School Library Journal

When it comes to learning about the Wild West, sorting fact from fiction can be tricky, but the authors of this series pull it off with aplomb. Well-known names and topics, like Jesse James, the Alamo, and Tombstone, AZ, are here, as are lesser-known but equally fascinating histories of the emblematic Johnston County War and Hugh Glass, the formidable mountain man who trekked 200 miles for help after being left for dead following a bear attack. The authors provide plenty of context for the events. For instance, in Gunslingers, readers learn that the population explosion in the West was brought about in part because of the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad. Sources are not cited, but content is organized, well written, and illustrated liberally with sepia-toned photos. Good choices for those looking to bulk up their Wild West collections.