Idaho Commission for Libraries

I purchased a copy of Nez Perce Country, by Alvin M. Josephy Jr. after reading a great review of the book in Multicultural Review. I thought it would be a good Scoop incentive book and ended up taking it home and reading it. The book is geared toward adults, rather than high school students so it might not make a perfect Scoop prize, but I do think it would be a great addition to any Idaho public library collection and was surprised when a quick World Cat search showed only 20 Idaho libraries owned the title.

I had the chance to visit many of the sites referred to in the book this past summer and fall on the way to PNLA taking the scenic route through Kooskia, Pierce, and visiting some of the mission sites. A later trip to the Salmon-area provided more chances to stop and read historical markers and see the sites in person, but the book provided the bigger picture and the context you can’t get from signs and from what I remember from my fourth-grade Idaho history lessons.

Pictures, maps, and good writing kept the pages turning. In addition to the great review in Multicultural Review the book also had positive reviews in Booklist and Library Journal. At only $14.95 a copy, I’ll be picking up a few for the Idaho history buffs in my family for Christmas gifts. The paperback book was published by University of Nebraska Press. (2007. 196 pp. 978-0-8032-7623-9).