Review by Booklist Review
With nary a saloon girl in sight, this True Book: Women's History in the U.S. series (5 titles) selection sets the scene of America's Old West much more honestly than many texts, pointing out the theft of Indigenous Peoples' land and culture inherent to westward expansion, as well as the presence of enslaved people and Black settlers endeavoring to escape the racism rampant east of the Mississippi river. Only after this does it shift its focus to the women who traveled west, many seeking greater freedom and independence. Some benefits extended to white women included careers in teaching and, in some territories, the ability to vote. The text also reveals how the Homestead Act of 1862 allowed U.S. citizens, regardless of race or gender, to become landowners. Some of the enterprising women readers will meet include Mary Fields (African American U.S. postal worker), businesswoman Nellie Cashman, Susanna Madora Salter (first female mayor in the U.S.), and Lyda Conley (first Indigenous woman to become a lawyer). The context provided by this well-designed and accessible history elevates it above others.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
