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

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.

The life and career of Bass Reeves, a U.S. Marshall in Indian Territory from the 1840's through the 1880's.

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:

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.

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

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.

Here's a long-forgotten Old West hero story that's worth introducing to kids. Bass Reeves was an escaped slave who hired on as a U.S. Marshal in the lawless Indian Territory that would later become Oklahoma. During his tenure, he made 3,000 arrests and only 14 kills. Outlaws knew their number was up when Bass had their warrant. Everyone--whites, Indians and blacks--respected and feared Bass Reeves. His life on the road, the trickery he engaged to get his man, and his full-sized personality and abilities make an appealing story that's described in a folksy tone.

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.

Superb storytelling and stunning illustrations!

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.

Very enjoyable, wonderful illustrations.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.