Chancy and the Grand Rascal — Sid Fleischman

Orphaned and barefoot, Chancy Dundee sets out to track down his brother and sisters -- and quickly finds himself followed by a mysterious stranger with a hawk's feather in his hat. The big man proves to be the grandest rascal on either side of the Mississippi River -- and Chancy's own long-lost Uncle Will. Joining forces to re-unite the family, they run smack into snorting villians, seat-of-the-pants adventure, and laughter by the barrelful.