School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8ÄSpies is at her best when describing the influence of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show on the preservation of buffalo herds and the creation of the mythology of the American cowboy. The biography is full of facts, including information about Cody's friends, why he received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and why it was taken away from him. The book's weakness is in reconciling facts with the author's interpretation of them. Spies states that, "any killing [Cody] did was in self-defense or as part of his job as a guide and a scout" immediately after describing his first killing of a Native American when he was a child in what was clearly not a life-threatening situation. The text presents a vivid description of a Wild West performance but, for all of its attention to detail, there is no mention of a date anywhere in the chapter. Cody led an interesting and colorful life and left his mark in many ways, and this does come through. Excellent full-page period photographs and reproductions appear throughout, and chapter notes give full documentation.ÄEdith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Adequately written biographies trace the lives and accomplishments of three notable American figures. Strengths as well as weaknesses are related, with personal flaws and foibles presented in proper journalistic fashion, with little editorializing. The books are illustrated with black-and-white photographs and reproductions, and the final chapter of each discusses the historical legacy of the subject. Bib., glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
