Starred Review ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 1998)

Starred Review Most girls would be upset if a gang of bandits rode in, but Annyrose sees it as an improvement. Locked in a barn since she tried to run away from the villainous O. O. Mary, Annyrose pleads with the bandit called Wakeen to let her go along with the gang. Thinking she's a boy, Wakeen agrees to take her--provided she'll teach him to read so that he can find out what the gringos are saying about him on wanted posters and in the newspapers. Although Annyrose heartily disapproves of the gang's thievery and murder, she comes to realize that the bandits are only stealing what was taken from them when ruthless white settlers wrote laws to pry off those with darker skins from the diggings. The message about bigotry forms the underpinnings of the book, but Fleischman couldn't write with a heavy hand if he tried. His rollicking humor (Annyrose and Wakeen are both surprised when they discover Wakeen's name is really spelled J o a q u i n , spicy writing style, and action-packed narrative make this a page-turner. Joaquin, of course, is the famous Mexican bandit Joaquin Murieta, and an afterword explains which parts of the story are true and which are fictionalized. Annyrose and Joaquin are equally likable, the setting is detailed and authentic, and the substantial story comes to a satisfying conclusion. (Reviewed October 1, 1998)

Starred Review for Publishers Weekly

Seasoned author Fleischman (The 13th Floor) returns with a spirited novel set against the California Gold Rush. Plucking a character out of history--Joaquin Murieta, an infamous 1850s Mexican outlaw--he expertly crafts a fictionalized tale that takes a clear-eyed look at bigotry and racism, while steering away from the twin pitfalls of pedantry and sermonizing. Told from the point of view of Annyrose Smith, an orphan in search of her brother Lank, the story starts with a bang (she's swept off with the banditos) and never lets up its fierce pace. All the trademarks of one of Fleischman's rollicking yarns are here, from treachery aplenty and multiple cases of mistaken identity, to colorful rascals--all delivered with a double helping of humor (as when Annyrose attempts to teach the outlaw to read and he remarks, """"They tell me my name starts with a J. Yes, I have seen that shape on wanted posters""""). Fueled by brisk dialogue and lively descriptions (""""my heart sounded like woodpeckers in my ears""""), the story moves as swiftly as a whitewater stream, carrying readers along for an exhilarating ride. It's not all thundering hooves and gunfire, however. Fleischman also tucks in weightier issues, as Annyrose ruminates on such concepts as revenge, villainy and friendship while riding with the outlaw--who, as it turns out, is hardly the bloodthirsty figure he's been painted to be. Food for thought packaged inside a most enticing adventure. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-up. (Sept.)

Horn Book

Orphaned Annyrose Smith, twelve when she is left with a heartless swindler during the California gold rush, manages to escape, only to be gathered up by infamous outlaw Joaqu_n Murieta. The characters of Joaqu_n, a Mexican Robin Hood, and Annyrose, spunky but thoughtful, clothe issues of loyalty and honesty in a roaring adventure story, smartly written and chock full of humor and derring-do.

Kirkus Reviews

Fleischman (The Abracadabra Kid, 1996, etc.) tells a meandering but effective story of a Mexican outlaw and a spunky "gringo" girl. During the Gold Rush, when recently orphaned Annyrose, dressed as a boy, escapes from her brutal caretaker, she is taken in by the infamous bandit, Joaqun Murieta. He gives her food and protection in exchange for teaching him to read; he also helps Annyrose in her search for her brother, and she helps the bandit fake his death. Her loyalty to Joaqun is only tempered by her strong sense of ethics (in fact, her moral haranguing is constant); despite his great charm and unusual kindness he is, after all, a murderous outlaw (whose crimes occur mostly offstage). Based on the exploits of bandit Joaqun Murieta, this story wanders all over the map, literally and figuratively. What holds it together is the tense but warm relationship between Annyrose and Joaqun; Fleischman infuses their scenes with charm and offers plenty of excitement set in an intriguing historical period. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 8-12)

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-An exciting novel set in the days of the California Gold Rush. After young Annyrose breaks her ankle, she is left with the evil O. O. Mary by her brother, who continues on to make his fortune in the mines. She is saved from this horrible fate by the Mexican bandit Joaquin Murieta, who has come for revenge against the people who murdered his family and stole his land. Thinking that Annyrose is a boy, Joaquin takes her along with his gang so that she can teach him to read. During her travels with the band, Annyrose gains an understanding of the injustices the ruthless bandits are avenging and becomes friends with Joaquin and the others despite her fears and objections. She alternately helps and hinders their endeavors and is ultimately reunited with her brother. Written in the style of an old Western, the book is full of lore and legend of the Old West. It is fun, fast, and wild, but there is a serious side to the story. In an author's note, readers learn that a Mexican bandit, Joaquin Murieta, became a legend as both a cutthroat and a Robin Hood-type figure. Fleischman makes Joaquin a sympathetic central character as he shows the injustices suffered by minorities during this time of greed and lawlessness. This is classic Sid Fleischman: a quick read, with lots of twists, wonderful phrasing, historical integrity, and a bit of the tall tale thrown in.-Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL