Reviewed by Beverly J. Rowe, MyShelf.com
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Twelve-year old Will Long has always been fascinated by Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid in their outlaw escapades as shown in the film with Robert Redford and Paul Newman. He has read everything he could find about them, and now, as he dozes off, the outlaws themselves join him in his dream. Will has recently lost his father to an accident, and now he and his mother are on journey by train to see the man she has become interested in.

Will is swept back in time, and Butch and Sundance are in the process of robbing the very train Will is on. Will gives the outlaws some help in the robbery and then rides off with them. What an exciting adventure! Butch is the cheerful, friendly one, and Sundance is just a bit grouchy. Will has read all the history of their robberies and knows what to do to help them avoid capture. He is assigned the job of staying with the horses during a robbery that goes sour...making Will realize that robbery is, after all, a crime. He begins to wonder if the outlaw life is right for him...he begins to miss his mother.

Etta Place is a bright spot in the outlaws' lives and is secretly married to Sundance. They all travel to New York, where Butch, Sundance and Etta will depart for South America. The characters are very realistic and likable...the plot compelling and fast moving with an ending that is a refreshing surprise and just right. I'm looking forward to more from this exceptional writer. She has the knack to make the learning of history exciting and leave kids begging for more.