Emily was an orphan. A very quiet orphan without much experience in navigating the great, wide world.

Rufus was Emily’s pet turtle.

Emily’s Aunt Hilda lived in Redbud, and she had a kind face, a warm lap, and big arms that hugged Emily tight. Aunt Hilda also sent cookies at Christmas.

Emily’s Uncle Victor is the villain of the piece. He had “the silver-black of a wolf, the eyes of a weasel, the growl of a bear, and tiger tattoo on his arm.” He also had “a gold tooth that gleamed when he opened his mouth, and he could crack two walnuts in the palm of one hand just by squeezing his fist. He never came to see Emily’s mother unless he wanted money.”

Which of those two relatives would you go to live with if your parents were dead?

Of course, so Emily sets out for Redbud on the stage coach, escaping from the Catchum Child-Catching Services (Orphans, Strays, and Roustabouts Rounded Up Quickly). She soon makes a friend, Jackson, who’s also on the run from the Catchum Child Catching Services.

This story, set in the Old West, is a rip-snortin’, shootin’ shivers, hunky munky, ding-dong dickens tall tale. Each chapter ends in a cliff-hanger and with a question, for example:

And what in blinkin’ bloomers do you think she saw?

Now what in a devil’s doughnut should Emily do?

I loved this story, just exciting and suspenseful enough for nine, ten, and eleven year olds, but not too scary and horrible. I hope to read this book aloud to Z-baby, and I predict that she’s going to be a fan. For one thing, Z-baby will like the chapter endings/transition questions because she likes to make up her own words and ask lots of crazy questions.