This was seriously my favorite book when I was younger. I honestly wanted to walk to oregon. I was a weird kid apparently and I have zero sense of direction so… glad I didn’t embark on that journey. 

Hattie and company (dad, mom, 6 year old Jack, 2 year old Bennie, aunt June, and uncle tim) all set out to oregon because a paddle boat thing almost drowned her dad when he was trying to save his brother in laws coffin that had fell into the river, anyway they got a free boat ride to independence, missoura to start this quest. 

Hattie is kinda me… she’s miserable, it’s hot, there are mosquitos, everyone is on her nerves, she’s uncomfy in the wagon so she’s just going to walk, she’s nosy, made one friend. Yea, the similarities. 

Does anyone remember the oregon trail game where everyone died? This is that. Hemlock, lost picking berries, getting shot, getting swept away in rivers, jumping off cliffs, rattlesnakes. You name it, they were dying from it. So this is kinda dark. Also, so many animals just drop dead, Jesus. Everyone ends up walking to oregon. 

Her 14 year old friend meets a 17 year old boy and thru get married. On the trail. Some other 14 year old girl marries a 30 year old man whose wife died like 4 pages before and Hattie’s mom says “they will grow to love one another”. Ma’am. Hattie wants to get married and love someone too. Sis is 13. There’s a lady who steals stuff. A woman called Mrs. Bigg who is overweight. 

Honestly, it’s a lot but it wasn’t that bad. I think (not that I walked it to know) that the sites they pass were real. I know most were. Independence rock, fort bridger, chimney rock. Aunt junes bestie is… narcissa Whitman, who was real. They ALMOST winter at the Whitman Mission. Foreshadowing is something Kristina Gregory does well. 

Unsure why this was my absolute FAVORITE. Other than I was also whiny and wanted a boyfriend. But overall entertaining. 

Not as nice about Mormons and native Americans as The Great Railroad Race was.