The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson :

For Eugene Appleton, the summer of 1876 in Rattlesnake Junction, Colorado promises to be just as sleepy as the ones before. Eugene's life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Tumbleweed Thompson, a gangly, red-haired boy with a knack for spinning yarns and finding trouble. Drawn into Tumbleweed's orbit, Eugene soon finds himself chasing smugglers, firing rifles, and competing for the attention of the lovely Charlotte Scoggins. The pair's innocent mischief takes a serious turn when they stumble across a sinister plot hatched by the infamous Clean Shave Gang. They learn a lot from each other's friendship. But will it be enough to thwart the Clean Shave Gang's plans? The debut novel from Glenn McCarty, The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson is a wild and wooly tale that is classic Americana for a new generation.