History--with the good bits put back. Discover the drama, discoveries, dirty deeds and derring-do that won the American West. With a storyteller's voice and attention to the details that make history real and interesting, Steve Sheinken delivers America's greatest adventure. From the Louisiana Purchase (remember: if you're negotiating a treaty for your country, play it cool.) to the gold rush (there were only three ways to get to California--all of them bad) to the life of the cowboy, the Indian wars, and the everyday happenings that defined living on the frontier.
Which Way to the Wild West?
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 5–9—If Bill Bryson wrote history books for middle graders, they might read something like Sheinkin's offering. The former textbook author claims to have included all the "funny, amazing, inspiring, surprising, and disgusting stories" that his previous editors made him omit. The result is an engaging (though not necessarily introductory) chronological medley of anecdotes about the Wild West in nine lively chapters starting with the Louisiana Purchase and ending with the Lakota massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. Casual vignettes of famous figures and ordinary people come to life in an almost irreverent way. For example, a primary quote outlines Union Pacific vice president Thomas Durant's plan to get rich off the railroad: "Grab a wad of money from the construction fees—and get out." Sections on the Donner Party's tragic fate in the Sierra Nevada are entitled "Beware of Shortcuts" and "You Call This a Party?" A "What Ever Happened To…?" chapter follows up on notable individuals and lesser-known folks such as Biddy Mason (a former slave) and Catherine Sager (an orphaned pioneer child). The useful source notes include interesting suggestions for further reading on subjects such as territorial expansion, the gold rush, and Native Americans, and humorous black-and-white cartoons and caricatures decorate many pages.—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library END
Review
“An engaging chronological medley of anecdotes about the Wild West in nine lively chapters starting with the Louisiana Purchase and ending with the Lakota massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890.” —School Library Journal
“Super illustrations, fresh stories, thoughtful insights with a light touch, this is fun for kids and parents alike.” —Travelforkids.com
“Sheinkin builds his conversational narrative around stories of the men and women who peopled the west, with particular attention given to African Americans, Chinese workers, and everyday farmers and cowboys. There’s plenty of humor here, but Sheinkin’s strength is his ability to transition between events.” —The Horn Book
“An accessible and engaging historical overview.” —Kirkus Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who Knew American History was so Cool?,
By
This review is from: Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion (Hardcover)
Sheinkin does it again! I am commenting on Which Way because it is my favorite of his (thus far) three US history books. I reluctantly picked up this one because I had little interest in the American Westward Expansion but loved King George and Two Miserable Presidents (his two previous titles). Sheinkin's is an expert engager, and I quickly converted to a Wild West enthusiast. Sadly, I reached adulthood (with a BA and MS!!!) without a clear understanding of hows and whys of US history (though, you bet could draw a heck of a time-line). Thankfully, Steve Sheinkin is here to illuminate American History for (us and) our children. Let's hope that he continues covering US history right up until the present!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Book,
By Anonymous (Wilmette, IL) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion (Hardcover)
I love all of Steve Shenkin's books, and now I own all three. Instead of focusing on a war, this time Mr. Shenkin wrote a book about the wild west. It is great, and follows his funny and intriguing style. His ability to find wacky stories is very much appreciated, and it makes his books many times more interesting than if they had simple, standard, stories. All in all, this book was great and I loved it, as I have with all of Mr. Shenkin's books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the classroom,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion (Hardcover)
This book is great for the 8th grade history. My class loves it one of the most picked up books in my classroom.
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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