School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 UpA compilation of key personalities of the American West. These 26 biographical treatments reflect the panorama of the changing West and include explorers, statesmen, naturalists, artists, entrepreneurs, plus a few eccentrics. Well-known men and women of the era (1790 to the 1890s) such as Daniel Boone, Calamity Jane, Sacagawea, and Frederick Remington are counterbalanced with other lesser-known but influential individuals. The strength of the work lies in Calvert's revelation of how often these figures overlapped in the braiding of Western history. For example, medical missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman once operated on Jim Bridger, and Buffalo Bill Cody once joined George Armstrong Custer on a chance hunting party. This criss-crossing of people within history adds a fresh, engaging aspect to biography, and will aid in sustaining the interest level of readers seeking information on such personalities as Jim Bowie, George Catlin, Johnny Appleseed, John Deere, John Muir, and others. Calvert's writing style is consistently readable and succinct, and the volume is complemented with black-and-white reproductions and photos. In addition, the author maintains a balanced treatment of ethnic roles within their proper historical context. The brutality of both white men and Indians during this era is honestly depicted. This fascinating array of individuals will inspire and educate readers, leaving them with a new appreciation for the art of writing superior collective biography.Carol Beall, Immanuel Christian School, Springfield, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This thick volume with double-column text is intimidating, but the content is accessible and readable. Each of the more than two dozen entries profile individuals who lived in the West, including Native Americans Crazy Horse and Sacagawea, or traveled westward as explorers, soldiers, missionaries, and artists. The writing is clear and dramatic; historical reproductions and black-and-white photographs accompany the text. Bib., ind. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Continuing the Great Lives series, Calvert (Glennis, Before and After, 1996, etc.) offers an intimate introduction to the men and women who tamed the American West with this engaging and friendly history. Each of the 26 chapters (19 men, 7 women) focuses on a single person: A capsule entry gives the facts, followed by a narrative. Readers learn that although the legendary Daniel Boone's reputation brought him fame in Europe and the US, he was always strapped for cash. John Deere, the man whom Calvert cites as the individual most responsible for revolutionizing American agriculture, is also shown as a perfectionist who couldn't run his own business successfully. Perhaps even more fascinating are the frequent chance meetings of mythic figures: Even though the territory was so vast, many of these folks crossed paths more than once. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr 4^-8. Readers who succeed in wading through this daunting volume (400 pages, double-column textbook-style print, and infrequent black-and-white illustrations) will be rewarded with some interesting vignettes from the lives of some important figures. Calvert profiles 27 individuals, ranging from well knowns (Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Sacagawea) to the more obscure (George Bird Grinnell, Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, and Nancy Ward). Each section begins with a brief summary that identifies the person and reviews his or her accomplishments, followed by a more detailed life story. Report writers required to have a source beyond the encyclopedia are the obvious audience here. Librarians will have to weigh the bargain price of all this information against its format deficiencies. --Kay Weisman
