Ready, Aim, Fire!: The Real Adventures of Annie Oakley

Scholastic Biography

by Ellen Levine

A biography of the famous sharpshooter who toured the country in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Genres: History, Childrens, Biography

132 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

Ellen Levine's books have won many awards and honors, including the Jane Addams Peace Award. Although she enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, most of Ellen's books for young readers have been nonfiction. "Writing nonfiction lets me in behind the scenes of the story. I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people, even if they lived 200 years ago."

Ellen Levine was born in New York City. She received her B.A. degree in Politics from Brandeis University, graduating Magna cum laude. She has a Master's degree in political science from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law. She has worked in film and television, taught adults and immigrant teenagers in special education and ESL programs, and served a law clerkship with Chief Judge Joseph Lord, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A former staff attorney with a public interest law group, Levine now devotes her time to writing, lecturing, and teaching. She is on the faculty of Vermont College's MFA program in writing for Children and Young Adults.

Ellen Levine divides her time between New York City and Salem, New York.

Reviews

[Tessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with this book in grade school. I think I read it once a month for a couple years straight. I think I can honestly credit my love of reading to this book...actually to the chapter where she tries to shoot the squirrel with enough gun powder to take down an ox.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book intresting life

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this one pretty well. I did enjoy how much the author emphasized that Frank supported Annie's career, which was unusual for the time. A good introduction.

[F · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustration on the cover looks more like the actress Joan Leslie than the actual Annie Oakley but there are enough pictures of her in the book to make that clear.
A good biography of a strong independent woman who proved you can be feminine and accomplished at the same time without those two factors being contradictory. The story has its sad parts but shows the strength and resolve of Annie from her youth and her strong partnership with her husband and others (Buffalo Bill Cody, Sitting Bull, etc.) in her life.