The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West

Paulsen, Gary. The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2006.

Plot: The historical fiction tale follows Bass Reeves, a young Texan slave in the 1830's. Warned by coyotes that "Things will change," Bass obeys his mother and avoids trouble. However, as his master becomes more and more dependent on whiskey, Bass finds himself maintaining the ranch with little supervision. When the master attempts to cheat Bass out of his freedom in a poker match, Bass confronts him. While he manages to survive the fight, he flees the ranch, fearing for his life. He manages to survive in the dangerous "Indian Territory" for years. At the end of the Civil War, he sets up a ranch of his own. However, when Issac Parker calls for marshals to "clean up" the Indian Territory of murderers, thieves, and other criminals, Bass proudly joins and becomes one of the most successful marshals in U.S. history.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 6-8

Similar Titles: Hatchet, Shane

Personal Thoughts: Paulsen wishes to bring attention to a largely-ignored hero. Many western novels favor heroes that were not, in fact, heroic. Bass Reeves is the opposite. He escaped slavery, became a successful rancher, and fought for the law. Yet, terribly few people know about him. The book attempts to amend this injustice by providing a solid, interesting read about a genuine hero. However, only one chapter is dedicated to what made him heroic. I do not mean to disregard the other aspects of his life. Avoiding capture, maintaining values, and building a business are remarkable in their own right. Yet, Reeve's life as a marshal, his titular roll, only gets 31 pages in a 137 page book. The focus of the novel seems a bit skewed. Nevertheless, the book offers insight to a historic hero.