They say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but several years ago, while perusing the local thrift, I came across the most intriguing book cover, titled The Misadventures of Maude March, female outlaw circa 1869. The book is written by Audrey Couloumbis, and although the cover had me completely intrigued, I wasn’t so sure I’d ever get down to reading it.
Being primarily a mystery/suspense/romance genre type reader, I was thinking more along the lines of how spiffy this book would look perched on a shelf and not as much about what story lie between the cover.
A while back, when the clutter in our basement was either being cleared out or moved elsewhere, I came across this title once again and vowed to give it a whirl.
Told through the eyes of dime-store-novel-loving, 11 yr old (going on 30) sister Sallie, I laughed my way through many of the pages, although there were plenty of poignant moments, as well.
Recently orphaned sisters, the story begins with honest and upstanding, 15 year old Maude deciding to run away after being betrothed to a much older gentleman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa circa 1869. Sister Sallie, none too keen on being left behind manages to convince Maude to take her with.
On a quest to find their long lost, and only surviving relative, Uncle Arlen, Maude and Sallie journey from Cedar Rapids to Independence, Missouri encountering unexpected and often unwelcome adventures along the way.
The more Maude applies her decent and good intentions as they travel, the more these two sisters fall into the trappings of notorious outlaws and bandits of the wild west. Before you know it, and much to Maude’s surprise, she becomes considered an outlaw herself, and wanted in several states for various suspected outlaw activities.
Not only did I get to travel back to the wild west of 1869, but I got to follow the struggles and challenges of life for young people of that time. Not a cake walk, that’s for sure. I was endeared and inspired by these two girls by the end of the book and grateful that I challenged myself to read it.
What have you challenged yourself to read lately? I’m still working on an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, although I think the last page I read was back in 2013…
This was not a sponsered post, just a share from the heart.
Happy weekend!
chris aka monkey says
when i read the tittle of your post and it being mothers’ day i thought for sure you were going to say this was a long lost relative ha ha ha, sounds like the book was a surprise love it thanks for sharing and happy mothers day xx
Sherry says
I love looking through thrift store books, especially old ones…. and how cool you found an old one and actually read it! And it’s a Newbery. Love the photos too! Have a good week Amy!
Feral Turtle says
That looks like something I would enjoy! What a score!! I pretty much read anything that my daughter gives two thumbs up to. I read The Rising, which was a zombie book and it still stands out as being one of the best books I have read. Thanks for the review and I might even have this book in our crazy collection.
Gregor says
I am reading “When The Law was in the Holster” which is the true story of another honest lawman in AZ in the 19th Century, who was friends with the better known Wyatt Earp (of the gunfight in the OK Corral fame, Tombstone, AZ). I started talking to someone waiting, as I was, in the endodontist’s office (Oh Joy! lol) who was reading it and it sounded very interesting to me, so I got it and am reading it on my iPad(full disclosure: not an employee, just a rapid fan of Apple).
Amy says
Gregor, Thank you for sharing the book you are reading. I just pulled it up on my kindle and marked it on my reading wish list, the wild west is a fascinating topic in my book (no pun). There certainly were a lot of hardships that weren’t always so evident in the wild west movies of Hollywood. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment.