You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Pioneer!: A Wilderness You'd Rather Not Tame Book

A light-hearted look at some of the difficulties faced by the pioneers who traveled by wagon train across the United States to settle in the West.

Children's Literature

The "You Wouldn't Want to Be" series is designed to introduce children to the harsh realities of history. While, on the surface, that goal appears to be an honorable one the actual nature of this series is questionable. As with other books in the series, this selection dealing with pioneer life combines a narrative covering the rigors of heading west with illustrations that highlight main themes. Topics such as Indian attacks, the hazards of river crossings, diseases of the plains, and the violent nature of the crossing are all presented in turn. Although pioneer life is a fascinating element of American history, this particular book is not one that should be recommended to children. Though somewhat tamer than other books in this series, it still contains illustrations and printed materials that are extremely offensive. The drawings of racially stereotyped Native Americans leap off the pages as examples of bigotry or insensitivity that is startling in an age when publishers should be far more aware of racial issues. Additionally, many of the drawings included in this text are gratuitously violent or are drafted in such a way that death, destruction, and maiming appear lighthearted. All in all, this is a book that is poorly thought out, graphic in nature, and thoughtless in terms of content selection. Parents and other potential purchasers should probably steer a wide course around this book. 2002, Franklin Watts, Romaneck