Whenever I see a book like this my brain automatically adds a subtitle to the title, like HOW TO GET RICH ON THE OREGON TRAIL: Kill some Indians, take their land, and reap the profits of Manifest Destiny! And then I have to remind myself that I am 37, and it took me a long time to learn everything I needed to learn about our history, and that perhaps it might be better for kids to learn their history in more age-appropriate pieces. Once I remember that, I’m more able to evaluate a book fairly.

This? Is a very cool book.

Once I saw that it was published by National Geographic, I expected nothing less. I expected top-notch historical information presented in an entertaining way, and this book is actually a lot of fun. I mean, about as fun as a book about pushing West back in the pioneer days can be.

HOW TO GET RICH ON THE OREGON TRAIL is written like a journal, from the point of view of a young man named William Reed. His physician father decides that the family should go West to seek a new life, as his father and his father’s father did before him. So the family sells their Illinois home; buys a wagon, oxen, horses and supplies; and sets off on the months-long, perilous journey to Oregon.

The book contains some surprisingly laugh out loud moments. For example, before William and his family set out, he lists his private fears in his journal. Among them: Starvation (I am fond of eating and do not wish to give it up). The mood is also frequently lightened by William’s brother, Nathan, who conceives one get-rich-quick scheme after another as their journey continues.

Despite my generalized comments at the beginning, the book doesn’t shy away from the low points of these journeys. William’s family are robbed by fellow travelers. His father treats many people for cholera, and they encounter a lot of graves along the way. There are conflicts with the Indians, conflicts with other travelers, encounters with slavery, unclean water, lice. The book doesn’t delve into any of these topics very deeply, but it definitely paints a broad picture.

The overall mood is definitely more uplifting than these journeys actually were, but there’s a lot of good information conveyed here. The art is terrific and the design of the book is very entertaining. I think this is a must for libraries, definitely, and any kid with an interest in American history would enjoy having this on their personal shelves as well.