Riding the Pony Express

Clyde Robert Bulla is one of my favorite writers for children. He writes interesting, well-paced historical fiction with characters that feel authentic. This book, "Riding the Pony Express", captivated my 2nd grader for a week. Although he doesn't really like books with "too many words", he frequently read beyond the pages I had assigned to see what would happen next. This book is about a young boy, Dick, whose aunt in New York sends him packing to find his father, who is a rider for the Pony Express in 1860. Dick is not very happy about living on the prairie, but the many adventures that befall him, his father, and his friends, transform him from a somewhat sulky boy into a courageous and compassionate young man. Another good book about the Pony Express is "Buffalo Bill and the POny Express" by Eleanor Coerr, although it is written for younger readers.

I can't believe no one has reviewed this adventure book! As a homeschooling mom, I read this with my four children every two years and enjoy it every time. (In fact, it appears as part of the Sonlight curriculum.) This is a wonderful and memorable way to learn about the Pony Express through historical fiction. A unique feature we greatly enjoy are the very short songs (vocal notes and lyrics included) that occasionally precede the chapters. We sang them and learned them all. Years later, my daughter still remembers these songs! Without giving any of the story away, this fast-moving, easy-to-read tale of courage shows what a determined boy can do when he sets his mind to it. Action-packed!

I really liked this book beacause if you want to know howthey carried mail this is a great book to read.If you read this I am sure you will like it.Hope you like it.