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The Gentleman Outlaw and Me
In 1887 twelve-year-old Eliza, disguised as a boy and traveling to Colorado in search of her missing father, falls in with a gentleman outlaw and joins him in his illegal schemes.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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480 people want to read
About the author
Mary Downing Hahn
72 books4,398 followersI grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 18, 2020
Great idea; clumsily executed.
While the notion of a Western -allegedly suitable for children- with a little comedy to lighten the journey, sounds great for a 7-year-old; this book nevertheless falls a little flat. While I enjoyed the travelogue of the protagonists’ Southwest journey, I became increasingly frustrated at the cliche’s and that most of the drama derived from card games in saloons. I didn’t want to have to explain gambling, and drunken behavior to a child. Nor did I think those drunken saloon tropes were particularly original. Contrary to popular myth, the West of the late 1800s was not simply filled with evil-dooers and fools.
I would have liked to have shown my son a history of decent people trying to accomplish good things.
Fun at times - but not memorable or inspiring.
While the notion of a Western -allegedly suitable for children- with a little comedy to lighten the journey, sounds great for a 7-year-old; this book nevertheless falls a little flat. While I enjoyed the travelogue of the protagonists’ Southwest journey, I became increasingly frustrated at the cliche’s and that most of the drama derived from card games in saloons. I didn’t want to have to explain gambling, and drunken behavior to a child. Nor did I think those drunken saloon tropes were particularly original. Contrary to popular myth, the West of the late 1800s was not simply filled with evil-dooers and fools.
I would have liked to have shown my son a history of decent people trying to accomplish good things.
Fun at times - but not memorable or inspiring.
February 27, 2019
When her mother dies, twelve-year-old Eliza Yates is left at the mercy of her aunt and uncle. Teased by her cousins and made to do all of the chores, Eliza finally decides that the next time her uncle beats her she will run away. She doesn't have long to wait.
During the night she takes off to find her Papa, who left for Colorado seven years before in search of his fortune. The old dog Caesar follows her, and Eliza lets him come along since she is his only friend. She changes her appearance to keep her uncle from catching her, knowing he will be furious that she took her mother's gold pieces, even though he was only supposed to be keeping them safe for her.
Eliza and Caesar leave the town of Bartlett far behind and Eliza Yates becomes Elijah Bates. When she tries to buy a train ticket, the ticket agent accuses her of stealing her gold coin. She realizes that even as a boy, buying a train ticket is out of the question. Eliza snatches the coin back and takes off in case he calls the sheriff.
Finally the smell of cooking meat leads her to a campfire where she finds Calvin Featherstone, who has been shot by muggers. The partnership of this spunky heroine and fancy swindler turn the story into a screwball buddy comedy with humorous dialogue and cliffhanging action. In this story set in the Wild West of 1887, these partners-in-crime discover more than they bargained for about each other.
During the night she takes off to find her Papa, who left for Colorado seven years before in search of his fortune. The old dog Caesar follows her, and Eliza lets him come along since she is his only friend. She changes her appearance to keep her uncle from catching her, knowing he will be furious that she took her mother's gold pieces, even though he was only supposed to be keeping them safe for her.
Eliza and Caesar leave the town of Bartlett far behind and Eliza Yates becomes Elijah Bates. When she tries to buy a train ticket, the ticket agent accuses her of stealing her gold coin. She realizes that even as a boy, buying a train ticket is out of the question. Eliza snatches the coin back and takes off in case he calls the sheriff.
Finally the smell of cooking meat leads her to a campfire where she finds Calvin Featherstone, who has been shot by muggers. The partnership of this spunky heroine and fancy swindler turn the story into a screwball buddy comedy with humorous dialogue and cliffhanging action. In this story set in the Wild West of 1887, these partners-in-crime discover more than they bargained for about each other.
July 8, 2010
Another great book by Mary Downing Hahn. Eliza Yates is living with her aunt and uncle but used as a servant. She's tired of being treated poorly and decides to run a way and find her father. After a close call, she decides that she would be better off as a boy and therefore transforms herself in to Eli. She teams up with Calvin Featherbone, who calls himself the "Gentleman Outlaw." She thinks perhaps she would like to be an outlaw too but soon all the plans begin to unravel. What will happen to Calvin and will Eliza/Eli find her father.
April 27, 2017
This is in the genre of 'The True Confession of Charlotte Doyle' for being tomboy-turned-real-life fantasy fulfillment, as in everything I wanted to be when I was young. Super fun and fast paced, filled plenty of rejection of gender norms, or at least a good attempt at it. (Could be read as anti-femme but I don't really care enough). Honestly, I'm still bitter this didn't win the Young Readers Choice Award in 1999, I'm probably still sore that my horse didn't win the race (even if it deserved to.)
Recommended for: anyone who wants to escape into something cheesy and easy for a day.
Recommended for: anyone who wants to escape into something cheesy and easy for a day.
July 14, 2017
This author baffles me. I started reading her work because I love her melodramatic, spooky tales. And then I read a murder mystery of hers. And now this Western tale. I didn't hate it, but it didn't have the delicious delivery I have come to know and love with her middle grade ghost stories. Is she just trying little of this, little of that so as not to be a one-trick pony?
October 3, 2010
I loved how he gave her a kiss and told her that she'll never forget him because a girl never forgets the boy who gave her her first kiss. The outlaw guy was so sweet and is I guess pretty ideal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
Got this book out of the elementary school library where I work, trying to decide if it's worth it to keep on the shelf. (The author's books all get checked out frequently, but this one is an exception.) Overall, it's a good book and I think worthy of being kept on a library shelf. I think it's not being checked out because the cover is old fashioned even for a book from the 90s.
A story about Eliza Yates, a girl whose mother has died and is being cared for by an abusive aunt and uncle. Eliza wants to find her father who has gone west to find his fortune. In order to escape, Eliza cuts her hair and steals some boys clothes and goes by Elijah Bates. As Elijah, she comes across an older teen boy, Calvin, who is also heading west to avenge his father's death at the hands of Eliza's own father. Eliza keeps that secret from him and they travel together. Calvin's a highly educated boy who fancies himself a Gentleman Outlaw, but he's outmatched in every town they go to and they barely make it to Tinville, CO alive where they finally come face to face with the Sheriff who happens to be Eliza's father.
It's mostly a good book. Honestly growing up Mary Downing Hahn was a favorite of mine and this one doesn't quite hold up - it's little boring. But a book where a girl dresses like a boy that was written in the 90s has the potential to be a little cringey by today's standards. But there's none of that here. Eliza is clearly more comfortable as Elijah and often wishes she was a boy. The historical accuracy of knowing that's not possible is a little heartbreaking, but a nice understanding lady toward the end (no spoliers) means you know things are going to look up for Eliza.
A story about Eliza Yates, a girl whose mother has died and is being cared for by an abusive aunt and uncle. Eliza wants to find her father who has gone west to find his fortune. In order to escape, Eliza cuts her hair and steals some boys clothes and goes by Elijah Bates. As Elijah, she comes across an older teen boy, Calvin, who is also heading west to avenge his father's death at the hands of Eliza's own father. Eliza keeps that secret from him and they travel together. Calvin's a highly educated boy who fancies himself a Gentleman Outlaw, but he's outmatched in every town they go to and they barely make it to Tinville, CO alive where they finally come face to face with the Sheriff who happens to be Eliza's father.
It's mostly a good book. Honestly growing up Mary Downing Hahn was a favorite of mine and this one doesn't quite hold up - it's little boring. But a book where a girl dresses like a boy that was written in the 90s has the potential to be a little cringey by today's standards. But there's none of that here. Eliza is clearly more comfortable as Elijah and often wishes she was a boy. The historical accuracy of knowing that's not possible is a little heartbreaking, but a nice understanding lady toward the end (no spoliers) means you know things are going to look up for Eliza.
February 4, 2021
I love this book so much! Twelve your old Eliza Yates trying to find her father after escaping her cruel aunt and uncle. I’m a big dog person so I loved the dog. This is a great book and I really recommend it!
#WESTERN #ElizaAndTheGentelmanOutlaw
#DogsAreTheBest 🐕🐾🐾🐾
#WESTERN #ElizaAndTheGentelmanOutlaw
#DogsAreTheBest 🐕🐾🐾🐾
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2017
Quick, adorable, fun. The high place that honor and such often plays in these types of books is often frustrating for me, but it wasn't over done, and the lead character is great
November 18, 2017
I love this book so much! I must have read it at least a dozen times since I was 13 (I'm 24 now)
March 9, 2019
2.5 Stars.
July 12, 2020
Cute juvenile western.
June 1, 2021
Absolutely exceptional, Mary Downing Hahn always delivers fast-paced and captivating books. This book is one of my favorites.
June 19, 2021
Reminded me too much of nowhere to call home, except set in a different time period
July 6, 2021
Loveable character with street smarts and an entertaining way of talking and handling the abuse she's endured. She's a delightful tomboy who plays her part well.
July 20, 2022
I remember this one being my favorite of the Mary Downing Hahn books. Not a ghost story, but I loved the Old West setting and feel.
December 21, 2022
The Sweet Polly Oliver trope ain’t hitting today.
July 30, 2024
Very well written. Just the right amount of adventure and sadness in this Wild West adventure.
February 1, 2025
This was one of my favorite books growing up. Reading it again as an adult was a lot of fun.
March 11, 2025
An old favorite from my childhood I gave a reread after all these years. Thought it would bring me out of a book slump. But yeah, it's just ok. Decent adventure book.
May 5, 2025
Found this book again many years after reading it the first time when I was younger. Still such a fun little read! I love westerns.
December 23, 2022
3.5 stars
March 5, 2017
one of the best book i read in my childhood. still remember it.
June 18, 2012
Read this years ago as a child and loved it. I looked it up because I still think of it from time to time and have decided to try to track down a copy. The story is kind of a standard adventures-in-the-Old-West-for-middle-readers kind of thing, very like Bandit's Moon in a lot of respects, but I found it engaging and fun. It's kind of more about Calvin through Eliza's eyes than about Eliza herself, but Calvin's a fun character, and fairly interesting too, for a middle-reader character.
I did have a little bit of an issue with the very end, though,
***SPOILERS***
where, saying goodbye to Eliza, Calvin gives her her first kiss, saying, "They say a girl always remembers the boy who gives her her first kiss...now you won't forget me." I had a little bit of an issue with it when I first read it because there had been absolutely no hint of any romance between the two of them until that point, and Eliza is, after all, about 11 years old and Calvin's 17 at this point. I thought it was a too-predictable ending that didn't make sense.
***SPOILERS OVER***
Otherwise, though, I loved the book, and need to fing myself a copy. I'm sure it's out of print, but maybe I can find one used or at a library nearby.Bandit's Moon
I did have a little bit of an issue with the very end, though,
***SPOILERS***
where, saying goodbye to Eliza, Calvin gives her her first kiss, saying, "They say a girl always remembers the boy who gives her her first kiss...now you won't forget me." I had a little bit of an issue with it when I first read it because there had been absolutely no hint of any romance between the two of them until that point, and Eliza is, after all, about 11 years old and Calvin's 17 at this point. I thought it was a too-predictable ending that didn't make sense.
***SPOILERS OVER***
Otherwise, though, I loved the book, and need to fing myself a copy. I'm sure it's out of print, but maybe I can find one used or at a library nearby.Bandit's Moon
February 2, 2012
Eliza Yates hates her life. Her father left for Colorado years ago to try and make his fortune. Then her mother dies, leaving her with her aunt and uncle who don't treat her very well. So one night she decides to leave. She takes her money that her aunt has been hiding from her and heads for Colorado. She's smart enough to know that traveling as a girl will invite trouble. Stealing boys clothes from a clothesline and chopping off her hair with her pocket knife, she becomes a boy name Elijah Bates, Eli for short.
Along the way she meets Calvin Thaddeus Featherbone, the Second. This man often refers to himself as "The Gentleman Outlaw" but Eli quickly finds out he rarely acts like a gentleman. They initially meet when Eli saves his life after he's shot by rough and tumble outlaws. Eli decides to follow him to Colorado when she learns that he is heading for the same town she is.
But when she learns that they are probably looking for the same man, Alfred Yates, Calvin to kill him for the shooting of his father, and Eli because he's her father.
Along the way she meets Calvin Thaddeus Featherbone, the Second. This man often refers to himself as "The Gentleman Outlaw" but Eli quickly finds out he rarely acts like a gentleman. They initially meet when Eli saves his life after he's shot by rough and tumble outlaws. Eli decides to follow him to Colorado when she learns that he is heading for the same town she is.
But when she learns that they are probably looking for the same man, Alfred Yates, Calvin to kill him for the shooting of his father, and Eli because he's her father.
June 9, 2011
This had to be one of the best western books I have ever read, if not the only one. I loved that a young girl had courage to go out in search for her father. It amazed me that she was willing to do anything (including stealing and lying) to get back to him. Eliza's determination was strong and I believe that it will help her to do great things when she gets older. Of course she is only fictional, but with a determination like hers, I believe we can all learn that we can equally reach our dreams (hopefully with less scrapes and scrabbles though). The Gentleman Outlaw drove me absolutely crazy though. I wanted to shout at Eliza not to trust him, but alas it was futile. Fortunately he didn't turn out too bad, but still, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind.
Warning: Cross dressing, alcohol, language, disobedience
Warning: Cross dressing, alcohol, language, disobedience
July 23, 2014
gr 4-7 212 pgs
1887, West / Colorado. 12 year old Eliza Bates disguises herself as a boy and becomes Elijah Yates. Her goal: to reach Tinville, Colorado and find her father. Along the way, she meets Calvin Featherbone, "a gentleman outlaw" who is also headed to Tinville. He is determined to find a sheriff with the last name Bates who killed Featerbone's father. Eliza wonders if they are looking for the same person and is determined to find him before Calvin does.
As exciting as the description sounded, I thought the story dragged a little bit. Calvin seemed to spend most of his time gambling and Eliza spent a lot of the time trying to get Calvin out of trouble.
It reminded me of Fleischman's "Bandit Moon" except I enjoyed "Bandit Moon" more.
1887, West / Colorado. 12 year old Eliza Bates disguises herself as a boy and becomes Elijah Yates. Her goal: to reach Tinville, Colorado and find her father. Along the way, she meets Calvin Featherbone, "a gentleman outlaw" who is also headed to Tinville. He is determined to find a sheriff with the last name Bates who killed Featerbone's father. Eliza wonders if they are looking for the same person and is determined to find him before Calvin does.
As exciting as the description sounded, I thought the story dragged a little bit. Calvin seemed to spend most of his time gambling and Eliza spent a lot of the time trying to get Calvin out of trouble.
It reminded me of Fleischman's "Bandit Moon" except I enjoyed "Bandit Moon" more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2011
I know that I read this when I was younger. I went through a stage when I absolutely loved Mary Downing Hahn. I don't remember anything about this one, but I do remember that I enjoyed it.
*Update. I just reread this one and I'm no longer convinced that I actually read it. None of it was actually familiar and I'm not so sure it's one I picked up, even though I loved this author and the title sounded familiar. It's definitely one I would have loved as a kid though. Reading it now, I didn't love it, but it was quite enjoyable.
*Update. I just reread this one and I'm no longer convinced that I actually read it. None of it was actually familiar and I'm not so sure it's one I picked up, even though I loved this author and the title sounded familiar. It's definitely one I would have loved as a kid though. Reading it now, I didn't love it, but it was quite enjoyable.
April 13, 2010
A young girl has to live with her aunt and uncle after her father leaves for the old west and her mother dies. She gets sick of the bad treatment she gets, so she leaves for her father. She gets into trouble quickly and ends up making herself a boy. Along the way, she meets Calvin, who helps her. Will she get to her father alive?
I thought this was good. It had alot of close calls with the characters which made it fun to read. The only bad thing was that it had a predictable ending
I reccomend this to people wanting a good historical fiction book
I thought this was good. It had alot of close calls with the characters which made it fun to read. The only bad thing was that it had a predictable ending
I reccomend this to people wanting a good historical fiction book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews