BAD NEWS FOR OUTLAWS: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF BASS REEVES, DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Posted on July 11, 2012 Updated on August 31, 2024

I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.

In the late 1800s, Bass Reeves was one of the most famous lawmen in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).  Though many gunmen—outlaws and lawmen alike—were known for their ruthlessness and deadly accuracy with a weapon, Bass Reeves was known for his strict sense of justice and duty, and he never killed a man unless he had to.  He was both feared and respected by the men and women he arrested, despite the fact that many white men and women in this time period were hesitant to respect African Americans in positions of power.

Bad News for Outlaws tells the story of Bass Reeves’ life and career in the style of a Western.  Although in the format of a picture book, this book will be enjoyed most by upper-elementary age readers who enjoy history and tales of the Old West.  The book won a Coretta Scott King Book Award in 2010 and appears on the Virginia Reader’s Choice Award list for 2012-2013.