Children of the Wild West

by Russell Freedman

Historical photographs show what life was like for pioneer and Indian children growing up in the American West during the late nineteenth century. "A memorable book that is notable both for its subject and for its exquisite documentary photographs." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Photography, Middle Grade, American History, Historical

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Russell A. Freedman was an American biographer and the author of nearly 50 books for young people. He may be known best for winning the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography.

He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.

Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to take time out from the main book I’m reading (Truman) since this one is due, with holds. I always find Freedman’s books superb and this is no exception. Freedman covers all children of the Wild West, noting for example that nearly 1 of every 3 cowboys of all ages were either were Mexican or Black (p. 79). He also briefly covered children of several Indian tribes. In addition to their home life he showed poignant before and after photos of miserable Indian kids separated by sex when they arrived at reservation schools and again around a year later. These are of course black and white photos, with a brief first chapter on the history of photography in the Wild West. This is superb history, fascinating, about a subject kids enjoy: kids! While dates are not frequent, there are enough of them to give the era. Freedman carefully attributes his quotes and the origin of each photo. This might be from the 1980s but it is not at all dated except that the term Indian is used, whereas now more would use Native American. Highly recommended to stir an interest in history.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of stories of children crossing the country in wagons, how they lived and learned. There is also information on the American Indians and their children and being sent to the white man's schools.

I thought it was an interesting read and the photos were priceless. It doesn't go into much depth, but a lot of good information there.

[grllopez ~ with freedom and books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to write home about.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more appropriate title might have been "Settling the West;" there are too many lost opportunities (especially in the first several chapters) to say this focuses on the children. Work and play could have been a unifying theme.

For the most part, the info is appropriate, it's just not very engaging. (Or I may be too familiar with the topic to judge this fairly.) My biggest criticism: Not acknowledging the cruelty of taking Indian children from the families and forcing them to follow the 'white ways' in boarding schools.

Interesting fact, p 77: Nearly one cowboy in three, of any age, was either Mexican or black.
Really!?

Best used with motivated readers, about 10 to 12 years old.

2025
Same opinion this year.

[The other John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book attempts to share what life in the "wild west"--western America in the 19th Century--was like in words and photographs. (Nice photographs. The photos are the book's strongest feature.) It's an interesting volume, though I found the text rather lacking. It pulls in some anecdotes and gives some descriptions, but it never really grabbed my interest in the way a good story would have done. I think that a few years ago I might have rated this book higher, but now it just seems to me to be good waiting room material. That's the curse of Sonlight Curriculum at work.

[Allyson Holt]

This is a great book for learning about how the pioneers from Missouri traveled to settle the Western frontier. The authentic pictures really captivated me as I read the book. At a time where it would take over and hour to take a family photo, I was really amazed at how influential the pictures were to the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves History, or wants to learn more about the trials these people faced, and what life was like as they traveled many thousand of miles for a better life.

[Namiko]

It is interesting to learn American young people of the nineteenth century American West. I like two pictures of "a group of boys on their arrival at an Indian boarding school in 1878" and "some of the same boys fifteen months later." In the one the boys are wrapped with Indian cloths with long hair. In the other, the boys are wearing suits and ties with short hair. It is amazing how they changed their appearances but it is interesting how their expressions are the same (they stand almost the same places as they did, so you can easily identify them).

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book, filled with lots of information that was easy to comprehend. I read this book with my three year old daughter, who enjoyed looking at the many pictures. I think that the pictures are what really made this book astounding. I finished the book feeling as though I had actually learned something, and I had not been dulled once in the process. Fantastic read, highly recommend it.

[Mikayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book. When I picked it up, I was expecting a book about different stories of children from that time, instead I am smothered with a lot of information I did not expect nor necessarily want. The title (to me) was misleading. Even though it talked a little about stories of children, that was only one small paragraph per chapter.
Overall, I did not enjoy the read and found it quite boring

[Loralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learn about what it was like for the children traveling through the Wild West through this great Photo essay.

[Karla]

This is from Alyson Holt's bookshelf. I am looking for more historical fiction and this one looks great. I an interested in seeing the pictures it uses.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative but rather dull.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-researched nonfiction book for young people who enjoy the Laura Ingalls Wilder series. If you don't have an interest in pioneer life and westward expansion then don't bother with this book. You probably won't appreciate all the great information it provides. Russell Freedman is a well-known author of children's nonfiction. His writing is better than textbook style, but doesn't reach the narrative style of someone like Jim Murphy or Deborah Hopkinson. Still, I found it very interesting.

Some of the topics covered: Oregon Trail, frontier homes, frontier schools, entertainment, native American life. The photographs are amazing. I can't figure out how a family living in a sod house managed to have a photograph taken. Photography was a rare thing in the mid 1800s. Definitely gives you a feel for the times. Interesting how these kids in these photographs look so alike and yet so different from kids today. These kids had to work hard every day, but their lives were so full of love and happiness. Makes we wonder what we've given up with our easy lives.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell Freedman did an exceptional job with this book; it zeroes in on the immigrant children’s’ experience of going West as well as the indigenous Indian children’s lives before, during and after interaction with the white settlers.

The photos selected were exceptional and eye-opening. My favorite aspect of the photos selected centered on the variety of tribal children photographed. I don’t think I will ever forget the two sets of photos of Indian children as they entered Indian Training Schools (schools that taught Indians how to become white) and how they had changed 14 or 15 months later. There was no spark of joy or happiness in any of these ‘chosen’ children.

Most books talk about life in the US and the Territories from an adult’s perspective. This volume focuses on life amongst the younger population; it is wonderful.

[Christy Keeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Freedman is the quintessential historian for young readers. He provides interesting and thorough histories. In this text, he covers topics including going west, settling down, the American Indians, frontier schools, building the west, and games, parties, and celebrations.

I’m sure the book would have originally earned five stars, but as we’ve learned more about American history, it’s clear that some of the information, particularly in terms of Native Americans, is inaccurate. I still highly recommend this book for use in 3rd to 8th grades if accompanied with a caveat about new knowledge.

[Myra Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book was a fun read. The pictures were amazing. I read two books that complimented each other, this book and Singing Our Way West by Jerry Silverman. Both were junior books but each conveyed the West in an entertaining and interesting way. Mr Freedman has written several junior biographies and is knowledgeable in this subject. The stories of western children reminded me of one of my favorite novels, My Antonia, by Willa Cather. I loved the pictures and the text. it was sad to see the Indian children in native dress and then put in Anglo dress. I bought this book at a consignment store in Julesburg Colorado, a favorite place of mine.

[Leslie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but informative documentary of both Native American and pioneer children from the first wagon trains in 1840 through the next four decades. it's a 30,000 foot view but packed with information. The photos included on nearly every page are compelling and revealing of a time of hard work and sacrifice that we cannot imagine today.

[Megan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. I appreciated that they didn't just focus on white settlers, but included the impact of colonization/settling on American Indians. Lots of pictures, which is nice, and fun information. A little dry as it is an "information/non-fiction" type book instead of a story.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good quick read. It's written more on a middle school level but filled with very informative and facinating facts quotes and stories from those that lived the move west across the untamed west.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

These pictures are so haunting. Freedman was an amazing photographer who captured such unexpected glimpses of American life in so many different settings.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos. Interesting

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can easily imagine myself on a wagon train

[Laura Talley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding historical photos, very interesting to read!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in reading class for our Wild West unit, this week being about growing up on the frontier. This book was stronger than I expected. It took the period of the gold rush and told us every detail. What they wore, their hardships, and their food. This was however, not very well written and was not organized very well either.

[Cynnea Schreibman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about what the children experienced when they traveled west by wagon. This book tells this story through photographs to record the historic days. This book also has another side and documents what the children had to go through when the pioneers arrived. Freedman did a good job providing both sides of this experience and explained exactly what it was like through this time period. This book could be used across curriculum to show the tough times that people went through in America and also be used in history to tell the story of going west. I would recommend this book to any teacher because I think it tells a good story and the pictures are very creative as well. I also think this book is good for younger grade levels and also older as well.

[Kim]

2 copies

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done with illustration and photos. Interesting.

[Dean Davison]

At JC J305.23 Freedman 104 p

[Andrea]

Children of the Wild West is a book with historical photographs to show what life was like for pioneer and Indian children growing up in the American West during the late nineteenth century. I would use this book to extend on a history lesson based around the American West with 4th -6th graders.