A story of the oregon trail
936134
A sweet love story of an arranged marriage right before leaving on a wagon train. Sweet and innocent, it was a fun and engaging read.
2945876
I loved this book.  It was the second of the series and I wish the author M.C. would write more volumes of the Oregon Trail.
2321357
I enjoyed the wagon ride on the Oregon Trail.  The narrative and the relationship of the two brothers was enjoyable .  The history was enlightening.  This is not the type of book I would normally read, but I am glad that I did.  At times I wish I had been in that covered wagon in the Modern journey if the Oregon Trail .
2203586
The setting for this story is very near where I live in Central Oregon. I have been witness to everything described in the story, so it was especially meaningful to me. A very good insight of the problems of Native Americans, all over America.
Jim Nolan
3253017
A beautifully told story.  I liked the fact that romance was not at the core, extended family relationships good and bad all intertwined in the Pacific Northwest.  The author's words, allow the reader to taste, touch and see.
2933274
Interesting facts about the Oregon Trail, short and a fast read.
1414499
i thought buck wrote a good book & the only reason i did not give it five stars was i got bogged down in a few places with the details of the trip he took in the wagon; i did not need as much detail as he provided re fixing the wagon, skills needed to drive the wagon etc; however, i think he needed to provide those details to tell his story in his way; i really liked how he described the history of the trail in the 19th & early 20th centuries as they travel toward oregon; a very interesting read if you want to know about the history of the trail & what it would be like to take such a trip today in a covered wagon, not something i could do even when i was younger; better to read about his trip then try to do it with him
4877554
This is a very good read.  I have never walked the whole trail, just segments of it.  Her story keeps you involved and the people she meets along the trail just add interest to her journey.
452520
As Carl Pettit opens his introduction to this book, `AMONG THE WILD takes place in the Oregon Territory in the late 1840s, when people of European descent had only just begun to make a noticeable den on this vast and sparsely populated land.....The event at the Whitman Mission was a real place...the dark episode that takes place there did really happen.'  And form that provocative prelude Pettit takes us through that historical period as viewed through the eyes of a teenaged Noah Adair - an orphaned child whose abuse by his extended family drives him to escape and witness the horrors an the spectacle of the now famous Oregon Trail.

Pettit's writing style is infectious. He keeps the technique simple and the story thrives from this decision.  Yes, there are wondrous descriptions of the natural beauties of the countryside, but they never stray away from the running line of the adventure - they only embellish it. And perhaps it is this handling of the natural aspects of the Oregon Trail that underlines the ability of Noah to not only endure but to grow emotionally into an adult who views life and its unusual natural magnificence with a deeper sense of growth and maturity than we could expect.

This is a fine mixture of historical writing and story construct that stands well in comparison to other authors who attempt to embrace this genre.  Grady Harp, July 12
177206
This book presents an account of the Donner Party, a wagon train of about eighty-seven people who in July 1846 started off for California via a new, untried route through the Sierras. Unfortunately, this particular wagon train of pioneers would go down in history due to the horror and tragedy that it was to meet along its way. Stranded in the Sierras amidst its harshest winter in years, with unparalleled snowfall and frigid temperatures, only little more than half, mostly women and children, were to survive their unbelievable deprivation and suffering.

This wagon train was a loose confederation of strangers who originally were part of another wagon train, but who collectively branched off by consensus to try a new, though untried and unproven, overland route through the Sierras that was alleged to be shorter. Their decision to take this new route was one that would haunt them for the rest of their journey, as it was not what it was purported to be. The inexperience of these travelers, the poor decisions that were sometimes made, and their seeming inability to truly unify as one entity contributed to their ultimate debacle. They were, after all, representative of humanity at large. Some of them were good, brave, and unselfish. Some were people with whom one would not wish to shake hands.

Beleaguered by thirst as they trekked across a desert, marauded by Indians along the way, plagued by the loss of necessary oxen and cattle, beset by accidents and personal squabbles that would sometimes turn deadly, they would finally reach the Sierras and begin their perilous crossing, only to find themselves snowbound at the summit while within sight of the pass that they needed to cross to be home free. Trapped by the weather in early November, they would set up a make-shift camp, never thinking about just how long their encampment would last. With minimal food supplies at their disposal, these intrepid, westward-ho emigrants would find themselves trapped for months, facing incredible hardships that would tax them beyond human endurance. Some would resort to cannibalism in order to survive.

This is a riveting story about survival of the fittest, about personal sacrifice, and human foibles. It is a story not only of those ill-fated pioneers but of those who would attempt to rescue them, often at great personal cost. It is a story that reflects the human spirit, both good and bad, in time of crisis. It is a story of often selfless heroism. It is also a story of greed and craven opportunism. While some of the book is politically incorrect, it is reflective of the times in which these pioneers lived, as well as that of when this book was first written.

It is, however, remiss that the maps included in this book do little to illustrate the deadly journey undertaken by these pioneers. Still, the lack of comprehensive maps does not unduly detract from the powerful impact that this story has on the reader. Moreover, although this classic book on the Donner party was published in 1936, the author, a historian, added a supplement in 1960, which is included in this edition of his book. This supplement serves to correct errors, as well as incorporate additional relevant material not available at the time of original publication.

Those who enjoy tales of survival will, undoubtedly, find this gripping tale well worth reading.
265393
This was an excelent book.  It would be a good book to read when studying the Oregon Trail.  It is full of excitment and adventure.  The best part is that it is told from the viewpoint of a nine-year-old which students can relate to.  This book is based off of a true story and the author did a wonderful job in her research making it as realastic and accurate as possible.  It is great for all ages!
3454360
I really enjoyed this story.  I am hoping there was a first book of their southbound walk. This is the story of their return trip home.

I have only hiked a bit.  Don't have the stamina for it.  What these girls women did was amazing.

Having to carry your food and house all that weight and then walk up and down mountains.  Some of the stories are about the people on the trail.  Sound like the ole hippie communes.  Hostels and trail sheds.  Leaving stories and nothing else left behind.

There is great information for both hikers and non hikers.
243901
I really, really like books like this one.  I wished I knew of more books like this one.  I like to read about the history of the West.  Oregon Trail?
654188
I enjoyed this book, but it was a little slow in getting to the actual heart of the story. There was quite a bit of background information about life in the 60's and 70's, as well as life in Illinois. Since I am familiar with the area, it held my interest. Not sure if it would be quite so fascinating to someone else. Once the heart of the story began, the amazing trip of the 32 Scout riders from Illinois to Florida, it was a very compelling story.ea,
161525
This is a long and inresting saga of the arly west (1800's) told through the letters of a strong Quaker woman from the East who marries a miing engineer.  There is romance, drama, hardship, triumph, and traded and it is a great story.  Wallace Stegner is a  know for his writing about the West, in particular.  He won the Pulitzer Prized for this book.  Takes a while to get thorough it, and a little while to get adjusted to the person telling the story, and the people who ae the subject of the story, but worth it in the end.
4795862
I would recommend reading this book.  It was an interesting story.  Typically early American pioneers and the problems they faced in the west.  Enjoy.
4142508
Good read! Still reading, but I enjoy the play by play details of the trail as it is experienced. I recommend for those that enjoy the hiking adventures!