The Young Forester: Classic American Western Novel

Sample character names include Hal, Ken, Dick, Ward, Smith, Jim, and an unscrupulous for-hire Latino generally referred to as "the Greaser." Lovely, just lovely. Societally-acceptable racism aside, it's a quick and engaging, if moderately insulting, read (for, among other things, the suspension of disbelief required at frequent intervals, mostly corresponding to the practically metaphysical knowledge of forestry and government regulations that escapes our teen-aged hero's lips during long rides in the saddle in-between plot twists). And yet, it's an entertaining romp in the finest pulp tradition. Plus, I was referred to this fictionalized account of a zealous "Pinchot progressive" in the highly recommended telling of the 1910 Bitterroot Mountains fire "The Big Burn" by Timothy Egan. Yes, go read that fine book first, and then come back to consume this one.