Frontier America

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Volume one of this clearly written, straightforward set includes information on the migration of Native Americans from Asia to North America as well as exploration and settlement by the Norse, Spanish, French, British, Dutch, Swedish, Germans, Scotch-Irish, and Russians. It concludes with an account of the French and Indian War. Volume two covers the period from after 1763 to the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. Volumes 3 to 10 are an alphabetical, encyclopedic series of entries covering individuals, groups, events, places, individual states, and more. State entries include an article and a fact box listing Native Americans of the area, the history of its name, earliest European visitors, etc. In-depth entries on such topics as the "California Gold Rush," "Jewish Americans on the Frontier," and the "Trail of Tears" are printed on yellow pages and highlighted in each volume's table of contents. Cross-references and quotes from primary sources are scattered throughout. Each volume includes illustrations on every page (mostly captioned paintings and drawings), a few photos and maps, and a set index. The final volume concludes with an extensive list of Internet sites. A useful resource for both students researching the topic and for browsers.-Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.