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Whoop-Up Country by Paul Sharp is a book that focuses on the area around the Whoop up trail in Fort Benton, MT and Calgary, Alberta. This is a lot different then the book that we have previously read, The Great Plains, and is an area that is nothing like Texas. Sharp discusses the trail and the transformations that it had gone through in the years, mainly between Fort Benton and Fort McLeod. Sharp describes the differences between the land above and below the 49th parallel, and to my surprise; it wasn't just the fact that Canadian's are rather slow. Their treatment of the Native American's was a rather interesting point brought up in the discussion of the difference. The Canadian's were really big on fair treatment, and pointing out how unfair the American's were. That was one point that stuck out to me greatly. But the book was more than just that. Sharp describes vividly through personal stories about many other aspects of the area of the Whoop up trail. Fur trading, whiskey, and guns were all very apparent in the story that was told. It was also implied that the trading of such goods also affected the relationships between the white people and the Native Americans; I’m still rather confused on that.

Whoop Up Country takes the time to tell a story about the land that most people forget exists, and the people that moved through there. Sharp, through personal narratives and facts, informs the readers about the land that, I feel, should be taught about way more. He did an amazing job, and added some personal feel, which made it a whole lot better than The Great Plains, not to say anything bad about Webb at all. But this was way more interesting then barbwire.