Too bad it's already taken by one very clever author, Audrey Couloumbis. Actually, the title is officially "The Misadventures of Maude March" with the great subtitle of "Trouble Rides a Fast Horse".
Now, before anyone rushes out to purchase this little jewel - be forewarned, it was written for grades 5 through 8. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with the March sisters, the heroines of the book. Narrated by eleven year-old Sallie March, the story gallops along in a pace and style that would make Louis L'Amour envious. Sallie, who is a fan of the western "dimer", and her sister, Maude, are orphaned twice and head out to Independence, Missouri to find their uncle. Along the way, the sisters are caught up in several predicaments not entirely of their own making. Made infamous by overzealous newspaper reports, the sisters' adventures are the stuff legends grow big on. Not since the role of Maddie Ross ("Little Sister") played by Kim Darby in the John Wayne movie favorite, "True Grit", has a young heroine defined the role of tomboy so well. Like Maddie, the March sisters are spunky and likeable, with the same kind of personal grit. The novel may have been written for a younger reading audience, but it was a joy to read with adult eyes, too. It is especially dear to my bookworm heart when the author stays true to historical fact; important whether you are writing for ages one or one hundred.
With grandsons romping through my house on a regular basis, I make sure there is a low bookshelf with plenty of goodies for idle hands. Granted only one grandchild currently has the ability to read, but life happens quick and they all love being read to (for at least 20 minutes anyway). What better way to plant a book-loving seed than to be a real reading example?
I can't wait to read this one aloud!
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