The Westerners and The Gunfighters

As we look this year to America’s 250th anniversary, here are a couple of lengthy and ambitious non-fiction texts worth exploring. 

THE WESTERNERS by Megan Kate Nelson is subtitled “Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier.” Nelson, whose The Three-Cornered War was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, chooses to profile seven individuals who represent the diversity -- Indigenous peoples, Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and Canadian and Asian immigrants -- which is often ignored or forgotten but was present out West during the 1800s. She weaves together and overlaps stories featuring a biracial fur trader; the richest woman in Santa Fe; and Sacajewa, plus others like Little Wolf (a Northern Cheyenne chief); a soldier and gold miner; and female immigrants who remained resilient in the face of prejudice. Kirkus says that this very long title (464 pages) “sometimes plods,” but provides “a useful survey of the ‘messy, complicated lives of the real people who built the West.’” Booklist called it “a uniquely compelling look at the dynamism and conflict that defined the West.” THE WESTERNERS received a starred review from Publishers Weekly for its “richly layered portrait of the 19th-century frontier.” Nelson’s Epilogue section reprises how white Americans distorted facts and created myths in order to “fit a narrative that was compelling to them.” She concludes by stating, “If we do not acknowledge this expansive history of the West as a pivotal part of the nation's past, this erasure will continue the work of the frontier myth and usher us into an unjust future.”

THE GUNFIGHTERS by Brian Burrough is another thoroughly researched and well-written text. In contrast to Nelson, Burrough focused on the violence associated with white male dominance and some of the more memorable characters (many familiar names) from the nineteenth century. I read this as part of a Texas book group, and it helped me to better understand some of the cultural underpinnings for Texans. For example, there is an apparently locally well-known song about Sam Bass, but even Burrough acknowledges that “perhaps the gunfighter legend is dimming.” He hypothesized that “A gunfighter's fame endures, in almost every case, in direct proportion to his engagement with the written word, because he either talked to a journalist or two, as Hickok did; wrote an autobiography, John Wesley Hardin’s route; fired off letters to governors and newspapers a la Jesse James and Billy the Kid; or became involved in a shootout so spectacular it drew national attention … Wyatt Earp” Beverly Gage (This Land is Your Land) says Burrough “tells his story as only a loving -- but conflicted -- son of Texas could.” Several maps, numerous footnotes, references, and an index are included.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Fawcett

EMILY WILDE'S COMPENDIUM OF LOST TALES by Heather Fawcett (see others in this series) received starred reviews from Booklist and from Library Journal. Both continue to praise Fawcett’s world-building as she once again crafts dangerous adventures for dryadologist (one who studies fairies) Emily and Wendell, a fairy King. They finally venture together into Wendell’s realm, only to discover that his stepmother has cursed the kingdom, a curse that can be lifted with Wendell’s death. Determined and pragmatic, yet often impulsive, Emily refuses to accept that result and tries to find a solution through her research and scholarship. Once again, she seeks to help Wendell where “everything about the place revolves around stories. Stories shape the realms and the actions of those who dwell there.” Readers will enjoy Fawcett’s latest (February 2025 LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection) and undoubtedly look forward to more adventures.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands

EMILY WILDE'S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS by Heather Fawcett (Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries) is a much acclaimed addition to this series about a young women, Emily Wilde, who studies fairies (dryadology) and falls in love with a Fairy King, Wendell Bambleby. This time they leave Cambridge for the Austrian Alps along with faithful Shadow (a grim disguised as a dog), Ariadne (Emily’s niece, an earnest, but inexperienced dryadologist), and Farris Rose (their department head). Numerous adventures, fateful poisonings, and often scary encounters with various fairies and beasts ensue. Fawcett does an excellent job of world building – some other minor characters from her first book reappear here as well as new scholars who lead Emily to the nexus, a door to Wendell’s kingdom, called Silva Lupi. Once again, Emily’s single-minded focus on the Fairie realm proves both dangerous and beneficial; she is a strong protagonist yet has opportunity to exhibit growth and change. The LibraryReads Top Pick selection for January, EMILY WILDE'S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS also received a starred review from Booklist (“utterly enchanting”). Definitely recommended.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett is an absolutely charming tale selected for the January LibraryReads list. The start of a new series, this novel features a young, ambitious researcher named Emily Wilde who heads to Hrafnsvik, Ljosland, a place of snow and winter, in her quest to learn more about fairies and both common and courtly fae. Wilde believes “one doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories” and she is hard at work (very singularly focused) on completing her encyclopedia. The villagers have a mixed reaction to Emily until she is joined by a colleague named Wendell Bambleby. They make a formidable team although, much like the duo of Miss Scarlet and the Duke on PBS, the two often exasperate each other in an amusing fashion. Emily’s vast knowledge and Wendell’s unique skills combine to rescue some local people who have been captured by the fairies and that leads to even more adventures with the villagers. Events and observations are recorded in Emily’s research journal and Fawcett does an excellent job of world-building and sharing various myths and legends. The best part, however, is observing Emily’s fits and starts at “fitting in” and caring about those in the real world. Her future escapades promise to be very entertaining. EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES received a starred review for Library Journal and is recommended for “readers of cozy fantasies” by Kirkus. 

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan

AN ARROW TO THE MOON by Emily X.R. Pan (The Astonishing Color of After) is a clever weaving of Chinese folklore with a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Here, the star-crossed lovers are named Hunter Yee and Luna Chang, divided by their families’ animosity over professional recognition for the academic fathers. Both Hunter and Luna possess extraordinary powers that they (and the reader) do not fully understand. Hunter is capable of unusual feats of marksmanship with a bow and arrow whereas Luna attracts fireflies and seems able to control water and its movement. A prophecy warns: “The darkness will rise from the ground and wrap its fingers around hearts, and in that squeeze the loudest thoughts will be of greed and cruelty and selfishness. That will be the end, unless everything is restored.” The ensuing adventures are told in third person narration, alternating between Hunter and Luna’s view as they explore magic, mystery, and myth. AN ARROW TO THE MOON received starred reviews from School Library Journal (“a first purchase for all high school collections, especially for libraries serving AAPI communities”), plus from Horn Book Magazine and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.