Luchetti, Cathy. Men of the West; life on the American frontier.

LUCHETTI, Cathy. Men of the West; life on the American frontier. Norton. 252p. illus. notes. index. c2004. 0-393-32829-5. $22.50. JSA *

Men of the West belongs in the every school and YA library. Not only has Luchetti organized her material into distinct facets of men's lives on the American frontier (e.g., "Men on the Overland Crossing," "Gamblers, Lawmen, and Outlaws," "Frontier Hardships," "Beloved Husbands, Faithful Fathers"); to a very large extent, she allows them to tell their own stories. The lively and colorful text is filled with countless excerpts from diaries and letters that the men wrote during this period, roughly 1845 to 1910. Luchetti keeps the reader enthralled through the lively detail of her text and the copious photographs gathered from various western university libraries and historical societies. The text can be read in sections for reports or as a whole for a rich overview. Patricia Moore, Chestnut Hill, MA

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.