The Sweetwater Run

Glass, A. (1996). The sweetwater run: the story of Buffalo Bill Cody and the Pony Express. New York: Doubleday book for young readers.

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: 4

The Sweetwater Run is the story of Buffalo Bill Cody and the Pony Express. Will gets hired as a stablehand for the Pony Express. When a rider is seriously injured by a snake he remembers what his boss told him about getting the mail through no matter what. So Will takes off on his horse and finishes the rider's route for him. When he arrives at his destination he finds his scary boss waiting for him. His boss is so impressed with his work that he gives him a job as a rider. He then goes on to work for the railroad and finally start a show called Buffalo Bill's Wild West to tell others about his adventures.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach about the Pony Express. It would be a very entertaining read aloud. The information in the back gives the real history about what was going on at that time.