sisters and their adventure that seems like it will never let up. Definitely a book worth reading if you are into adventure.

Sex: no
Violence: yeah, gun fight
Alcohol/Drugs: no
Swearing: minor cursing, I think

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up in the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, Missouri, read the back cover, and had to have it. Sure, it's a kids' book, but I got a kick out of it, and want to read the sequel. Narrated by Maude's younger sister, the book is a wonderfully affectionate send-up of the "dimer" western stories the narrator loves to read.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sallie March, our narrator, is an 11 year old tomboy living in what we know think of as "the Old West days". Her parents are both dead, victims of yellow fever, so she and her teen sister, Maude, have since been living with their matronly aunt, Ruthie. While running errands with Ruthie one day, the girls become innocent, victimized bystanders in a shootout. Aunt Ruthie is killed instantly by a stray bullet. {I loved that on that fateful day, Aunt Ruthie, having quite the day already, speaks the unfortunate line: "Some days it isn't even a good idea to get out of bed."}

Now really orphaned, the girls spend some time living under the roof of Reverend Peasley and his wife. Stifled by too many rules and Mrs. Peasley's tendency to overwork Maude and her sister for selfish gain, Maude reaches the end of her rope. The last straw is when Mrs. Peasley tries to push Maude into a marriage with a much older man.

The March girls decide to make a break for it. Their journey requires them to pose as boys as to not arouse suspicion (you know, two young ladies traveling alone, can't be up to any good...) but hope their travels will soon take them to a new town where they can start over. It's no easy road though. Because Maude sorta borrows a couple of the Peasley's horses to aid her getaway, she gets labeled a wanted horse thief. Through a few other misunderstandings, she also wracks up the charges of bank robber and murderer and boom! -- the March girls are suddenly starring in one of Sallie's beloved dime novels! Every time they get their hands on a newspaper, Maude's legend seems to grow! But it's not just the stains on their reputations they're fighting. Additionally, these sisters face up against blizzards, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, food shortages, finding themselves having to evade police, even being taken hostage by REAL criminals!

What starts as a sort of comedy of errors grows into a heartwarming story of sisterhood and taking care of family, no matter what. This story is full of honest chuckles, especially from the wit of young Sallie March, who has sass for days! For readers who are fans of novels which include maps, this book features a pretty adorable one! Definitely recommend this fast, fun adventure for any and all lovers of Western comedy!

If you end up enjoying this book as much as I did, the adventures continue in Maude March On The Run!

Note To Parents: Though this novel is geared toward middle-grade readers, there is some mild violence to be aware of: some scenes mention a toe being shot off and one character being stabbed through the hand. The criminals in this book are of a bumbling, comical sort though, so even the more violent scenes are lightened with humor. Still, heads up on that in case you want to monitor what your child is reading and prefer to do a pre-read yourself.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this book for years, ever since it was recommended to me by a friend. Finally got around to it. Nice middle grade historical, with some humor (but not nearly as funny as I somehow remembered her saying it was; I think I wanted it to be a girl-centric version of By the Great Horn Spoon! which I adored when I was younger and thought was utterly hilarious). After the sudden death of their aunt and only nearby relative, Maude and her younger sister Sallie, disguised as boys, of course, run away from their foster situation so that Maude isn't forced to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather. They hope to find their only other relative, their uncle, who went West to Independence Missouri. Circumstances around their departure and subsequent run-ins with the law result in Maude getting written up in various newspapers all along the Oregon Trail as "Mad Maude," with a reputation as a horse thief and a murderer! The humor comes from the exaggerated stories of her derring-do, and the resentment Maude feels about the way she's been turned into this bigger-than-life criminal. Sal narrates the story and has a fun spunky personality; she prefers the freedom of getting to act like a boy, and is insulted when the women they encounter always manage to figure out right away that they're just girls in boys' clothing. Nice historical details about frontier life and the Wild West, and a cool young man character named Marion who I'll bet was named that as an injoke reference to John Wayne.

[Hickory Dock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book in elementary, and it still holds as a fun western starring two sisters. It's a children's book, good for very casual reading, appeals to tomboys. Two sisters, recently orphaned, run away from a prospect marriage in favor of freedom. They cut their hair and everything, one of the sisters shoots the head off a rattlesnake, etc. There's like 3-4 throwaway lines about "Indians" from the characters in the entire book, the worst one is in the beginning and the rest is all uphill and plateau.

[Makenna Teague]

The Misadventures of Maude March is a Wild West story about two orphan girls who become outlaws. Set within the historical context of prairie life, 11-year-old tomboy Sallie March

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I didn't end up enjoying this historical fiction story as much as I'd thought I would. The story started out quite well, being quickly-paced and pretty engaging. But somewhere along the line, as the two sisters traveled on and on, it all began to feel flat and dull. I had trouble visualizing the landscape as they traveled, mainly because I'm not sure what the wilderness of Missouri actually looks like. The characters were okay, but not really memorable for me. The writing style didn't do much for me somehow, and tended to drag a little and be inconsistent in presenting details right when they were needed. For example, in the part where the girls hear a cougar close by, and the mule bolts, I thought the mule was just scared of the noise. But then I found out that the cougar had attacked the mule, which was something I think should have been mentioned right away. It's a minor complaint, but still one that confused and bothered me. Sometimes the dialogue seemed clunky to me as well, with various statements being rephrased and repeated more than necessary.

Unfortunately, The Misadventures of Maude March was a disappointing read for me. But I do at least have to give it some credit for the strong beginning.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up, I really enjoyed the works of the Fleischmans, particularly By the Great Horn Spoon! and Humbug Mountain. Couloumbis has tapped into that same slightly goofy Wild West setting in Maude March. Sisters Maude and Sallie watched their Aunt Ruthie get shot right before their eyes in front of the Cedar Rapids Mercantile, and now find themselves to be orphans. They have an uncle in Independence, but that’s a long way away. And now a bunch of men in the town want to marry Maude. How can they keep control of their lives? By taking a page from one of Sallie’s beloved dime novels and stealing a few horses to get them to Independence. It could be a serious book, and at times it is, but mostly it’s a fun adventure, and Sallie makes a very good narrator. I wish more of the story had taken place in Independence, since I’ve been there, but that’s a small quibble with an otherwise fun book. I especially enjoyed how this one took my mind off of my cold.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected. I looked at the cover and read the inside cover and expected "Mad" Maude to be one rip-snorting wild woman. She wasn't. But just because the book wasn't what I expected doesn't mean that is wasn't good. Just the contrary, actually. Sallie is the wild sister while Maude is actually the meek sister.

I highly enjoyed the story of the struggles these girls had trying to recapture the life they once had. Audrey Couloumbis has created a wonderful tale of two girls fighting their way through wild America and all the trouble that comes from being mistaken for something you aren't. I really enjoyed the characters Sallie and Joe. Sallie is the type of girl who believes in heroes and Joe is trying hard not to be a hero, even though he is portrayed as such in the books about him.

Overall, The Misadventures of Maude March is a fun read for all, but especially if you love stories of the old west. Ride 'em Cowgirl!

I rated this book an 8 out of 10.

[Lisa the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun historical fiction. Told from eleven year old Sallie's perspective the voice in this book captures the innocence a child mixed with the adventure and colloquialism of the "dimer" novels Sallie is so fond of.

It also has a bit of a "tall tale" feel to it. Fortunately the manner in which Sallie tells her story it comes across as honest and plausible even though nobody would likely have as many outrageous misadventures as the March sisters.

Sallie and her sister Maude are both very likable characters and they meet an interesting assortment of other characters, some much nicer than others.

While not a "morality tale" per say it could be a springboard for discussion about making quick judgements of people without getting all of the facts first.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sallie and Maude were both memorable characters with depth. Usually, books that include a lot of wandering around in the snow get a little boring for me, but this one kept my attention.

I did wonder if Marion was really a good guy or not (he did rob a bank, after all), and if he and Maude would marry. Guess I'll have to wait for the sequel to find out, hmm?

I listened to the audiobook, and although I wasn't fond of the narrator's style (her diction was too crisp and precise for my taste, especially in a "western"), the more I listened, the more I liked the book.

[Lukeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this book was surprisingly sad when two young girls witness her aunt Ruthie get shot down by a stray bullet and become orphans for the second time. To make it even worse they have to now live with the Peasleys and have to take care of all of their children with one on the way. Now that summer is coming to an end Sally is going back to school while Maud has to take care of all the children herself. can she manage it? or is she going on the lam?

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long but exciting novel abnout two sisters who travel out west to find their uncle. I was on the edge of my seat almost the whole time, and just when I thought it was going to be boring for a while, somthing crazy happened. I would reccomend this book to girls who like adventure, tragedy, and historical fiction books.
Ages 10-14

[Celeste · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, just cute is all I can say about this one. For a better story along the same lines watch The Apple Dumpling Gang or Hot Lead, Cold Feet. Both are better.

[Ann Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would recomment this book for Middle school age youth! Newbury winner. I will retread this! Fun book!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much adventure in this book!! I loved reading it! Amazing detail. This book is oh-so very interesting from the minute you pick it up. You really feel as if you're in the story itself!

[Stacey R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious adventure! Listened to the audio book a few years ago and getting ready to listen again with my oldest daughter as she reads it for school.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the back cover had it like a newspaper, with her wanted poster in the middle as the synopsis, very original.

As Sallie, her sister Maude, and aunt were walking through town, their aunt was shot through in the gunfight. Sallie was stone cold about her aunt’s death and it was awful how she didn’t cry or even seem to care. She even visited her aunt’s murderer in jail, because he was the character in her dime novels.

The house wasn’t paid off so the bank had to foreclose it, so the girls lost their only home. They went to the reverend and he took them into his home. He and his wife had a slew of kids and another on the way and used those girls like workhorses and the wife didn’t do anything to help.

It was so funny that Sallie realized what was going on and didn’t think she could drown one of the kids but a little soap in the eye never killed anybody! Mrs. Peasley was real anxious about soap in the eye.

A boy started calling on Maude but she didn’t like him. An old man that could have been their grandpa took a liking to her and offered to marry her and buy the house back. Sallie at first courtship thought Maude should marry him but realized after the proposal that it’s not what Maude wanted. Maude realized she had to run away.

Sallie wanted them to stay longer and plan, at least to ruin one batch of bread, burn some pies, and oil the pews at church so no one could sit on them for a month of Sundays!! Atta girl!

The girls cut their hair and dressed in boy’s clothes, took the Peasley’s horses, as well as food and things, that were mostly from their aunt’s stores. Maude realized they couldn’t call each other by their names dressed as boys. Sallie said she thought she’d get confused and call her Maude in a heated moment, like under attack or something, and Maude doubted it would matter if they were under attack! So that was the “heated moment” that the guy in the bank robbery identified her in.

It annoyed me how Sallie didn’t like that Maude was proving to be more of a range rider than her. She noticed tracks they were leaving and had ideas of what to do, when Sallie hadn’t noticed and hand thought of them.

Joe Harden, who killed their aunt and was in jail going to be hanged, ended up encountering them on the road. Sallie was excited and just upset at herself that she hadn’t immediately recognized him.

Maude knew right away that Joe wasn’t really Joe from the book since that’s a fictional character. His real name was Marion. And he knew they were girls, because he’s good with voices…Okayy. Surprisingly Maude just questioned him matter-of-factly, asking if he was sure he’d shot their aunt and if he was sure it was his bullet, displaying no grief or upset with him. Even Sallie felt low. I was just shocked by their lack of grief and blame.

Marion brought them to the bookmaker’s shop to pay to spend the night. They discovered a newspaper in which Maude was wanted for horse stealing, and “Joe” had escaped hanging with the help of bank robbers who broke him out. No mention of Sallie. She didn’t even realize that he had lied. He said he waited to see if he was going to get sentenced to hang before he busted out, just jimmied the lock once the guard fell asleep. Sallie didn’t even get it after reading the article in which it said 3 men broke him out. She was pretty stupid.

Marion bought Maude a pair of boots. He’s 27 and Maude is 15. The next morning he decided to part ways. Sallie pointed out that the boy wasn’t sweet and the man was old but she wasn’t sure that was really so bad! WTF?! Ewww. You marry and elderly man you little twerp.

I thought Sallie would get caught in the heat of the moment and call Maude by her name, but it was Marion. Sallie guilt tripped Maude into going back to Marion. They saw his horse at the bank and Sallie took his advice and had her gun on hand, and had Maude bring hers. Marion was holding up the bank. Someone tried to pick up their gun and Sallie slammed her rifle butt in his hand. Someone went to take Maude’s rifle and Marion shot him. He told them to run, calling them each by name. They ran away and found two new horses to take.

Once they came to a stopping point, Sallie asked if Maude thought Marion meant for her to run to their horses. Maude said she was pretty sure he never meant for them to run past them!

They ventured on alone and bought themselves some food and supplies. At an abandoned cabin they found a milking goat and it was nice Sallie took her with them. She was slowing them down, so they immediately came upon 2 girls in the woods and offered them the goat. That was nice, but very convenient.

Marion caught up to them and went around them, slowed down so they could reach him, and they journeyed together once more, Maude still being hard on him.

Maude ended up questioning Marion as she thought Sallie slept. Now she believed he was the Joe from the books. He had started using the alias shortly before he was on a stagecoach ride and met a newspaper man who witnessed his good shooting. Their conversations were in Sallie’s book so he’d figured out they were about him.

Sallie had some deep and insightful thoughts for an 11 year old. She had thought that when people did bad things, it meant they were bad. But knowing that Marion had killed someone and robbed a bank, but was still a good person, she saw that’s not how it was. She still looked up to him. He bought them supplies and gave them all kinds of tips for encountering different kinds of weather and Indians.

Marion heard a few riders heading their way and told the girls to ride while he led them away.

They came upon a house with this old woman that had influenza. They stayed to help her and it was so nice there. She was so giving and helped them out. The reverend came and noticed the horses, so he took them back to town to find the owners. She lent them her mule to ride. Once they struck out on their own, Sallie discovered a newspaper that the reverend had brought had Maude on it, with long and short hair, and mentioned the bank robbery and her involvement as if it had been her idea. Sallie burnt the paper and didn’t tell Maude.

On the way to trade Cleomie’s mule for a horse, they ran into a snowstorm and had to bed down for the night under some trees. They followed deer paths and saw the deer under a tree. It was so nice that Maude fed them oats and again in the morning before they left.

At the smithy’s, Maude finally encountered the latest article about herself. It was funny she was like What is the matter with these people? Do they think they’re writing dimers?

Marion and this gang of younger boys showed up, one shooting a toe off of the ranch hand’s foot. Ben gave him a pill to help him sleep, and Sallie wanted to use the pills on the guys. Ben didn’t go for it, and it so was so funny that she wanted to poison them and asked Maude if there was any rat poison! She was quick at thinking on her feet.

Marion called Sallie by name and Mrs. Newcomb confirmed they were girls—she’d known it at the start—and Marion mentioned the bank Robert so the cat was out of the bag.

The boys spent the night and when they went outside in the morning, Maude cocked the hammers on all the guns. That was quick thinking too.

Things were turning dicey at the breakfast table. The gang leader, Willie, was easily upset and stabbed one of his guys in the hand. That’s when Maude who’d been sitting near the gun rack grabbed her gun, and Marion reached for his, and Sallie already had the pistol waiting at the top of her bag with the hammer cocked. She’d wanted to be ready, wanted to take action if something happened. The gang leader shot Marion, and Sallie fired wildly by accident and shot Willie. Hysterical Mrs. Newcomb let slip again that they’re girls in front of the gang, and Willie was like I’ve been shot by a girl? His cousin said looks that way. Willie told him to promise him that he wouldn’t tell anybody. His cousin said “Ever’body done seen it.”

Willie died and his cousin said the bullet may not have done him in but that news sure did, about a girl shooting him! Maude told the boys to get by the wall with their hands in the air. His cousin said she didn’t need to take that attitude with him, it’s Willie they should be mad at. Maude said she could decide for herself who she’s mad at. She can shoot every bit as well as her sister so she advises them to do as she says. She doesn’t give out third chances and they’re on their second. It was a riot!

Sallie was listed out Maude’s skill with a gun, that she shot the head off a rattlesnake and shot the eye of a panther. She said she didn’t think Maude would let them off as easily as she herself let Willie. His cousin said she killed Willie and Sallie said he died quick! Atta girl!

Maude hit the boys in their heads with her rifle when they didn’t want to comply with her order. A ranch hand tied them up and Maude said to hobble them. One tried to kick the ranch hand and Maude says If you are feeling your oats because you don’t have a bullet hole in toy, I can remedy that.

Maude assured Sallie that she’d defended herself. She said this was the kind of happening their aunt would have said was meant to be. Their aunt had considered bad luck to be meant to be and she didn’t trust good luck at all! It was all so funny.

Sallie didn’t know it, but Maude went to a brothel for some help in getting turned back to a girl. She had her hair colored and got back into a dress. Marion met them in town, had been following them. They found the latest newspapers and not one word of Maude was mentioned as Jesse James was at work and dominating the headlines.

Sallie asked Marion why he stuck with them and he said he felt responsible for the two of them being orphaned, and now he kinda likes Sallie, even that hardtack sister of hers. Sallie said Maude does grow on you and he said that’s what he should have been afraid of.

Maude found work at the restaurant. Sallie didn’t want to be undone so she saw about a job at the livery. Marion asked if she was going to be a boy or girl and Sallie said she’s still a boy, Johnnie is her name. He said he thought that was her sister’s name and she said if she wanted it, she shouldn’t have left it laying around.

The very livery she went to for work had Uncle Arlen as the smith. Heather was shirtless and she saw the scars on his back from the arrow wounds he received from Indians, so that further proved it after he said his name. He had the girls move in with him. Marion went to work for him since he wouldn’t hire his niece. At supper that night Marion mentioned leaving to go out west since he’s wanted for murder and Maude lost it on him.

Maude said he had to turn the money back into the bank to make things right. She wanted to send it to the reverend but Sallie said the sheriff. They’d say a mystery man shot Willie but they’d say the rest of what happened and that they ran back into Joe who with his last breath told them where he hid the money. Marion put a hand to his heart and said I’ve died? So funny!

Marion said kill Joe off and he was free to be Marion. So Sallje set to writing. And it ended right there. I was so upset. What happened to any of them?? Does Marion go west? Does he marry Maude?

It was nice that the author was thanking someone and compared her to Sallie, saying Sallie has a sense of the funny side of tragic circumstances.

This was such a unique and funny story. It was entertaining what the girls thought and said along the way. They were not to be trifled with. Sallie has such gumption. And Maude is admirable as well. I kept marveling, how does someone come up with this?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written romp through the old west with a well developed plot and two strong, if young, female leads. The twice orphaned sisters choose to leave their house of indentured servitude in order to escape the dismal marriage being arranged for Maude, the older sister. Sallie, the younger sister reliably narrates their misadventures as they strike out on stolen horses across the prairies of the plains states in an effort to find their last surviving relative in Independence, MO. I enjoyed Sallie's deadpan humor and how well she understood her sister. The relationship between the sisters was endearing and strong and their life on the run forced them to grow up quickly and taught them to better understand and appreciate their Aunt Ruthie. I also enjoyed the fact that Marion Hardly's character was so nebulous and unreliable. Couloumbis researched the old west well and her attention to detail enhanced the story immeasurably.

I am surprised that in all of the reviews of this book there wasn't more mention of the gun violence but I guess that is just how it was in the old west. I'm not sure, after Aunt Ruthie's "accidental" death in the first few pages that Couloumbis couldn't have gotten away with injuring instead of killing anyone else. Seems heavy for a J book - especially at the hands of an 11 year old. And I was also really disappointed in the end of the book. As I was getting closer to the end I wondered how the author was going to be able to wrap the story up so quickly but, indeed, she didn't. The end was entirely too flat and abrupt and screamed sequel which irritated me as I don't tend to read sequels or series. I don't see kids picking this book up and reading it, unfortunately, but I think it might be a good read aloud in a classroom setting. It was fun and I'm glad I read it. Couloumbis is a great writer and I'd like to read her Newbery Honor Book, Getting Near to Baby.

[Carolyn Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter (age 9) thoroughly enjoyed this book but was little annoyed about the bait and switch revealed at the beginning. This is not a book about an adventuresome girl riding through the Old West. Maude March is a demure and somewhat prissy 15 year old who knows next to nothing outside of her comfortable life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and about the same time that Jesse James' gang is riding around. Circumstances (and her dime novel loving 12 year old sister) push Maude to make a midnight flight to Independence, Missouri. Sally March is the one with most of the ideas and an even temper. While Maude toughens up considerably by the second half of the book, she remains moody throughout in a stereotypical feminine way. The two of them end up on the wrong side of the law due to one accident after another, and newspaper reports (which don't mention Sally at all) horrify Maude by portraying her as a madwoman and criminal mastermind. The back of our book reprint one of these newspaper reports, and we took this to be actual events from the book.

When kept us interested was the descriptions of range riding. We heard about hunting and fishing and prepping food, taking care of horses, sewing up wounds, surviving blizzards, and protecting gear. Their trip from Cedar Rapids toward Independence is shown on a map at the beginning of the book, and they are on the road for months. Altogether it was a very good story, I just wish we hadn't started it with a misunderstanding of the main characters.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Sallie March and her fifteen-year-old sister Maude have been living with their Aunt Ruthie since Sallie was only a baby after both of their parents died of illness. Ruthie is a stern caretaker but does the best she can in her tidy home in Cedar Rapids. One afternoon while exiting the general store Ruthie is shot by a random bullet fired from the gun of notorious Joe Harden. Sallie is an ardent reader of 'dimers' featuring the western hero Harden, and although the shooting was accidental, Harden is arrested and due to be hanged. The sisters are taken in by the town's preacher and the preacher's wife works the girls from sunup to sundown. They know they must leave and try to find their long-lost Uncle Arlen, hoping he can give them a home. Along the way Maude is accused of being a horse thief, a bank robber and a killer but the worst thing of all, or just maybe the best thing, is pairing up with the escaped Joe Harden.

The two girls are great characters and they certainly do face their share of troubles searching for Arlen. Harden is not exactly who he is renowned to be and he finds he feels quite protective of the two girls. I enjoyed it.

[Pyrate Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maude and her sister Sallie have been orphaned once again. A stray bullet kills their Aunt Ruthie suddenly as they are leaving the mercantile, leaving Maude and Sallie on their own. The preacher takes them in to start but then decides that Maude is old enough to marry off and begins to "shop" her around to the eligible men, while putting Sallie to task cleaning houses. The girls want none of this and decide that they are better off on their own. But where will they go?

While going through some of Aunt Ruthie's belongings, Maude and Sallie discover letters from their Uncle Arlen in Missouri and decide that is where they want to be, thus making their way towards Independence, MO. Along the way, they encounter numerous people that get them involved in situations which leave Maude's name slandered in headlines across newspapers around the area.

Compare to Pirates! by Celia Rees and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi for more daring adventurous stories of courageous young women

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun adventure story about two girls who are orphaned twice and decide to take matters into their own hands. Told in the first person by Sallie, a smart tomboy who loves to read adventure stories called "dimers," this story has action, suspense, scary moments, and a lot of humor.
Maude and Sallie find themselves living with the preacher and his family. They end up being little more than slaves. When the preacher starts looking for a husband for Maude, she decides it is time to run away. Sallie goes with her. In order to travel, they dress like boys, cut their hair, and "steal" the horses from the preacher. They pack what they will need and head out in search of their long lost uncle who was last known to be on the west coast. As they travel across the country, various people and events occur, testing both their morals and their skills. The newspapers, however, make their adventures seem much more exciting and criminal than they actually are. Once Sallie realizes that Maude is a "wanted" criminal, she know they can never go back.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

See Angie's review for plot. A good YA novel.

Maude and Sallie are orphaned in the Wild West (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and set out to find their Uncle Arden, who is in Independence, Missouri. They meet Marion Hardly who thinks they are boys at first (they cut their hair & look messy) and he knows quite a bit about living off the land, building a snow fort, hobbling horses, etc. He also resembled the hero in the dime-novels that Maude reads, Joe Harden. Through SO many misadventures I lost count, they arrive in Independence. Sallie becomes a real girl, and Maude, well, she is still Maude, of course. But the girls are much more experienced then when they left Cedar Rapids. But that remains to be seen in the books foliowing.










See Angie

[AnnaRichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT! This book may have originally been for a younger audience but it suited me just fine. More than fine! Came across this by chance on a family bookshelf. After reading several subpar rom coms and other fiction lately, and already being a lover of wild west fiction, I knew I had next to nothing to lose. What a great story set in a time when hard work, grit and tenacity are necessities for survival. It is so refreshing to not have modern personas with whiney victim mindsets, virtue signaling, political agendas and social media as part of an author's inspirations for their novel. I loved this so much more than I expected, so much that I will certainly search out book two just for the galdang heck of it all!!

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who was your favorite character (and why)? Maude March is my favorite character because she is polite, smart, and speaks up when she has a point. What surprised you? I was surprised when they found Uncle Arlen in the Independence. Would you change the ending? Why/why not? No, I would not change the ending. It was a cliffhanger. I can't wait to find out what happens next Why was this book hard for you? This book was hard for me because of the words. Some of them didn't make sense at first, but when I reread some of the sentences, it did.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book called 'Maude March On The Run.'

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven year old Sallie March and her older sister Maude lose their great Aunt and are orphaned for the second time. They end up becoming at the local preachers where they become (as unpaid help responsible for the household and childcare. Maude is also pursued by a really old man. The two girls decide to leave and go find their uncle in Independence Miissouri. Lots of mishaps, danger occur(both human and animal) along the way. An awesome book on the trials that women faced.