Library & Information Science, Course 262: Resources for Young Adults.
Dr. David Loertscher
Summer, 1998

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"I think of myself in the oral tradition as a troubadour, a village taleteller, the man in the shadows of the campfire. That's the way I'd like to be remembered as a storyteller. A good storyteller." Louis L'amour was indeed a good storyteller. He was also a voracious reader and collector of rare books, with a personal library containing 17,000 volumes. His love of books and the importance of reading is shared through his characters. To the Sacketts, books are rare and treasured items, and being able to read is paramount to one's education and progression in life. L'amour created the Sacketts to bring to life the spirit and adventure of the American frontier, and as such the characters are intelligent, honest and courageous, hardworking,accepting of the customs and differences of others, and willing to lend a hand.

They are good role models for young adults. Each Sackett book is a complete adventure in itself, but read as a group, they form an epic account of the building of America. The potential appeal of the series to young adults lies in the recommended areas when considering adult books for crossover reading. It's historical content lends itself directly to curriculum connections as L'amour's in-depth research literally recreates the natural world of the American frontier. In addition, the reading level is appropriate for general readers, mature readers and special needs and/or reluctant readers. As a cautionary note, L'amour depicts history as it actually happened, so there is violence. Through literature one gains additional experience, and with these Louis L'amour works, there is much to be gained.

 Sackett's Land. New York: Bantam Books, 1975. After the discovery of a purse of gold coins in the mud of Devil's Dyke, Barnabas Sackett is declared an outlaw in his native England. Setting his sights on the New World, the piracy of the open seas and the savage American wilderness await him (circa 1600).

To The Far Blue Mountains. New York: Bantam Books, 1977. Barnabas Sackett returns briefly to England where he finds an order for his arrest, as the gold coins he found are believed to be the royal treasure of King John. He returns to America with his bride Abigail where they finally settle in Shooting Creek and start a family (circa 1600-1620).

The Warrior's Path. New York: Bantam Books, 1980. When Kin-Ring and Yance Sackett set out after two missing girls, the trail leads them to Jamaica, a hang-out and resort for pirates and slave traders (circa 1620s).

Jubal Sackett. New York: Bantam Books, 1986. Jubal Sackett blazes new trails across North America where no white man has been before. Living and fighting among the Indian tribes, he forges a legend as a powerful medicine man called "Ni'kwana, master of mysteries" (circa 1620s).

Ride The River. New York: Bantam Books, 1983. To collect an inheritance, Echo Sackett travels from Tennessee to Philadelphia where she comes up against ruthless killers determined to keep her inheritance for themselves (circa 1840s-1850s - before Civil War).

*The Daybreakers. New York: Bantam Books, 1960. Tyrel and Orrin Sackett go west after the War Between the States and help make the west a land where folks can raise their children. Orrin brings law and order from Santa Fe to Montana, and Tyrel backs him up as the fastest gun alive (circa 1870-1872).

*Sackett. New York: Bantam Books, 1961. Traveling through Texas on his way to join brothers Tye and Orrin in New Mexico, William Tell Sackett finds a vein of pure gold. Hoping to find enough to buy a ranch of his own, he meets those who would cheat and steal from him (circa 1874-75).

Lando. New York: Bantam Books, 1962. The story of Orlando Sackett, his racing mule, and a quest for hidden treasure. His trek takes him south , west, and eventually to Mexico where he spends six years in a Mexican prison (circa 1873-1875).

Mojave Crossing. New York: Bantam Books, 1964. Tell Sackett is packing thirty pounds of gold when he meets a beautiful woman in Colorado, who convinces him to guide her to Los Angeles across the desert (circa 1875-1879).

Mustang Man.. New York: Bantam Books, 1966. Nolan , one of the so-called outlaw Sacketts, has a posse hot on his trail for murder when he takes time out to rescue Sylvie from a gang of desperados. He realizes she's up to no good when she bushwhacks him with a shotgun and tries to poison him (circa 1875-1879).

The Lonely Men. New York: Bantam Books, 1969. Tell Sackett is lured into the Apache's mountain stronghold by Orrin's former wife, to rescue her son, unaware that she is plotting to kill him (circa 1875-1879).

Galloway. New York: Bantam Books, 1970. Brothers Galloway and Flagan Sackett were looking for a place to start ranching, when Flagan was taken by the Apaches. After his escape, he fights for his life in the rugged La Plata Mountains (circa 1875-1879).

Treasure Mountain. New York: Bantam Books, 1972. Tracking a twenty-year-old trail, Tell and Orrin Sackett search for gold and their father in Colorado (circa 1875-1879).

Lonely On The Mountain, New York: Bantam Books, 1980. The Sackett brothers get word that cousin Logan is in trouble in Canada and needs a herd of cattle to get him out of it. With Tell at the helm, Tye, Orrin and Cap Rountree push 1100 head of cattle across uncharted trails, facing the Sioux, and Logan's enemies (circa 1875-1879).

Ride The Dark Trail. New York: Bantam Books, 1972. Logan Sackett helps old Emily Sackett Talon defend her ranch against Jake Flanner, a man of wealth and power who murdered Emily's husband (circa 1875-1879).

The Sackett Brand. New York: Bantam Books, 1965. Forty gunslingers from the Lazy A corner Tell Sackett under the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. If you hunt one Sackett, you hunt them all, and the Sacketts ride to his rescue (circa 1875-1879).

The Sky-Liners. New York: Bantam Books, 1967. Flagan and Galloway Sackett go to Tazewell to pay off a debt incurred by their father, and end up getting on the wrong side of Black Fetchen, who is coming for them with the most expensive hired guns in the country (circa 1875-1879).

*The Sacketts (Video, 1979) - The fortunes of the Sackett brothers in the post Civil War west. Starring Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, Jeff Osterhage, Glenn Ford, Ben Johnson, Gilbert Roland, Ruth Roman, Jack Elam, Mercedes, McCambridge. (Combines the novels The Daybreakers and Sackett).

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