Synopsis "Jake Hooter - Mail Rider"
The fascinating history of the Pony Express unfolds in this historical novel for young readers aged 8 to 14. The Pony Express operated only 19 months from April 3, 1860 to October 24, 1861, but it captured America's thirst for adventure, and it fulfilled an important communication link between the new State of California and the rest of the Country during the unsettled period before the Civil War.Remarkably, most riders were teenagers. The Pony Express relied on the ability and endurance of small riders weighing less than 125 pounds. Despite their young ages, the brave and dedicated mail riders faced danger from wild animals, hostile Indians, and severe weather.Jake Hooter was one of these brave youngsters. Based upon true stories told by riders and horsemen employed by the Pony Express, Jake encounters Indians, wolves, snakes, and hardship. He endures searing heat, bone chilling cold, and a raging blizzard during his rides to deliver the mail.As a result of a crippling injury to his father, Jake is forced to leave his family's horse ranch in order to earn money to sustain it. He develops from a homesick boy to a dedicated and responsible young Pony Express carrier.Although the Pony Express operated for a short time, it was the period around the election of Abraham Lincoln and the terrible turmoil among the States regarding slavery. Rapid communication between Washington and California was considered vital. The news of President Lincoln's election was carried across the plains in record time, and the thrilling account of Jake's ride is an historical highlight in the story.Children who love horses will enjoy the major role they play in the tale. Jake develops a close relationship with a special pony that saves him on more than one occasion.Enhanced with 31 story illustrations and filled with action based on true events, this historical novel for children from 8 to 14 provides character development, action, and adventure.
