This book is about the history of homesteading and what life was like for homesteaders back in the late 1800's. The book goes rather in-depth with the history of homesteading, explaining why the Homestead Act was passed, where homesteaders lived in the United States, and how homesteading effected the Native Americans who lived in the areas where homesteading was practiced. The process of buying a plot of land and building a home is explained, as well as the work that goes into starting a farm. Examples of food grown and what would be made with said food are given, as well as different examples of jobs that each family member would have. Everyday life is also explored, with chores, schooling, and entertainment being focused on. I thought this book was pretty informative, albeit a little boring and wordy. The images included in the book are very interesting, as there are actual houses from homesteaders featured in the book. I felt that some concepts needed to be explained a little better; for example, when talking about different recipes using corn, the book mentions "maize gruel for invalids." I honestly had no idea what an invalid was, so I had to Google it. There are some other instances of the book not explaining things in an easily understandable way, but that's the only big issue I had with the book. I do think the book would be a great informational guide about a way of life that many Americans lived back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and that you could easily teach a lesson about homesteading with this book. ( )