I first came across this book when my kids were participating in Battle of the Books and this was one of the books on the list. I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is the tale of two sisters–Sallie, the narrator is a bright, precocious eleven year old and her older sister, Maude, is sixteen. After being orphaned a second time, they escape from the couple who took them in and from the impending marriage to a much older man they arranged for Maude. They steal two horses to escape and the next thing they know, Maude is being reported as much more than a horse thief–reporters have dubbed her “Mad Maude,” bank robber, murderer, and leader of a terrible criminal gang. Sallie shares all the details of how two orphans unwittingly ended up as outlaws This book is a lot of fun and if you like it, you’re in luck–there is a sequel, Maude March on the Run.

Content Advisory: Death, shooting

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