From School Library Journal
YA-- Rarely does a document convey so much information in so few pages as this descriptive journal of Asa Bement Clarke's travels. The clearly written, simple prose provides the background information and supporting evidence to prove that to succeed in crossing the southern route to the West Coast, one had to overcome many obstacles: poor sanitation, sea sickness, cholera, Indian attacks, Mexicans who preyed on : the strangers within their gates, magistrates whose amoral administration rivaled the outlaws they incarcerated, and extreme weather conditions. Perry's editing makes this valuable historical document read like a fast-paced adventure story with greater depth of philosophy and diversity of observations than is usually found in historical diary/journals. The book lends itself to a reading aloud program for the younger grades and will certainly be an excellent text for high-school, middle-school, or public libraries. --Barbara Batty, Port Arthur I.S.D., TX
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
