American history is full of legendary figures and events, but are the stories we’ve heard all true? This series traces how the facts surrounding figures and events tied to American history have changed over time. For instance, many students may have heard of John Henry’s legendary contest with the steam powered drill. Author Bell read railroad records and other accounts of the time to trace the origins of this story. The same is done for each figure: Primary sources are compared to the popularized version of events in order to separate fact from fiction. Each book discusses why a particular part of history was retold in a specific way. Plentiful photos and illustrations support the text, as do image captions and sidebars on related topics. Activities encourage students to write their own ballad, pen a letter describing their feelings about a current event, and other projects to extend learning. VERDICT A great collection to stimulate critical thinking and historical analysis for middle grades.

Framed as an examination of the construction of the myth of the “Wild West,” this installment in the How FACT Became FICTION series (8 titles) breaks down some of the historical realities in the period and region as well as some of the fictions that influenced popular understandings of the time. After a brief overview of how the Wild West is typically understood today, the author outlines key historic moments (the Louisiana Purchase, the Homestead act), conditions faced by various Indigenous tribes during the era of westward colonialism, and, crucially, the traveling shows of Buffalo Bill Cody, which established much of the stereotypes still evident today. While the focus occasionally seems too narrow, the exhortation to think critically about how we understand the past is a valuable lesson for any era.