Adams brings an inviting Wild West drawl to her reading of Couloumbis's (Getting Near to Baby
) range-riding adventure story of two orphaned sisters who inadvertently become outlaws when they run away from a foster home following the death of their guardian, Aunt Ruthie. Sallie, a spunky 11-year-old fond of reading "dimers" (dime Western novels), narrates her action-packed, suspenseful journey with her older sister, Maude, as the girls try to find a long-lost uncle in Missouri. Along the way, the sisters become wanted for having "borrowed" an old horse from their local preacher on their way out of town. They meet up with a fellow outlaw/bank-robber (and the man who killed their aunt) as well as other characters, both unsavory and kind. All the while, Maude becomes notorious via various inaccurate newspaper accounts. Adams keeps listeners saddled up for this entertaining ride and satisfying denouement, having lots of fun with the dialect and inflection in Couloumbis's realistic dialogue and her believable sibling relationship. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)
