Before going off to join the Missouri Irregular Cavalry during the Civil War, Joshua “Bud” Brayden gave his younger sister, Belle, his slouch hat. Shortly after, a Union solider named Stryker shoots Bud in the back.

Belle is heartbroken by Bud’s death. She is determined to go after the man that killed him. Her brother once told her that Quantrill and his men sometimes hide out at a woman’s farm. She rides off to meet Maude Madison.

Maude takes in wounded soldiers and tries to help them. She also takes in some of the Quantrill raiders. Belle is wants to meet William Quantrill, and she eventually does. She also meets William “Bloody Bill” Anderson, Frank James, Jesse James and the Younger brothers.

I am from Missouri, and live close to where “Bloody Bill” Anderson is buried. It was pleasure reading about Belle’s quest for justice. Belle’s cousin Winnie adds a nice touch to the story. The author has done a marvelous job blending fiction, supernatural and historical figures into an adventurous story. This is necessary read!

Reviewed on 09/03/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Billy Burgess

“Belle In the Slouch Hat”, is a griping read that takes young readers into the heart of the Civil War and the effects that it has upon one family. After the death of her brother, Belle is determined to hunt for the person responsible for his death. Searching out Captain William Quantrill, a friend of her brothers who rode with him in the war, she soon beings her journey. Meeting an Indian woman by the name of Maude Madison, Belle explains her mission and soon the two begin to bond over the hardships the War has caused them both. In the meantime Maude teaches Belle about the customs and beliefs of her culture, all the while preparing Belle for her journey.

Mimi Mathis, is a vivid storyteller, and each and every aspect of this book comes to life. In fact the slouch hat that was given to Belle by her brother Bud, is so well entwined within this story it becomes a character itself. The adventure that Belle embarks upon, makes the reader feel as though they were tagging along beside her. I also enjoyed the lesson on Indian culture that was presented in this book, not to mention the way the author showed the side effects the Civil War had on families.

“Belle In the Slouch Hat”, is an amazing piece YA literature, this would be the perfect book to use for home schooling.

Reviewed on 07/28/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Angela Simmons

 Her brother Bud’s death, during the Civil War, left Belle Brayden, a fifteen year old girl, grieving.  Finding her brother’s slouch hat and then putting it on gave her the courage to go on.  Her new adventure takes her to a friend of her brothers, which he had talked about all the time.  Maude helped some of the Confederate soldiers, especially those in Quantrill’s group, which Bud had been a part of.   After watching her beloved horse shot and killed, then almost drowning herself, she could have given up.  Locating the strength to go on was not enough for Belle though.  Some how, some way she needed to help.  She needed to seek the man responsible for her brothers death, she needed to warn other towns and other people of the approaching army and she needed to heal her heart.    During the Civil War these should be difficult tasks, but through Belle’s perseverance she is able to accomplish quite a lot, quite quickly.  When she is given information about a raid on a nearby town, she quickly realizes that her cousin Winnie and Uncle Richard live there and she wastes no time in riding to their aide.

Reviewed on 06/08/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Debbie Berry

The story begins in 1862, with Belle, a 15 year old young woman who has idolized and patterned her life after, Bud, her hero, her friend and her brother. Though they all know the wages of war, it still came as a surprise when they discovered shortly after Bud left to rejoin his group, that he was shot in the back and killed.

Reviewed on 05/22/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Susan Pettrone