Riding With the Mail

Title: Riding With the Mail        

Author: Gare Thompson

Copyright Date: 2007                   

Genre: Non-Fiction                                     

Pages of Book: 40 Pages

Publisher: National Geographic Society                                                

Reading Level: 4.4

Summary: Riding With the Mail tells how the Pony Express Started. The mail was taking too long to get from the east to the west. The telegraph didn't reach the west yet. A man started up the idea of the Pony Express. Men on horses would ride to certain checkpoints and then a new man would grab the mail and keep riding. It was sort of a relay race with the mail. Doing it this way the mail could reach the other coast in just ten days.   

Reaction: I really liked this book. I used to have a relative that rode for the pony express. If children could tie this to something in their life, I think they would find it very interesting.  

Problem: It was dangerous riding for the Pony Express because you didn't stop at all and sometimes storms would get bad or indians would attack you. 

Recommendation: I would definitely recommend this book. I think it would tie into a lesson plan really well also. It has all the facts about when it started and why the Pony Express ended when it did.