Cowgirls and rodeo stars take center stage in this book about women such as Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley who had a lasting impact on the settling of the western frontier. Bibliography, Index.

In this informative and enlightening book, Holly George-Warren traces the evolution of an American icon – the cowgirl – from the 1840s to the present. Topics covered in the book include: early cowgirls, outlaws and rebels, Wild West Show girls, women rodeo stars, cowgirl actresses and singers, the changing image of the cowgirl, and cowgirls in the twenty-first century. High quality historic and contemporary photographs, advertisements, magazine covers, movie posters, etc. illustrate the book, complementing and enhancing the text by showing examples of people, topics, or events covered in the text. Quotations from cowgirls are sprinkled throughout the book. The book includes a bibliography of sources used in creating the book, which readers may want to reference in order to learn more about many of the topics covered in the book. The text in the book covers well-known cowgirls, such as Annie Oakley, but also many lesser-known cowgirls. Some readers may get bogged down in the sometimes-lengthy descriptions of different cowgirls. However, there is enough variation in topics covered in the book that it should interest most readers. It is recommended for libraries because it covers a topic not usually covered in other non-fiction books – that of cowgirls. ( )

First Line: Before anyone ever heard the word "cowgirl," there were women who ventured west.

The literal definition of cowgirl is a woman, or girl, who works outdoors with livestock, and this marvelous little volume follows this fascinating female breed from its earliest days to the present. Women of the Old West, Outlaws and Rebels, Wild West Show Girls, Rodeo Stars, Cowgirls who sang and acted in the movies... all the way to Twenty-First-Century cowgirls, George-Warren shows the logical progression of these independent women.

Women traveling west in wagon trains, women who concealed their sex and identities so they would be accepted as men-- one true spirit after another is revealed. Although some familiar names like Belle Starr, Calamity Jane, and Etta Place are talked about, the book comes to life when describing the lesser-known women.

The chapters that widened my eyes as I read were the ones about the women rodeo stars back at the turn of the twentieth century and the cowgirl movie and singing stars. I'd never realized that women had anything to do in rodeo other than barrel racing. Now I know better. In many ways, back in the early days of the sport, women participated in all events and were more popular than the men. Then along came the Depression, and the rules began to change. The same thing happened in the movies. As I read some of the film synopses, I couldn't believe what wonderful roles were available for women back then. It would seem that the Depression had more wide-ranging effects than I realized.

This is a read that is well worth your time, be you adult or child. Fortunately there is a bibliography in the back because one of the things you'll want to do when you turn the last page is to read more about these women, which is one of the best things a book can make you want to do. If you have even the slightest interest in the Old West, in women's history, or in sports like rodeo, by all means get your hands on a copy of this book. You'll be glad you did. ( )