Biography of a River

School Library Journal

This look at the Mississippi focuses on the river's importance to the history of North America. McCall offers background about the early river history and Indian use, but she concentrates on the river's heyday, the steamboat age, before the railroads took over. She describes in detail the ways in which people have shaped the river to their needs, but emphasizes that it is a living system which is never quite tamed, and discusses current problems such as pollution. McCall writes clearly and comprehensively of people and events . There is little about women's roles on the river, but she is very objective in her treatment of native Americans. Black-and-white period illustrations and photos show how people have viewed the river throughout history. Although this book is historical rather than geographical in focus, it lacks a clearly marked map of the Mississippi drainage area. This flaw makes it difficult for readers to identify places mentioned in the text without the aid of a supplemental map. Steamboats on the Mississippi (American Heritage, 1962; o.p.) remains a good source on Mississippi history and contains better illustrations and maps. Libraries seeking more current material about the history of the Mississippi will find this book a good replacement or companion title purchase. --Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO