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    Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal
    Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal
    Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal
    Audiobook25 minutes

    Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

    Written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

    Narrated by Kevin R. Free

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Vaunda Micheaux Nelson received the Coretta Scott King Award for her children's book Almost to Freedom. Here she relays the extraordinary story of Bass Reeves, a lawman in the Old West who escaped slavery to become one of the most successful U.S. Marshals in history. "Here, children can saddle up with a genuine Western hero in a narrative that hits the bull's-eye."-Kirkus Reviews
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateNov 25, 2011
    ISBN9781449853396
    Author

    Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

    Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is the author of The Book Itch, as well as three Coretta Scott King Award-winning books: No Crystal Stair, Bad News for Outlaws, and Almost to Freedom. She is a former youth services librarian in New Mexico. Visit her online at vaundanelson.com.

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    Reviews for Bad News for Outlaws

    4.5/5

    122 ratings19 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is an Ownvoices and biographical book about the man Bass Reeves. It follows his story from his time as a US Marshal all the way back to his time as a young boy on the plantation with his family. I really love how engaging and story oriented this biography is and I think students could really learn so much about this Bass Reeves from reading this! I would sure use this in a history lesson or a book to recommend to a student who is really interested in historical events!
    • 5/5
      The cover and title of this book are immediately engaging for students, which makes them want to take it off the shelf... but it is so much more! This is the story of Bass Reeves, who escaped from slavery in the 1860s and became a U.S. marshal in the very country that had enslaved him. He was respected for his ability to communicate with Native Americans in the "wild west" in what was to become Oklahoma. He used skill, his intelligence, and sometimes trickery to arrest "his man", rather than kill him. This story reads like a tall tale, and Reeves seems larger than life, but it is a great source for a positive role model of a black man in a difficult historical time. It is about overcoming adversity, and becoming more than others think you can. A great read for any class or library, to be included during a biography study, during Black History month (or year), or a study of diversity and human rights.
    • 5/5
      Bad News for Outlaws is about the life and career of Deputy US Marshal Bass Reeves. In the 1860s Reeves escaped from slavery and went on to become a lawman who was both respected for his abilities and hated for his race and occupation. Reeves is portrayed as talented, clever, good natured, and moral, choosing to use his intelligence and skill rather than violence. This narrative exposes readers to a complicated man in a unique historical situation. Reeves rises from slavery, lives with native tribes, becomes a lawman for the very society that once made him a slave and throughout all of it maintains a strict moral code and sense of humor in the face of hatred. Relevant for its historical information and as a balanced narrative of a black man living in the Southwest US around the end of slavery.
    • 5/5
      Summary: Illustrated biography of the Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass ReevesGenre: Biographical, informationalAwards:Illustrations:Age Group:Themes: morality, race, good vs. bad, justiceMy impressions: Wonderful book. Diverse, well-written, authentic, well-researched. There is extra information in the back for further reading and learning. Would recommend, also great depiction of African American hero.Lesson Plan:
    • 4/5
      Bass Reeves was one of the first black U.S. marshals, he was known for being brave and fair. Having captured over 3,000 outlaws, he only killed 14 men. This book walks you through what it was like to be a U.S. Marshal in the old west.
    • 4/5
      Ages 8-14.Born into slavery, Reeves escaped during the Civil War to Indian Territory. There, he was appointed Deputy Marshall. Highly respected by law abiding citizens and feared by outlaws, Reeves made over 3,000 arrests during his 32 year career. While known as a crack-shot, only killed fourteen men in the line of duty.Nelson emphasizes that Reeves used his gun only when there was no other choice,She details many of Reeves resourceful and surprising disguises that allowed him to arrest outlaws peacefully. Nelson also explains that while many people venerated Reeves, some whites did not like having a Black lawman and wanted to harm him. Reeves’s courage and belief in right and wrong kept him going.Christie’s paintings employ bold brushstrokes that emphasize Reeves’s larger-than-life character. The text is overlaid on amber colored, textured background reminiscent of aged paper.The text incorporates colorful expressions from the American West, such as “tender as boot leather” or “trying to find hair on a frog.” A glossary of Western Words can be found in back. Nelson also includes a timeline of Reeves’s life, a list of further reading and websites, a selected bibliography, and information on the U.S. government’s forcible removal of Native American tribes to Indian territory. The book succeeds in showing young readers that Bass Reeves was remarkable man and American hero who deserves greater recognition. Recommended.
    • 4/5
      Born into slavery in Texas, in 1838, Bass Reeves would go on to become one of the most celebrated U.S. Marshals of his day, before slipping into an undeserved obscurity. Thankfully, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is here to set young readers straight, and tell them the story of this dedicated lawman, and his efforts to bring safety and order to the Indian Territories (modern-day Oklahoma). Hired by Judge Isaac Parker, Reeves worked tirelessly to track down outlaws and lawbreakers, and, although willing and able to use violence, did not embrace it. Of his more than three thousand arrests, only fourteen resulted in death - an astonishing record for that time and place! Known for being incorruptible - he once arrested his own son, Benjamin, on a charge of murder - he won the respect of many of the people of the Territory, despite resistance (on the part of some) to the idea of a black lawman. He served for an incredible thirty-two years.This engrossing book presents an exciting but little known chapter from the history of the American West, and is sure to appeal to young readers with an interest in that time and place, or who enjoy tales of outlaws (Belle Starr appears!) and the lawmen who opposed them. As other reviewers have noted, Nelson's narrative has the feeling of a Tall Tale, while R. Gregory Christie's bold illustrations capture the excitement of the story. I'd never heard of Bass Reeves before picking up this book, and am glad to have that omission rectified.
    • 4/5
      Grades 3-6
      This biography of a little-known hero will enthrall children. Although parts of it read like a tall tale, Nelson emphasizes that she has stayed true to the facts in an informative authors note.
    • 5/5
      Superb storytelling and stunning illustrations!
    • 5/5
      This book tells the story of Bass Reeves, who was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. Like most slaves, he was given the surname of his owner, George Reeves. During the Civil War, Reeves fled north to what is now Oklahoma, and lived with Native Americans.In 1875, a U.S. Marshal in the so-called Indian Territory hired 200 deputies and, hearing about Reeves’ skill with Indian languages as well as with a gun, he took on Reeves as well. Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a deputy, and was reputed to be “one of the bravest men this country has ever known.” He died at age 72 in 1910 of a kidney disease. Hundreds of people – blacks, whites, and Indians, attended his funeral.The story of Reeves is a natural for kids. It is a real-life action-packed look at the Wild West that doesn't read like non-fiction at all. It features a fantastic hero who overcame the worst sort of adversity with his exceptional mind and extraordinary gumption. For example, as a slave, Bass was never allowed to learn to read, but when he became a deputy, he managed to capture outlaws by his ingenuity and courage. He would have arrest warrants read to him by someone else, and in the process he would memorize the shapes of the letters for each name, along with the charges against that person. Then he’d go out hunting. As the author writes:"Even when he got thirty warrants at one time, Bass always brought in the right outlaws.”He not only arrested the criminals (he once brought in seventeen prisoners at once!) but at night, he’d talk to them about the Bible and about repentance.His bravery was legendary; he actually stopped a lynching in action once, as the angry mob “just watched in awe as he rode off.”And his integrity was unquestioned as well. He even arrested his own son for murder, after none of his colleagues would do it out of respect for Bass.In Bass’s career as a deputy, he arrested more than three thousand men and women, and only killed fourteen in the line of duty. After Oklahoma became a state and the Indian Territory ceased to exist, he was hired on with the police force in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Nobody would mess with him given with his reputation:"During his two years on the force, not a single crime occurred in his patrol area.”Evaluation: This is a wonderful story, and R. Gregory Christie’s illustrations meet his usual high standards. (Christie is a three-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award.) In this book, Christie styles some of his paintings to look like Old West wanted posters. Although most of the pictures use earthy tones, they are bold and vibrant and set against bright blue skies.It took me a while to get used to Mr. Christie. As he has said in an interview:"The disproportionate compositions and elongated figures [of my art] are meant to be a directional device for the viewer, my own natural inclination, and a challenge for the viewer to break away from the established fundamental belief that all children’s books must be realistic or cute.”Once you get used to the idea that children’s books are a good medium for introducing different visual styles as well as conveying stories, you can’t help but fall in love with Christie. (You can see some great examples of his artwork, here.) Supplementary material at the back of the book includes a glossary of western words, a timeline, a guide to further reading and websites, and more.Reading level: Ages 8 and upNote: This book was the 2010 author award winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award.
    • 5/5
      A fantastic book about the remarkable life of Bass Reeves, a crack-shot runaway slave who hid out in India Territory until the Civil War was over, after which his gunslinging skills, Indian ties and impeccable morality led him to a long career as a U.S. Marshal. His reputation preceded him among outlaws for he always got his man, and some desperados simply turned themselves in when they heard Reeves had their warrant. He was clever in his pursuit of criminals, only shot when he had toe, and incorruptible. He even arrested his own son. The writing is well-researched and evokes the Old West and the illustrations are stunning.
    • 5/5
      Bass Reeves was a deputy U.S. Marshall. "Everything about him was big." "But the biggest thing about Bass Reeves was his character. He had a dedication to duty few men could match. He didn't have a speck of fear in him. And he was as honest as the day is long." Growing up as a young slave, Bass was "smart and decent and had nothing but good in his heart." This is a story of Bass Reeves, who went from being a slave to a deputy, a man who was respected yet feared, "a big man who brought peace to a big country."
    • 4/5
      Fascinating story of an extraordinary man who went from escaped slave to top lawman. Bass Reeves had an amazingly long career bringing in bad guys from Indian territory. He even had to arrest his own son who killed his wife. He was a good and honest man who led a remarkable life indeed.
    • 4/5
      Personal Response: This story shows how a black man was able to grow out of slavery into a person that was well respected for the “job well done”. Curricular or Programming Connections: Black history, Slavery
    • 5/5
      Written with just a touch of the dime novel style so popular in the era it depicts, this is a short (about 40 p.) biography of Bass Reeves, an extraordinary African American lawman who patrolled the Indian Territories before the state of Oklahoma was formed. He always got his man, for a total of more than 3.000 arrests. The book is greatly enhanced by the illustrations of R. Gregory Christie, who captures Reeves' resolute nature.
    • 4/5
      Very enjoyable, wonderful illustrations.
    • 4/5
      This book starts off the way many good books do, and should, especially biographies: with a solid action sequence that pulls the reader in and sets the tone of what the story that follows is about. In Bad News for Outlaws this sequence is a showdown between Reeves and Jim Webb that ends with the lawman shooting his quarry but gaining the man's respect at the same time. There's the action of a chase, a mini lesson in right and wrong, and the theme that will carry throughout that Reeves was as honest and true a man as the West ever created.Following this scene there is a short entr'acte that demonstrates Reeves physical strength, what life was like in the Oklahoma Territory, and that he was also respected by all, good and bad, black and white. From there the story of Reeves' life runs fairly chronological, beginning when he was a Southern slave and covering his more than thirty years as a U.S Marshal. It makes for great story that even Nelson admits at the end has all the earmarks of a tall tale, though she has striven to tell it as true as possible.To that end the facts of the story seem straightforward and difficult to imagine being doctored. There are a couple quotes attributed to "a white sharecropper" and a "sharpshooter" that I don't doubt are sourced, but the generic nature of their attribution left me a little conflicted. On the one hand, their comments help underscore Reeves' character, but at the same time when other quotes used are attributed to specific historical individuals they stand out the same as those in other biographies I've read as coming from questionable sources. It's such a minor quibble – okay, those quotes and some of the colloquial cliches that crop up – that I almost hesitate to mention them.So why mention them?Because far too often it seems I run into life stories that fall short, either in quality, storytelling, or accuracy, that I felt obliged to point out a solid example of a picture book biography that comes closest I've seen to being perfect. It's open, and honest, and like it's subject not beyond a minor flaw in character, but nothing that detracts from the overall effect. Handsomely illustrated as well.
    • 5/5
      The life and career of Bass Reeves, a U.S. Marshall in Indian Territory from the 1840's through the 1880's.
    • 4/5
      This picture book biography tells the little-known story of Bass Reeves, a deputy marshal in the Wild West. In a time and place where outlaws and bandits terrorized people, Reeves arrested more than three thousand men and women, avoiding violence if at all possible. With plenty of Wild West action in addition to biographical information, this book combines kid appeal with literary merit. I still don't particularly care for Christie's illustrations, though.