"True Tales of the Wild West” series
Quick-Draw Gunfighters
Author: Jeff Savage
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2012
Reviewer: Sharon M. Himsl
Age: 12 up, Young Adult nonfiction
Pages: 48
“Gunfighters in the Wild West were a flashy, self-confident breed,” writes Savage. They led a dangerous life and knowing how to handle a gun well was essential, especially knowing when to pull the trigger (the Quick-Draw). They often bragged about their abilities and could be ruthless with a gun. Many learned to handle guns as children or during the Civil War, but grew corrupt over time and became outlaws. They often lived out their lives in gangs, robbing banks, trains, ranches, stagecoaches, and similar. The James Gang, for example, robbed trains and banks for nearly fifteen years before they were stopped. Some gunfighters, however, became lawmen and fought against these outlaws. Townspeople in western frontier towns and settlers in outlying areas were desperate for law and order, and often joined forces with the lawmen. The majority of outlaws lost their lives in shoot-outs or went to prison for their crimes, while many lawmen died fighting them. Savage describes this violent period in U.S. history as spanning from post Civil War to around the turn of the century. Some of the outlaws described are the James Gang (Jesse James), the Doolin Gang, Billy the Kid, and the Wild Bunch (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, and Bat Masterson are among the lawmen also described. Similar to other books in the series, Quick-Draw Gunfighters is a short read, as are the Glossary, Index, and Further Reading list at the end, to appeal to reluctant middle grade readers. Boys in particular will be drawn to the dialogue and live action depictions of actual gunfights. Black and white photos from the period are included, adding authenticity to events and individuals portrayed. Resources are listed for each chapter.
Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl
"True Tales of the Wild West" series
Pioneering
Women
Author: Jeff
Savage
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2012
Reviewer: Sharon M. Himsl
Age: 12 up, Young Adult nonfiction
Pages: 48
When
Agnes Morley’s father died in 1886, the family was left to fend for themselves.
Agnes, her mother, and two siblings became ranchers in New Mexico, and before
Agnes was even a teenager, she could saddle and ride a horse like a man, herd
cattle, handle a gun, and defend the ranch against cattle rustlers. Agnes was
forced to take on duties “considered man’s work,” Savage writes. However, she
grew to enjoy her freedom as a young woman, and even wore a five-gallon Stetson
cowboy hat, refusing to wear a sunbonnet. Agnes is representative of the brave women who traveled overland to settle the
American west beginning in the 1830s, but not all women were the same, Savage explains. Narcissa
Whitman and Eliza Spalding, for instance, were the first of these women to
travel west and came with their husbands as missionaries. Most women were
married and had more traditional roles: raising children, cooking, running
the household, etc. But like Agnes and her mother, they often learned out of necessity
how to manage a homestead alone, hunt for food, and defend their property. Other more
independent-minded women traveled west alone. They liked being free to do as
they pleased and challenged the traditional roles of women. Calamity Jane, for
example, openly drank, smoked cigars, and gambled. Some women traveled west to
mine for gold. Women even became outlaws, such as Belle Starr, better known as
the “Bandit Queen.” Women came as reformers and teachers, too, bringing
education, morality and respect to the frontier, including suffrage. Savage does a good job summarizing the different types of women who traveled west. One chapter
appears to deviate from the theme, however, and is devoted to American Indian women (e.g.,
Sacagawea) and Spanish women in the Southwest beginning in the 1500s. As Savage then explains, these are
really the “first western women,” to settle the frontier; they share a kindred pioneering spirit with the women who traveled from the east later. Pioneering
Women is aimed at older reluctant middle grade readers, but advanced readers will
also find the book interesting. Black and white photos, Glossary, Index, and
References are included.
Copyright 2012 © Sharon Himsl