This historical novel about the 1889 Oklahoma land rush, winner of the Oklahoma Book Award and Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction, includes plenty of authentic details that will entertain and inform general readers. Russell is a noted author who lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the formerly designated territorial capital during the land rush, and he describes the rise and fall of this "jerrybuilt" city as seen through the eyes of his main characters. The author also supplies an afterword that discusses the historical importance of Guthrie in the years since the land rush, and how it is still a center for tourism and the arts for those who want to know more about the American frontier. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)