Why the West Was Wild

Rating:
Summary: Will Not Survive Library Use
Review: Review By Robert Young, Lane ESD
www.lane.k12.or.us/bookreview

Why the West was Wild provides a fair amount of information about certain aspects of life in the Western United States from the mid to the late 1800s. The author focuses on law and order during this time period and provides information about different well-known criminals and officers of the law. Because this is a paperback book and not library bound, it will not survive many readings. This book is informative and provides some details which the young reader may not readily find in other books about the West in the late 1800s. Many of the pictures in the book are authentic and thus give the reader a real life view of the people during this era. I gave Why the West was Wild a three-star rating as it is a good book but it will not survive regular library use.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended for school and community library collections
Review: Why The West Was Wild by Wayne Swanson is a combination history and picture book for intermediate level young readers who are eager to learn more about the tumultuous days of North America's history when thieves ran rampant, gamblers swindled at will, and heated disputes were often as not settled with bullets and the smell of gunsmoke. Black-and-white as well as color illustrations and photographs nicely bring to life this fascinating survey which devotes a two-page spread of basic information to a wide variety of topics including Old West Boomtowns, Cavalry, Range Wars, Indian Wars, and much more. A highly recommended title for school and community library collections, Why The West Was Wild is also available in soft-cover format.