African American Women of the Old West reviews:

Little Known History of African American Women  Nov 2, 2007

 Tricia Martineau Wagner is a wonderful story teller (I have her "It Happened on the Underground Railroad" and “African American Women of the Old West”). Without straying from the facts, Ms. Martineau-Wagner writes of her subjects almost as if she knew them, personally, or that they are still alive! She brings the reader into their mind and heart. You feel their toughness and iron will, as in the story of Mary Fields (aka "Stage Coach Mary"), the infinite tolerance and patience of Biddy Mason; and the resourcefulness and cleverness (the latter bordering on deceitfulness) of Mary Ellen Pleasant, in order to survive and maintain their dignity -- Mary Ellen Pleasant went on to become the richest African American woman in San Francisco during the 19th century. Those are but three of the well-told stories in this book.  

This book fits into the same category of Ms. Martineau-Wagner's other book that I read "It Happened on the Underground Railroad." It reads like fiction, and that's a compliment. Although the women Ms. Martineau-Wagner writes about continually confront racial indignities, and to some, slavery, the focus of their stories is on their strength of character and force of personality (particularly in the case of Mary Fields, who's on the cover)  

Martineau-Wagner's works, so far, are excellent reading for young adults who can read about history in a very enjoyable way, and in the process find good role models.  

- James A. McGowan, publisher, the harriettubmanjournal.com

“African American Women of the Old West presents the reader with fascinating accounts of ten extraordinary, generally unrecognized, African Americans. Tricia Martineau Wagner takes these remarkable women from the footnotes of history and brings them to life.”

-Ed Diaz, President of the Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation