Kristiana GregoryRecensioner

In her diary, thirteen-year-old Hattie chronicles her family's arduous 1847 journey from Missouri to Oregon on the Oregon Trail.

Oh, the tragedy of this awful cover. Ugh. But inside is a pretty decent work of historical fiction about a 16-year-old girl who wants to be a doctor...in the 1860s...in Idaho. Obviously, she overcomes a lot of obstacles.

Such an excellent book. Well written, beautifully researched and well grounded in the times, relatable protagonist. A bit shocked at the realism occasionally observed, in terms of (especially royal) brutality. Good for adults or young adults who are ready for it.

Eleven-year-old Abigail presents a diary account of life in Valley Forge from December 1777 to July 1778 as General Washington prepares his troops to fight the British.

For a preteen read, this was actually one of the most horrific books I've read in a long time. I didn't know much at all about this event so it was a very interesting, if super fast, read. I didn't realize there was such an effort to cover up the extent of the damage and death toll, but with no rapid means of nationwide reporting, I suppose it wasn't too difficult to do. I was shocked by the extreme measures the authorities took with people who disobeyed minor laws or took advantage of vulnerable situations. Shooting dead a person who charged $1.25 for a loaf of bread, shooting dead a couple who made a fire in their home after being told not to. I guess I thought this point of history was past that sort of behaviour, but I guess San Francisco was still the "old West" in those days...

I very rarely read children's or young adult fiction, but I found this one informative enough that I was able to overlook some of the predictability or coincidental stuff that usually annoys me about juvenile literature.

In her diary, thirteen-year-old Hattie chronicles her family's arduous 1847 journey from Missouri to Oregon on the Oregon Trail.

FROM AMAZON: Nessa is still struggling to find her place in Prairie River, and things aren't getting easier. On a personal note, Nessa wants to be Ivy's friend, so she decides to tell her a secret - someone else's secret - and it swells into a devastating rumor. Professionally, Nessa is reinstated as the town's teacher only to learn that countless townspeople still blame her for the death of one of the children. Mr. Applewood warns her that people have doubts about her and she will be under harsh scrutiny. Nessa strives to earn the trust of those around her, knowing it will take time. When a prairie fire sweeps toward the schoolhouse, Nessa must find a way to protect her young students.

Very short but bittersweet story of an orphaned girl in the Jackson Hole area, based on true history, who lived with a trapper and his Indian wife. Worthwhile, but I'd say it's a little intense for those under twelve (book says it's for 10 to 14 or so). Found this one at a Thrift store like some of my books.

fair - Michael

One of my favorite Dear America books! I remember liking this as a young girl and this one still held its own with a reread. Would recommend it to lovers of historical fiction and/or girls 10 .

From a Christian perspective, Hattie wrestles with accepting God’s will and wonders why the Lord lets bad things happen. Her mother tells her that sometimes God works in mysterious ways, and Hattie takes comfort in her belief that God will protect her and her family and work everything for good. She learns throughout the book to love and help others, even those who seem completely unlovable, and this theme is built upon many times. She also learns to value those who are different from her.

Content warnings (spoilers ahead): A man falls from a roof and dies. A coffin on its way to burial is sucked under a steamboat and the body disappears. The main character’s sisters are mentioned to have died from disease before the story starts. A little girl is lost on the trail, and it’s implied that she was never found again. A mother dies from illness. Three characters die by hemlock, and their deaths are moderately described (you’d be surprised how much hemlock, which is extremely deadly, can be found in neighborhoods and parks!). One character wonders what marriage is like. Two young characters are married and the bride becomes pregnant. One character dies by suicide. Another dies from a snakebite. Another gives birth, and this is mildly described. Multiple characters die in river crossings from falling into the water, wagons tipping over, etc. Mentions of guns and shooting, scalpings, the Donner Party, cannibalism, maggot-infested meat, snakebites, buffalo droppings, butchering animals, oxen dropping dead, hemlock, birth, and thievery. The word “Injun” is used multiple times by a few characters. I may have forgotten a few potential content warnings as this was written from my memory and not from any notes I took (I didn’t take any notes). Overall, Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie seems very true to the real experience of many pioneers of the Oregon Trail. My 10-year-old sister read it, and I knew she could handle the content. However, this book still might not be appropriate for the more sensitive. Some caution is advised when giving this book to younger readers.

This was the sequel to [b:The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777|510583|The Winter of Red Snow The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 (Dear America)|Kristiana Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328012218l/510583._SX50_.jpg|597878]. Cannons at Dawn was worth listening to, but I did find it a bit dull at times. Still, it's a book that is completely clean and wholesome and that I would recommend to young girls, middle grade readers, and lovers of historical fiction and/or the Dear America series.

Note: Read in elementary or middle school

It was a good book, however there was an error. William the Conqueror isn't Eleanor of Aquitaine's grandfather on either side of her parents. Other than the typo or error it was a good look into the medieval era of France. Who would want to live in a building, nowadays, that smells of bodily functions?

This was the first or second book I read of the series and its spinoffs (Royals plus a few of the My Name is America books). I have a definite soft spot for it, and was pleased to discover I hadn't outgrown it. Still a really good historical fiction diary, and what a way to write! Most of the action takes place over three months, but feels much longer. The descriptions were vivid as ever, the stakes just as high. I shook my head at the teenagers and was shocked they were marrying so early, and with their parents' consent. It was a different time, indeed. I was fascinated at the references to other trails and groups and how they were approached. When the Donner party was first mentioned, I thought of the Youtube video by Caitlin Doughty, which examines the events with modern knowledge. That made it even sadder. I laughed when Hattie discovered Pacific NW weather for the first time (born and raised Seattle, here), and crowed, "You're Southern and the sun's never gonna appear again!" I was teasing a fictional teen, but it's fun to poke fun at people who don't know what a sun break is. I had fun reading this again. I'm glad I was able to get it at my library.

I bought the entire Royal Diaries Series many years ago. They are beautiful hardcover books with gold gilded edges and published by Scholastic. I’m such a history lover that I knew they would be of interest to me even though they are written for grades 4-7 or ages 8-12.

Totally not ashamed to say I still read young adult books especially when they are about history. I wish these had been around when I was a young adult.

Although this is a fictional account of Eleanor’s young adult years right before she married at age 15 I thought it was well researched into the pre-medieval years and kept my interest. It wasn’t written in a conversation style but like a diary. So, there was some storyline choppiness (is that a word?) due to the fact that the author was trying to make you feel like you were reading Eleanor’s private diary.

I also liked that at the back of the book there are photos, a family tree, a glossary of characters, and some historical notes.

There were some terms related to the Catholic church and feudal society that even I didn’t know at my age so I had to look those up to understand what was going on. If you are going to let your young adult read it I suggest a dictionary close by. It isn’t too much but if they haven’t studied medieval history they may not have a good grasp of what is going on.

Your young adult may even find the finer details of medieval living kind of gross. . . . the fact that fleas and lice were common in the hair, eating peacocks and swans, rats everywhere, and even some interesting descriptions of bathroom/toilet behavior. It definitely made me glad for my flush toilet and soft tissue paper.

The author even has a Study Guide on her website.

So, if you have young adults in the house check it out. It’s a light read and I think it may even be interesting for boys to read too.

fictionalized account based on actual photographs

A historical fiction story of two girls caught up in the aftermath of the earthquake in San Francisco in 1906.

I read this series as a kid back when they were originally published. I remember I used to but then at Sam's Club. I loved every one I read but this one was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. I read it so many times the pages were falling out and the bookmark ribbon was in strings.

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