Riders of the Pony Express

by Ralph Moody

Book Overview

Prior to the Civil War, the fastest mail between the West Coast and the East took almost thirty days by stagecoach along a southern route through Texas. Some Californians feared their state would not remain in the Union, separated so far from the free states. Then businessman William Russell invested in a way to deliver mail between San Francisco and the farthest western railroad, in Saint Joseph, Missouri--across two thousand miles of mountains,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803283059
• ISBN13: 9780803283053
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

This is geat homeschool material

I read this for my homeschooling and it is very well portrayed. Characters are given a very fair amount of credit. There is allot of pony express books out there and I have to say this one is the most: Accurate(to my knowledge), exiting, well written, Keep you interested all around good book. This man is a wonder with writing. You never get board. This is written so well, it sounds like being a pony express rider was like today being a NASCAR driver. Well I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to know more about the "Pony express" or for school (naturally).

Great Read

This book and Author have been our summer reading list for my three boys, myself and my parents. My eldest at 8 read it himself I read it to the younger two and all were kept interested. After reading Moody's book on the Pony Express we were able to stop at a couple of relay stations and they already new so much.

Outstanding Book

An accurate and outstanding book which contains a perfectly woven story, about the Pony Express. Probably the best ever written on the subject. Ralph Moody is one of top american authors in our nation's history.

A well told boy's story with the read - a - loud feel so rarely seen

This book is ideal for the mid-primary ages, filled with visionary men and larger that life characters that fulfuilled their vision. Authentic feeling due to Moody's extensive knowledge of horses and the west and illustrated with line drawings and maps that enhance understanding. A true product of it era no effort was made to soften or "PC up" the relationships and attitudes of white and indian and although the feel and language used is probably understated it may concern some people to see terms such as "Injuns" perjoratively used. There are also honest although no graphic treatments of deaths both indian and white as well as the death of some Pony Express horses in the line of duty which should be easily handled except by a very sensitive child, but if yours is please bear this in mind. An excellent book - good source for a book report. Would make an interesting read for a family traversing the Pony Express route on vacation darwing the younger children into the expereince. Over all an excellent book but slightly dated.

Death Defying Action Riding for the Pony Express

180 pages of illustrated true grit, with maps. 12 short chapters chronicle the first day's crossing of mail by the Pony Express. 4 more chapters record the danger and greatest rides of actual Pony Express riders. Ralph Moody shows only a slight bias toward his beloved wild mustangs.