Billy the Kid: A Riveting Young Adult Western About the Legendary Outlaw

by Theodore Taylor

William H. "Billy the Kid" Bonney Jr. loves to take risks. But Billy's luck runs out when, during a train heist, a passenger recognizes the nineteen-year-old outlaw. Fed up with his bad ways, Sheriff Willis Monroe, Billy's own cousin, decides to track him down. The Kid's two-timing partners are hunting him, too--and a posse wants Billy ( and the sheriff) dead.

This gripping fictional tale imagines William Bonney's fate had his life of crime taken a very different turn. Fans of adventure will be riveted by Theodore Taylor's fresh take on a legendary character.

Includes an author's note about the real Billy the Kid.

Genres: Historical Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Kevin Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Billy comes off as a happy-go-lucky schmuck, and the author completely fictionalizes his life, which is fine, except it's not really noted until the author afterword. Characters very thinly developed. And also, I know it's an exercise of preference - but I HATE 3rd Person Omniscient that shifts with EVERY other paragraph. Sloppy.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't thrilled with this half-imagined history.

[Karsten M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned more about billy the kid that i didn't know before.I learned that William Bonney's parents died at a young age. I learned about his first train robbery. I learned that Billy the Kid had a cousin that he was pretty close too.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brent is currently reading. Brent read this book really fast but he said it was only ok.

[Everardo Duenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

its a ok book no bad not good

[Zaina Vanlandingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read, but while reading Theodore Taylor gives the reader plenty of suspense making you want to keep reading.

[Bousseyna Ousman]

I think this is a great book to read.