A detailed look at the mail delivery system from the expansion era of US History, Life on the Pony Express provides in-depth analysis of the who, what, when, where and why of this unique form of mail. Each chapter looks one slice of what it took to start and keep the Pony express going through 1860 and 1861.
What tween boy doesn’t still like action and war? Well, there is plenty of both in this historical look at such a rough and dangerous job. While more of a text than a narrative, Ms. Yancey provides plenty of stories beyond the facts, like the one about “American Boy”, a horse who decides he doesn’t need a rider to deliver the mail (Yancey, p. 48) or the description of Warren Frederick Fisher who was one of many riders to be stuck in a blizzard with no idea which way he was going (p. 72).
Indians were also a part of the ride from Missouri to California causing delivery problems, deaths, and transportation problems. The way stations used to house riders and horses for each leg were often plagued by Indians looking for “free” horses or food.
Overall, this book presents a fun look at the best known early transcontinental mail delivery system.
Standards: Louisiana H-1A-M2: Demonstrating historical perspective on political, social and economic context through which an event or idea occurred. H-1A-M3: Analyzing the impact that specific individuals, events or ideas had on the course of history.
Age Range: 9 to 14
Recognitions:
School Library Journal (May 2001)
School Library Journal (August 2001)
Yancey, D. (2001). The Way People Live- Life on the Pony Express (1 ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books.
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