The Gentleman Outlaw and Me--Eli

by Mary Downing Hahn

Book Overview

In 1887 twelve-year-old Eliza, disguised as a boy and traveling to Colorado in search of her missing father, falls in with a gentleman outlaw and joins him in his illegal schemes. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039573083X
• ISBN13: 9780395730836
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Luck Be a Lady

The Story: 12 year old Eliza Bates is in somewhat of a sticky situation that also happens to be between a rock and a hard place. Her father is somewhere in the Wild West, far from her Kansas residence. Her mother is dead. And she was left to the dubious 'charity' of her uncle and aunt. Abused by her cousins and treated as a slave, she decides to scamper into the night. Whilst doing this, she gets four additions to her life: a false gender, a new name (Elijah Bates), a dog and a poor excuse for a card-sharp, Calvin Featherbone. The dynamic duo and dog travel across the country so that Eliza can find her father and Calvin can kill the man who murdered his father. Eliza just hopes they aren't looking for the same man... This was a greatly enjoyable read. Eliza was completely plucky and Calvin was fun as the Gentleman Outlaw. The plot was smooth and flowing. Very kid friendly and something I wouldn't hesitate to read with 5th grader.

This is a fabulos book!!!

This book really makes you feel like your in the Old West. It especially got me interested when I discovered the hero (or heroin) was a girl! This is a great story for readers or all ages!

Finally! A good western story with a great girl heroine

The story starts out stereotypically enough; a young girl forced to live with mean relatives, disguises herself as a boy and runs away from home. But her adventures and espescially her antagonistic friendship with the gentleman outlaw take this book above the pat story. She has a goal; to get to Tinville and maybe find her father, but she needs money. The gentleman outlaw has money, but he needs her help in his schemes. Out of their mutual need, they stick together, and she proves herself a formidable ally to the end. Their adventures together are so enthralling, one almost forgets entirely about the inevitable ending. This book is reminiscent of one of my favorite movie's -- Paper Moon, with a less fantastical outcome, but no less triumphant.

An Exciting Western! A Definate Must!

This great book gives you an idea of what it'd be like living in the time of the Great Gold Rush. Eliza Yates, a mistreated girl, runs away with her dog, Caeser, and decedes its better to run as a boy. She disguises herself as one, christens herself Elijah Bates, Eli for short, and bumps into Calvin, who calls himself the Gentleman Outlaw. He is determined to kill the Tinville Shreiff, who's name happens to be Yates. Eliza is shocked, but keeps quiet about it. Together they encounter problems, and Calvin's street-smart intellect seems to worm them out. Eliza starts to distrust Calvin and gets angry at him when he gambles off 20 dollars! This story is one of humor, excitement, and fun. I suggest you read it!!!

I read this book 26 times!

This book was very adventurous and I liked the main characters because they are not very regular people. Regular people don't chop their hair off and go beg for money to buy things. I think it was one of the best books Mary Downing Hahn has written, and I've read it so much it looks like it's been caught in a tornado! Zara, grade 6