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lefeufollet's review
1.0
Apologies in advance:
The truth is sugarcoated well before the Forlorn Hope section (of which, in fact, no men without family members back at camp survived). I understand this book is written for children, and that it’s merely fiction, but I have a hard time excusing flagrant lies that vilify people doing what they had to do to survive in order to bring back help for their families. The final sections tarnish anything redeeming from the first.
Without learning the complexities of the situation, kids will perpetuate the stigma that surrounds the memory of these poor emigrants. A missed opportunity here.
The truth is sugarcoated well before the Forlorn Hope section (of which, in fact, no men without family members back at camp survived). I understand this book is written for children, and that it’s merely fiction, but I have a hard time excusing flagrant lies that vilify people doing what they had to do to survive in order to bring back help for their families. The final sections tarnish anything redeeming from the first.
Without learning the complexities of the situation, kids will perpetuate the stigma that surrounds the memory of these poor emigrants. A missed opportunity here.
littleseal's review
I'm so, so, so, so, SO glad I never had to experience the horrors of going across the country in a wagon train where I believed a stupid man on his travels. Like holy moley, this party had THE WORST LUCK IN THE WORLD. I knew that before but yikes, reading about it again just disturbs me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Child death, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Violence, Gun violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, and War
lattelibrarian's review
4.0
I used to read these bad boys so often back in the day. But somehow, surprisingly, I had no idea that there was a Donner Party diary. Naturally, I ate this one up.
Douglas Allen Deeds is an orphan with a dream of making a steady life for himself. So he joins the Breen family on their expedition west. He observes his journey by writing in his journal of the arguments between the Donners and the Reeds, as well as the trials and celebrations they endure. From forts to untrustworthy shopkeeps quite literally in the middle of nowhere, to the ill-fated Hastings Guide, he diligently pens his experiences. However, as the winter starts to set and they must forge their own path through overgrown brush, walk through a desert with no water and dwindling ox, and getting snowed in at Lake Truckee, his energy to write becomes few and far between. And so does their food.
Knowing that the Breen family is only feeding him because of his friendship with their son--a kindness he understands can be revoked at any moment--he chooses to set out with Forlorn Hope, an escape group using crudely-made snowshoes. And that's when the fun starts.
Well, for me, anyways.
I had to keep reminding myself that this is a children's book. So of course, Douglas isn't going to partake in the cannibalism--instead running away and lucking out by finding a rabbit and eating it raw. I can't deny that I wanted him to eat someone, the emotional turmoil of having eaten another human being. While cannibalism is a very real topic--and perhaps not totally child-appropriate despite the fact that there were children who did very much so eat human beings during that horrid time--I am glad that Philbrick touched on it, not shying away from the fact that Douglas' decision to not eat human flesh was a decision of survival: his chances of living without consuming meat of any kind would have been slim.
I was also wondering if he would stay behind and be cut off from food, or deal with Tamsen Donner and Lewis Keseberg and the rumours swirling around Keseberg's cannibalism. Then again, starving to death is not quite where the action lies.
Definitely a fun read. I've loved anything and everything Donner Party since my adult years, and the time period of going West since my childhood years (despite learning about the horrors of Manifest Destiny in my more recent years). Maybe if I'd read this sooner I would have written a strange story about Little House on the Prairie...
Douglas Allen Deeds is an orphan with a dream of making a steady life for himself. So he joins the Breen family on their expedition west. He observes his journey by writing in his journal of the arguments between the Donners and the Reeds, as well as the trials and celebrations they endure. From forts to untrustworthy shopkeeps quite literally in the middle of nowhere, to the ill-fated Hastings Guide, he diligently pens his experiences. However, as the winter starts to set and they must forge their own path through overgrown brush, walk through a desert with no water and dwindling ox, and getting snowed in at Lake Truckee, his energy to write becomes few and far between. And so does their food.
Knowing that the Breen family is only feeding him because of his friendship with their son--a kindness he understands can be revoked at any moment--he chooses to set out with Forlorn Hope, an escape group using crudely-made snowshoes. And that's when the fun starts.
Well, for me, anyways.
I had to keep reminding myself that this is a children's book. So of course, Douglas isn't going to partake in the cannibalism--instead running away and lucking out by finding a rabbit and eating it raw. I can't deny that I wanted him to eat someone, the emotional turmoil of having eaten another human being. While cannibalism is a very real topic--and perhaps not totally child-appropriate despite the fact that there were children who did very much so eat human beings during that horrid time--I am glad that Philbrick touched on it, not shying away from the fact that Douglas' decision to not eat human flesh was a decision of survival: his chances of living without consuming meat of any kind would have been slim.
I was also wondering if he would stay behind and be cut off from food, or deal with Tamsen Donner and Lewis Keseberg and the rumours swirling around Keseberg's cannibalism. Then again, starving to death is not quite where the action lies.
Definitely a fun read. I've loved anything and everything Donner Party since my adult years, and the time period of going West since my childhood years (despite learning about the horrors of Manifest Destiny in my more recent years). Maybe if I'd read this sooner I would have written a strange story about Little House on the Prairie...
zenithharpink's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I was worried details would be glossed over as this is a children's book, but I was pleasantly surprised - if that makes sense. This story is absolutely horrific, and I can't believe what these people had to endure.
Of course I've heard of the Donner Party, but I didn't know much of the specifics, and I felt this book did a solid job of sharing known relevant details in a way that fit a young boy's diary (mostly). This was short, and. I feel like the book could have benefitted from a bit more depth, but as an introduction, this was a solid read.
I would recommend to young readers, and those looking for a very light historical fiction read.
Of course I've heard of the Donner Party, but I didn't know much of the specifics, and I felt this book did a solid job of sharing known relevant details in a way that fit a young boy's diary (mostly). This was short, and. I feel like the book could have benefitted from a bit more depth, but as an introduction, this was a solid read.
I would recommend to young readers, and those looking for a very light historical fiction read.
alexblackreads's review
4.0
I'm a big fan of this series and this book is decent, although not my favorite. It's a look into the life of a boy who was part of the Donner party which was rather unfortunate. You feel for the kid and it's a really good insight into what happened for kids. I think it does a good job of really illustrating what was going on and why and the decisions being made, but all in a kid friendly way.
I think it was maybe a little young for the main character who was fifteen. Like maybe him being a touch younger might have helped some of the storytelling. But this was a good book and a great series.
I think it was maybe a little young for the main character who was fifteen. Like maybe him being a touch younger might have helped some of the storytelling. But this was a good book and a great series.
tjlcody's review
5.0
Gotta say, I wasn't expecting a book in this series to deal with this particular event in history (cannibalism generally doesn't come up in books targeted at this age-group), but the author pulled it off very well, especially in communicating the desperation that these people were facing at the time.
The only thing that bugged me was that the word 'damn' was censored in the book. We can allude to cannibalism, but we have to write 'damn' as 'd-mn'? (To be fair, I don't know if that was the author or the publisher that insisted, but it just seemed a little stupid given the subject matter touched upon in the book).
The only thing that bugged me was that the word 'damn' was censored in the book. We can allude to cannibalism, but we have to write 'damn' as 'd-mn'? (To be fair, I don't know if that was the author or the publisher that insisted, but it just seemed a little stupid given the subject matter touched upon in the book).
hopegirl0727's review
3.0
Always loved the Dear America books growing up. The My Name is America is the boys' version, though I don't think I actually knew any boys who read them. Just us girls who had read all the other Dear America books. I still love these books. This one was pretty good, all things considered. No romance, which was a big must when I was ten. The whole Donner Party story is weirdly fascinating, probably because cannibalism is such a gruesome and horrifying thought. Living in a mountain town, too, where the winters can get pretty nasty, I felt for those poor people, trapped in the Sierras. Still, a grisly tale. Didn't get too graphic, though, for those of you wondering if this book is still appropriate for tweens. Definitely still fine and dandy.
tsilverman's review
4.0
This was kind of a re-hashing of the Oregon Trail one but with more hardships. I thought the author handled a delicate subject pretty well. I do wish the epilogue had more information, but the historical note helped fill in the blanks.
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