I really enjoy reading some of the old dime novels for kids. It really gives you a good look at the state of popular culture in years past. This was an excellent novel for kids of any age. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5 star rating is that it is politically very incorrect when it comes to comments about a Native American guide.
But the plot is very intricate for a kid's book, the characters are alot of fun and it really reads well (and very visually). I can imagine movies based on these characters; the western genre for teens and pre-teens might be a fun twist.