What do you think?
Rate this book
Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad
Experience the race of rails to link the country—and meet the men behind this incredible feat—in a riveting story about the building of the transcontinental railroad, brought to life with archival photos.
In the 1850s, gold fever swept the West, but people had to walk, sail, or ride horses for months on end to seek their fortune. The question of faster, safer transportation was posed by national leaders. But with 1,800 miles of seemingly impenetrable mountains, searing deserts, and endless plains between the Missouri River and San Francisco, could a transcontinental railroad be built? It seemed impossible. Eventually, two railroad companies, the Central Pacific, which laid the tracks eastward, and the Union Pacific, which moved west, began the job. In one great race between iron men with iron wills, tens of thousands of workers blasted the longest tunnels that had ever been constructed, built the highest bridges that had ever been created, and finally linked the nation by two bands of steel, changing America forever.
In the 1850s, gold fever swept the West, but people had to walk, sail, or ride horses for months on end to seek their fortune. The question of faster, safer transportation was posed by national leaders. But with 1,800 miles of seemingly impenetrable mountains, searing deserts, and endless plains between the Missouri River and San Francisco, could a transcontinental railroad be built? It seemed impossible. Eventually, two railroad companies, the Central Pacific, which laid the tracks eastward, and the Union Pacific, which moved west, began the job. In one great race between iron men with iron wills, tens of thousands of workers blasted the longest tunnels that had ever been constructed, built the highest bridges that had ever been created, and finally linked the nation by two bands of steel, changing America forever.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
1 person is currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Martin W. Sandler
88 books56 followersMartin W. Sandler has written more than seventy books for children and adults and has written and produced seven television series. He has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and has won multiple Emmy Awards. He lives in Massachusetts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 5, 2018
Having watched AMC’s Hell on Wheels awhile back, I’ve been vaguely interested in finding out more about the construction of the transcontinental railroad and that neglected period of history. This book is a wonderful introduction to the topic—brief enough to give a quick overview but detailed enough to show there’s more to tell at every turn. Also, the pictures are well chosen, always adding to the text. After reading this book, I can see that much of the aforementioned TV show was based on truth, including the deep-seated corruption, the conflicts between an incredible variety of people, and the feats of engineering that still stand as a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of mankind. Well worth reading.
June 2, 2015
So I'm a giant nerd and I found this totally fascinating. I've seen and loved the film Union Pacific so I already knew a little of the story, but oh my the detail here is amazing! Fascinating and educational - I had NO idea about the vast numbers of Chinese men working on the railroad, for one thing!
It's also a bit of a bittersweet tale, I thought. It's of the same period as the Little House books, but it's signalling the end of those pioneering days. The building of the railroad, connecting east to west, means that the days of heading west into unexplored territory by covered wagon are numbered... it's fabulous progress, but a little sad at the same time, if that makes sense.
I do however love the idea of the "race" by the two railroad companies, seeing who can lay the most track and who can reach the eventual meeting point first.
It's also a bit of a bittersweet tale, I thought. It's of the same period as the Little House books, but it's signalling the end of those pioneering days. The building of the railroad, connecting east to west, means that the days of heading west into unexplored territory by covered wagon are numbered... it's fabulous progress, but a little sad at the same time, if that makes sense.
I do however love the idea of the "race" by the two railroad companies, seeing who can lay the most track and who can reach the eventual meeting point first.
July 17, 2020
Every year for my 8th graders unit on The West, I focus the unit around the Transcontinental Railroad. It signifies so much about the changes in the American West at that time, both good and bad. The students do a big research project from four different perspectives: railways passengers, railway owners/promoters, Native Americans, and the Chinese Americans who built the Central Pacific. The end products for each are pretty varied and interesting too. Credit to the PBS website connected with the Ken Burns The West documentary for getting me started with the plan for the unit, and I show bits of the documentary to the students too.
For all these reasons, I already know a decent bit about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. I read this book to learn more, and really to gauge how good it would be to get to give to my students as another resource.
It was really excellent, especially for a history text for younger students. There are certain elements it left out, like the Chinese American workers' strike that was shut down by the CP or the fact that the Pawnee Tribe actually was on the side of the Union Pacific (it was a sort of the enemy of my enemy is my friend thing). But I can't really fault the book just because it leaves out two bits that I happened to already know about. It still covered the main points, and much more besides. I learned many new and important elements from reading this book, such as details on the "Hell on Wheels" towns that sprang up, lots more detail on the (mainly scandal-ridden and greedy) RR owners on both sides, and a lot more about how the organization of the labor actually functioned.
The Transcontinental Railroad is truly a fascinating story. It is a perfect example of history. It has all of the elements, and not only that, but all of the elements seemingly contained in the same people and organizations. There are so many contradictions in the story that don't seem like they could have been true, but they were. I think that's how history works most of the time.
For example, the RR men who owned and ran the CP and the UP were at the same time geniuses without whose business and engineering acumen the RR could never have been completed in such a short time (it remains one of the largest ever human building projects) but also who represented some of the most corrupt, greedy, and racist tendencies of white males in power at that time. It represents a great step forward in the history of Asian Americans, yet very shortly afterwards, the Chinese Exclusion Acts were passed. Lincoln was a huge proponent of this, largely to spread free soil as an antidote to slavery, yet the RR also spelled the real end of the way of life of any remaining free Native American tribes in the lower 48 states.
I think that's how history works, and if you study it enough, you see that. So any book that shows that is doing well in my book. Add to that that it was written in succinct and compelling prose, and you have a really solid book that I will use in the future with my students. It seems that the author also has a lot more books written in this style, several of which my school library already owns. I will for sure be moving on to read those as I get a chance, and will definitely recommend them to my students.
For all these reasons, I already know a decent bit about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. I read this book to learn more, and really to gauge how good it would be to get to give to my students as another resource.
It was really excellent, especially for a history text for younger students. There are certain elements it left out, like the Chinese American workers' strike that was shut down by the CP or the fact that the Pawnee Tribe actually was on the side of the Union Pacific (it was a sort of the enemy of my enemy is my friend thing). But I can't really fault the book just because it leaves out two bits that I happened to already know about. It still covered the main points, and much more besides. I learned many new and important elements from reading this book, such as details on the "Hell on Wheels" towns that sprang up, lots more detail on the (mainly scandal-ridden and greedy) RR owners on both sides, and a lot more about how the organization of the labor actually functioned.
The Transcontinental Railroad is truly a fascinating story. It is a perfect example of history. It has all of the elements, and not only that, but all of the elements seemingly contained in the same people and organizations. There are so many contradictions in the story that don't seem like they could have been true, but they were. I think that's how history works most of the time.
For example, the RR men who owned and ran the CP and the UP were at the same time geniuses without whose business and engineering acumen the RR could never have been completed in such a short time (it remains one of the largest ever human building projects) but also who represented some of the most corrupt, greedy, and racist tendencies of white males in power at that time. It represents a great step forward in the history of Asian Americans, yet very shortly afterwards, the Chinese Exclusion Acts were passed. Lincoln was a huge proponent of this, largely to spread free soil as an antidote to slavery, yet the RR also spelled the real end of the way of life of any remaining free Native American tribes in the lower 48 states.
I think that's how history works, and if you study it enough, you see that. So any book that shows that is doing well in my book. Add to that that it was written in succinct and compelling prose, and you have a really solid book that I will use in the future with my students. It seems that the author also has a lot more books written in this style, several of which my school library already owns. I will for sure be moving on to read those as I get a chance, and will definitely recommend them to my students.
October 9, 2015
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation is a well researched, thorough book that would be perfect for any reader who loves the history of trains. Sandler covers a wide range of topics within the transcontinental railroad project, from the corruption at the top levels and the amount of political sway it took to get it started to the plights of the workers and the dangers they faced. For me the most shocking bit of information was just the level of corruption among the owners of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific companies. I shouldn't be shocked by this but I am.
I only have two concerns. The first is that there are times the writing is dry so it might be harder for older kids and teens to actually get through the book. The second concern is the plights of the workers are not ignored- but they are often glossed over- mostly by saying "oh hey it was dangerous work" and moving on. This was especially obvious in regards to the Chinese Workers used by the Central Pacific, Sandler makes it sound like they were really well respected among the crew and by the higher ups, and then at the end briefly mentions how much they struggled after the railroad was completed. I feel like the reader is missing a big part of the picture with this approach and would have appreciated some more clarification on how they were accepted within the crew prior to the end of the project.
Overall it is a good book and has a lot of information. I received a copy of this book for award consideration.
I only have two concerns. The first is that there are times the writing is dry so it might be harder for older kids and teens to actually get through the book. The second concern is the plights of the workers are not ignored- but they are often glossed over- mostly by saying "oh hey it was dangerous work" and moving on. This was especially obvious in regards to the Chinese Workers used by the Central Pacific, Sandler makes it sound like they were really well respected among the crew and by the higher ups, and then at the end briefly mentions how much they struggled after the railroad was completed. I feel like the reader is missing a big part of the picture with this approach and would have appreciated some more clarification on how they were accepted within the crew prior to the end of the project.
Overall it is a good book and has a lot of information. I received a copy of this book for award consideration.
January 23, 2023
Trains have always had a special appeal for writers. They have served as a crucial set piece in Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith and a locked room in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. The train at Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station is the first wizards and witches-only environment Harry Potter encounters on his journey to Hogwarts, an entry point to the magical world at large. Their undeniable pull remains 200 years after the first rail transport, even in the age of overcrowded transits and utilitarian stations. But as with so many things that we use daily, it is easy to forget the marvels of human ingenuity, persistence, and engineering they are.
This history of trains and the people who conceived and built them is what author Martin W. Sandler explores in Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation. The book focuses on the Transcontinental Railroad, which connects the East and West Coast of the United States, stretching from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sacramento, California. Sandler tracks its conception and the opposition it faces in Washington before clever planning and circumstances change political, media, and public acceptance of the railway line. These circumstances include the onset of the American Civil War and the election of Abraham Lincoln, a proponent of the Transcontinental Railroad. With the passing of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, the race to complete the road was on.
However, huge projects often attract equally huge, ambitious, and sometimes greedy personalities. The book names the prominent people involved in the two companies contracted to complete the project, Central Pacific Railroad, which built the line from West to East from Sacramento, and Union Pacific Railroad, which constructed the East to West tracks from Omaha. Sandler presents a cast of characters comprising idealists, genius engineers, financiers, Civil War veterans-turned-organizers, opportunists, and scoundrels. He pulls from newspaper reports, personal correspondences, and journal entries. What emerges is a compelling yet fairly brief story of a monumental undertaking and the people who, for better or worse, made it possible.
The project affected millions forever, especially Native Americans and thousands of Chinese and Irish immigrants, and the natural habitat. Transient towns called Hell on Wheels, where murder and gambling were rampant, arose wherever the crew stopped to lay the tracks; thousands of bulls were killed for food and sport; and retaliatory attacks on crews, railway tracks, and telegraph lines followed attacks on peaceful Native American villages. The face of the Earth was never the same after workers blew tunnels in granite mountains and built bridges over vast valleys. Leland Stanford, the president of Central Pacific, goes on to establish Stanford University.
Sandler taught history at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Smith College, which shows in the details. He refers to contemporary records presented in the bibliography section for those who want to dive deeper into the topic. He claims Hana Strobridge was the only woman to have been present throughout the building of the road. Is this true? I have no idea. As more writers delve into alternative histories and unearth new evidence, we realize significant numbers of women and marginalized peoples have always been present in every major historical event. But for far too long and too often, they were overlooked and sometimes erased. This is the work that needs to be done in the future by other writers.
The book is compact at just 220 pages in my Overdrive ebook edition. There are short biographies of the people involved with pictures to help readers imagine them as they read. I’m glad each company hired a personal photographer to travel with the crew during the 7-year construction. Photos of the work sites and workers are all included to give a sense of who they were and what they faced. I think the author is trying to say here is this seemingly impossible project with difficulties that seem as insurmountable as the Sierra Nevada. Then look at all these ordinary humans with typical human strengths and frailties. Yet they accomplished something remarkable through sheer grit and ego. There are no entirely good or bad people in this story. Some had dreams and skills, while others were there to make money and a name for themselves.
There were and are so many people who continue to benefit from the railroad. It reduced cross-continental travel time from 6 months to 1 week and enabled the large-scale transport of goods and mail. The telegraph lines alongside the tracks connected the United States from the East to the West. Still, it also upended Native American communities and their way of life. Once the project was complete, the Chinese immigrants found themselves unwanted in the United States, the victims of racism. Leland Stanford, who during the project had encouraged more Chinese immigration, successfully lobbied for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. It would remain in place for 61 years. Ultimately, the Transcontinental Railroad did as much good as it did bad.
I think this book is a good entry point into the topic. Thus, I would recommend it to anyone interested in trains, including children aged 12 and up. If anyone in the adaptation land is reading, it could also be a great limited series or docuseries.
This history of trains and the people who conceived and built them is what author Martin W. Sandler explores in Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation. The book focuses on the Transcontinental Railroad, which connects the East and West Coast of the United States, stretching from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sacramento, California. Sandler tracks its conception and the opposition it faces in Washington before clever planning and circumstances change political, media, and public acceptance of the railway line. These circumstances include the onset of the American Civil War and the election of Abraham Lincoln, a proponent of the Transcontinental Railroad. With the passing of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, the race to complete the road was on.
However, huge projects often attract equally huge, ambitious, and sometimes greedy personalities. The book names the prominent people involved in the two companies contracted to complete the project, Central Pacific Railroad, which built the line from West to East from Sacramento, and Union Pacific Railroad, which constructed the East to West tracks from Omaha. Sandler presents a cast of characters comprising idealists, genius engineers, financiers, Civil War veterans-turned-organizers, opportunists, and scoundrels. He pulls from newspaper reports, personal correspondences, and journal entries. What emerges is a compelling yet fairly brief story of a monumental undertaking and the people who, for better or worse, made it possible.
The project affected millions forever, especially Native Americans and thousands of Chinese and Irish immigrants, and the natural habitat. Transient towns called Hell on Wheels, where murder and gambling were rampant, arose wherever the crew stopped to lay the tracks; thousands of bulls were killed for food and sport; and retaliatory attacks on crews, railway tracks, and telegraph lines followed attacks on peaceful Native American villages. The face of the Earth was never the same after workers blew tunnels in granite mountains and built bridges over vast valleys. Leland Stanford, the president of Central Pacific, goes on to establish Stanford University.
Sandler taught history at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Smith College, which shows in the details. He refers to contemporary records presented in the bibliography section for those who want to dive deeper into the topic. He claims Hana Strobridge was the only woman to have been present throughout the building of the road. Is this true? I have no idea. As more writers delve into alternative histories and unearth new evidence, we realize significant numbers of women and marginalized peoples have always been present in every major historical event. But for far too long and too often, they were overlooked and sometimes erased. This is the work that needs to be done in the future by other writers.
The book is compact at just 220 pages in my Overdrive ebook edition. There are short biographies of the people involved with pictures to help readers imagine them as they read. I’m glad each company hired a personal photographer to travel with the crew during the 7-year construction. Photos of the work sites and workers are all included to give a sense of who they were and what they faced. I think the author is trying to say here is this seemingly impossible project with difficulties that seem as insurmountable as the Sierra Nevada. Then look at all these ordinary humans with typical human strengths and frailties. Yet they accomplished something remarkable through sheer grit and ego. There are no entirely good or bad people in this story. Some had dreams and skills, while others were there to make money and a name for themselves.
There were and are so many people who continue to benefit from the railroad. It reduced cross-continental travel time from 6 months to 1 week and enabled the large-scale transport of goods and mail. The telegraph lines alongside the tracks connected the United States from the East to the West. Still, it also upended Native American communities and their way of life. Once the project was complete, the Chinese immigrants found themselves unwanted in the United States, the victims of racism. Leland Stanford, who during the project had encouraged more Chinese immigration, successfully lobbied for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. It would remain in place for 61 years. Ultimately, the Transcontinental Railroad did as much good as it did bad.
I think this book is a good entry point into the topic. Thus, I would recommend it to anyone interested in trains, including children aged 12 and up. If anyone in the adaptation land is reading, it could also be a great limited series or docuseries.
September 11, 2015
A very interesting story. I really like this book. Lots of details, pictures and information. It is easy to understand, so that it is also suitable for older students.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
May 12, 2022
Read this to a child who is really interested in the Gold Rush part of history. This book followed along perfectly and writes about the race to build the railroad in an engaging way. There's enough detail to give you some understanding of the main people involved, major challenges and complexities while still moving the story forward. It made me want to go find more books about a lot of the topics.
I appreciated that while it celebrated the engineering achievements, it didn't shy away from talking about the complexities such as how Chinese Americans were treated (paid less, riskiest jobs, eventually excluded from immigration for a number of years) or how the founders of railroad companies were very greedy and engaged in many shady business practices.
Like another reviewer wrote, it felt real because history generally isn't all bad or all good. It's a mix of things.
Anyways, highly recommend!
The pictures are great...but I read it on an e-reader (non-Kindle and non-tablet). It wasn't a great experience because I constantly had to resize the pages to be able to read the text and then resize again to see the photographs.
I appreciated that while it celebrated the engineering achievements, it didn't shy away from talking about the complexities such as how Chinese Americans were treated (paid less, riskiest jobs, eventually excluded from immigration for a number of years) or how the founders of railroad companies were very greedy and engaged in many shady business practices.
Like another reviewer wrote, it felt real because history generally isn't all bad or all good. It's a mix of things.
Anyways, highly recommend!
The pictures are great...but I read it on an e-reader (non-Kindle and non-tablet). It wasn't a great experience because I constantly had to resize the pages to be able to read the text and then resize again to see the photographs.
December 1, 2016
A quick read that really puts you in the times. I found it interesting and I got a good overview of the event without getting into a lot of minutiae. For someone who knows nothing about the building of the transcontinental railroad I think you would find this well worth reading. For someone looking for more in depth history this is not the book for you.
March 20, 2023
Listened as a family during a long car drive. Our young child found it interesting, but it wasn't to my liking. Also likely intended for an older audience than our child, with the frequent and repeated descriptions of violence, gambling, and "hell on wheels towns."
May 21, 2019
I actually skimmed through this, but it seems to be a well written and researched book about the transcontinental railroad. I especially enjoyed the pictures!
June 13, 2021
Entertaining, broad, and easy to digest. A quick, but great, introduction of the history of the railroad in the United States.
October 15, 2021
I shouldn't have listened to the audiobook version. This book needs visuals to be fully appreciated.
February 1, 2025
Full of fantastic facts, compelling stories, and interesting background of the whole story surrounding the transcontinental railroad.
November 8, 2023
This story is about one of the greatest feats in United States history; the tying of the west and the east by a nonstop rail line from Sacramento to Omaha. It was a great adventure that was also fraught with danger, corruption, racism, unforgiving terrain, and Native Americans determined to protect their land. It was a project that saw many Chinese and Irish immigrants willingly risk their lives to complete, while many of the big bosses raked in untold wealth.
As well as being informative and entertaining, Martin Sandler's book also used wonderfully enlarged photographs that capture some of the people (both famous and anonymous) involved and the vast landscapes that were crossed.
As well as being informative and entertaining, Martin Sandler's book also used wonderfully enlarged photographs that capture some of the people (both famous and anonymous) involved and the vast landscapes that were crossed.
February 4, 2016
In the 1850’s, Gold Fever spurred a tide of humanity to head west. To cross the 1800 mile expanse (beginning at the Missouri River), people were required to walk or ride horseback. The only other option was to sail fifteen thousand miles around Cape Horn in South America to their West Coast destination. Either choice was treacherous and required months of travel time. In July 1862, President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act authorizing the laying of tracks from two separate rail companies (one from the east, the other from the west), with the intent that the companies would meet and join tracks. The act set in motion a race to complete a transcontinental railroad that would link a nation. It took six years to build a railroad that would open up the American West and change America forever.
This title is fascinating and well-researched. Sandler dramatically relates the story, balancing the triumph and heroics of the accomplishment by including the negative aspects; corruption, discrimination, displacement of Native Americans, and the environmental impact. Archival photos and maps break up the text. A timeline summarizes events, while an epilogue follows up with each of the key players after their work on the railroad. Source notes and an index are also included.
This title is fascinating and well-researched. Sandler dramatically relates the story, balancing the triumph and heroics of the accomplishment by including the negative aspects; corruption, discrimination, displacement of Native Americans, and the environmental impact. Archival photos and maps break up the text. A timeline summarizes events, while an epilogue follows up with each of the key players after their work on the railroad. Source notes and an index are also included.
February 4, 2017
Enjoying the series called Hell on Wheels for the past several seasons (though I'm watching it on Netflix), I knew I wanted to know more about the real story of connecting the transcontinental railroad and to know that several of the characters in the series are actually real people who worked to make the railroad happen is all the most fascinating. Plus, one of the guys leading the charge grew up in Troy and went to RPI- even better!
The story of all of the men who worked to make it happen (financially and politically) needs to be overshadowed by the hoards of men, Chinese, Irish, black, veteran, Mormon who tirelessly showed up each day to haul iron, dig the trench to lay the tracks, and explode the mountains to pave the paths. It was hard work. It was a long day. It was hot and then it was cold. They were worried about Native Americans and buffalo. But the sheer genius that worked to get it done is a feat to be remembered and this book is a succinct homage to that.
The profiles of the people interspersed with the story itself, told chronologically is well-organized and easy to understand.
The story of all of the men who worked to make it happen (financially and politically) needs to be overshadowed by the hoards of men, Chinese, Irish, black, veteran, Mormon who tirelessly showed up each day to haul iron, dig the trench to lay the tracks, and explode the mountains to pave the paths. It was hard work. It was a long day. It was hot and then it was cold. They were worried about Native Americans and buffalo. But the sheer genius that worked to get it done is a feat to be remembered and this book is a succinct homage to that.
The profiles of the people interspersed with the story itself, told chronologically is well-organized and easy to understand.
September 23, 2015
IRON RAILS, IRON MEN AND THE RACE TO LINK THE NATION by Martin W. Sandler tells the story of the transcontinental railroad.
Aimed children 10-14, the easy-to-read narrative combined with compelling historical photographs brings this amazing story to life. By weaving in quotes by individuals who observed and participated in construction of the railroad, Sandler highlights the determination and personal sacrifice necessary to create this marvel of engineering.
Historical photos, posters, maps, timeline, source notes, and a bibliography add to the appeal of this well-written work of nonfiction for youth. Of particular note is the epilogue that shares what happened to each of the individuals featured in the narrative.
Librarians will particularly enjoy the extensive use of primary source documents. Create a display that includes this book along with other books about trains and railroads from the past to the present.
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2015.
Aimed children 10-14, the easy-to-read narrative combined with compelling historical photographs brings this amazing story to life. By weaving in quotes by individuals who observed and participated in construction of the railroad, Sandler highlights the determination and personal sacrifice necessary to create this marvel of engineering.
Historical photos, posters, maps, timeline, source notes, and a bibliography add to the appeal of this well-written work of nonfiction for youth. Of particular note is the epilogue that shares what happened to each of the individuals featured in the narrative.
Librarians will particularly enjoy the extensive use of primary source documents. Create a display that includes this book along with other books about trains and railroads from the past to the present.
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2015.
November 25, 2015
THE MOST SLOWLY-PACED BOOK EVER BUT GOOD WRITING AND GOOD RETELLING OF HISTORY
This is a very long and slowly-paced book that is VERY tiring and takes longer than it should, but worth it for the people interested in this kind of stuff. But it is a good book with a great story and retelling of history – GREAT book for patient kids. However, very tiring for impatient kids, who might find it too long. The story is retold greatly and there are lots of maps and images, however, there are biographies for 12 different people which is a TINY bit too much, in my opinion. I liked the images and pictures – they are real pictures from that decade. The people in the biographies are decent at best, however, they tell their stories in an intriguing and realistic way.
Review by Joshua B, age 12, GLAAM/Los Angeles
This is a very long and slowly-paced book that is VERY tiring and takes longer than it should, but worth it for the people interested in this kind of stuff. But it is a good book with a great story and retelling of history – GREAT book for patient kids. However, very tiring for impatient kids, who might find it too long. The story is retold greatly and there are lots of maps and images, however, there are biographies for 12 different people which is a TINY bit too much, in my opinion. I liked the images and pictures – they are real pictures from that decade. The people in the biographies are decent at best, however, they tell their stories in an intriguing and realistic way.
Review by Joshua B, age 12, GLAAM/Los Angeles
October 5, 2015
The great race to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by railroad in the 1860s is masterfully described in this beautifully presented book. Lots of photographs, maps, biographies of the key players, side bars and information. Sandler covers the organization of both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, the difficulties and successes; the corrupt organizers, politicians and shareholders; the hardworking Irish and Chinese immigrants, the brilliant designers, surveyors and inventors, trouble with mother nature, deserts, mountains and indians. The whole story is here.
So well put together, I couldn’t put it down. A great read. Includes an index, bibliography, source material and photography credits.
So well put together, I couldn’t put it down. A great read. Includes an index, bibliography, source material and photography credits.
February 20, 2016
Fascinating account of linking the east and west. I learned that the rails had a northern route because of the Civil War. I learned that immigration laws were changed to allow more Chinese to enter America as they were the best railway workers. However, after the rails were linked, the law was changed back. I learned that the railway opened up the American West to exploration and settlement. I learned that the owners and builders of the railways cared mainly for filling their pockets with cold, hard cash by any means necessary. But these same men, worked very hard to link east and west, most of them ended their earthly days as honorable. I learned a lot from this book, so much more than what I have written in my review.
January 26, 2016
This is an exceptionally well written and illustrated nonfiction text. While it is challenging in both vocabulary and depth of information, it is approachable on several levels. It would be ideal as a reference resource for 5th grade through high school. It would also work for students who are passionate about early train history. It is also written in such a way that browsing or specific searching can work. Especially of note are the biographical entries scattered throughout the text. The historic photographs add another layer of meaning that would attract more challenged readers who are interested in the topic. I highly recommend this title.
October 9, 2015
What does it take to build a railroad that crosses a nation? Simply put, it takes a nation - tycoons, engineers, immigrants, craftsmen, politicians, and citizens united in a game changing cause. In his book, Sandler describes in detail both the main individuals in building the coast to coast railroad and the circumstances that occurred before, during, and after its construction. It is long but I found myself pulled into the narrative. Even if you are only slightly interested in railroads and only a minor history buff, this is a book worth checking out.
October 17, 2015
There was a lot more to building the transcontinental railroad than can be packed into those four words. Certainly a lot more than you’re taught in history class. Sandler does a great job of relating the true impact on the workers – Irish, Chinese, Mormon, and other – and on the indigenous residents of the American West. The story is compelling, well-told, and riveting.
December 31, 2015
Great read, I started reading to learn more about the TV show "Hell on Wheels" and found out WAY more information. I did feel like it wasn't entirely written for children and would be more for older teens and adults (just based on the text of the book). But if you want to know about the Transcontinental Railroad here's your book.
July 8, 2016
This was a very well written account of an event that helped to shape our nation. I had never really thought about how the transcontinental railroad was built but now I have great admiration for those who built it! The people and events of the time were well documented. The book was clearly written and exciting to read.
August 18, 2015
This is a wonderful picturesque look at the building of the beginning of the modern age. With numerous pictures and first hand reports, (some sanitized for sensitive readers,) you can get a real sense of the trials and tribulations that the workers went through.
Free review copy.
Free review copy.
December 4, 2015
Very well-written account of the building of the transcontinental railroad. I think this book will be very accessible to kids. There is a ton of great information here, and it's shared in an interesting way. The storytelling is paced very well and makes it exciting to read.
January 3, 2016
Wow! Who knew? Great history of the railroad companies and the people who forged the lines from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean - essentially connecting the East and West Coasts of the U.S. (A little long-winded and repetitive at times...)
September 3, 2016
This was quite interesting. Full of photographs and primary sources, this book is a great introduction to an important part of U.S. history.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews