ALA Booklist (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

There are plenty of books about cowboys. Now it's the ladies' turn. George-Warren, who has written about country singers and rock 'n' roll artists, turns her attention to women who took the bull by the horns (in some cases literally) and proved themselves equal to any man. Starting with pioneer women, who had to adapt to their new surroundings to survive, the book organizes itself around various kinds of cowgirls, stretching the concept to make way for outlaws like Belle Starr, leader of her own crime gang, and Wild West show girls, including sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Rodeo stars past and present are introduced as well as screen cowgirls, including Dale Evans. The book is so exhaustive, in fact, it gets a little exhausting. With all the fascinating stories, it might have been better to go for depth rather than breadth. That said, this offers a refreshing slant on the West and its women. Best of all are the many, many wonderfully reproduced photographs, posters, and even paper dolls that chronicle the history in this handsomely designed book.

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

George-Warren opens with a description of the lives of women in the Old West, using quotations from their writings. In topically organized chapters, the volume then discusses these outlaws, show girls, rodeo stars, etc., concluding with an overview of twenty-first-century cowgirls. Augmented with archival images and photographs, the book may spur horse-loving readers on to cowgirl careers of their own. Bib., ind.

School Library Journal (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

Gr 3-6 With ample dynamic photos and lively quotes throughout, George-Warren presents a thoroughly absorbing overview of the history of cowgirls up to the present. She explains that since women did much of the ranch work in the past out of necessity, they helped to break down social and economic inequalities, and Western states often led the way in passing laws such as the right of women to vote and to own land. Famous figures such as Belle Starr, Calamity Jane, and Annie Oakley are discussed in brief, but the real delights here are the anecdotes on lesser-known figures such as Lucille Mulhall, the first woman to be dubbed a &4;cowgirl&4; in print. By age 11, she could rope animals including steers, jackrabbits, and wolves. The introduction of women as rodeo and trick riders and their contributions to the sports in the 1920s and &9;30s are covered in fascinating detail, as are the film and singing sensations of the 1940s and &9;50s such as Barbara Stanwyck and Dale Evans. The book also provides an overview of fashion and a look at today&9;s cowgirls. Similar in scope to Candace Savage&9;s Born to Be a Cowgirl (Tricycle, 2001) but providing more information on women from the past 50 years, this is a fine addition Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Voice of Youth Advocates

The Cowgirl Way: Hats off to AmericaÆs Women of the West traces the shifting role of women during AmericaÆs frontier history. Initially, women worked the range alongside their pioneer fathers, brothers and husbands because their help was desperately needed. Given the restrictions placed on women in the nineteenth century, the work, although difficult, brought an exhilarating freedom and equality. Several women followed their male counterparts into a life of crime on the range; Belle Starr and Calamity Jane are the best-known. In the 1880s, Buffalo Bill brought the mystique of the West to the masses with his Wild West Show. This show highlighted Western frontier skills such as riding, roping and shooting and included many women. Phoebe Ann Moses made a name for herself as a markswoman, beating all the men in competition shooting and later enjoying an illustrious career as Annie Oakley in Buffalo BillÆs Wild West Show. These types of skills led to womenÆs inclusion in the emerging rodeo circuit. The next stops were Hollywood and Nashville. Thoroughly researched and filled with interesting facts, photographs and full-color art, the book shines in its ability to highlight a neglected story in American history. The role of women in history is often downplayed or completely absent. Women needed to be tough and highly-skilled to survive in the male-dominated pioneer West; George-Warren tells their stories in colorful, fascinating detail. This book would make an excellent addition to a unit on the American West or a celebration of WomenÆs History Month.ùAmy Fiske.