Scan barcode
bree_of_the_woods's review
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Violence, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Animal cruelty
mehrymehriss's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Death, and Child death
cmm9200's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Oh my gosh. The ending had me weepy. I was unsure about this book, at first. I'm not an historical fiction girly. I'm so glad I stuck with it. Some slow parts, but the story was amazing. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent
jocogr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Death, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
kefink's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Violence, and Death of parent
readsbyrach's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Heartbreaking and beautifully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Rape
saribee's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For a kid obsessed with Kirsten the American girl doll, Little house on the prairie, and anything else dealing with pioneers and westward expansion who is now all grown up, this book checked nearly all the boxes. This was everything I loved reading as a kid but more grown up with more intensity, more mature themes, more heart wrenching storylines. My main complaint is the pacing is frustrating. The first 25 percent drags. Then 50 percent is brisk. The last 25 percent should be done in one setting while you try not to bite your fingernails from the tension. It has just enough literary-ness to feel sophisticated while remaining accessible.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, Murder, and War
cc0906's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Child death, Violence, Gore, Sexism, Death, and Racism
sylexlibris's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Rape, and Child death
awebofstories's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Grade: C
I admit that I am clearly in the minority here. I also admit that expectations may have greatly affected my disappointment. Not only is this book very highly rated by readers, but it is also (incorrectly) about the Oregon Trail, and I am looking for the great Oregon Trail novel!
First things first, this book is not actually about the Oregon Trail. It's about the Overland Trail, which is the sections of the Oregon and California trails that overlap. The families in this book are headed toward California, not Oregon. While this was not a big deal to me, I feel it is important to say as the marketing materials are misleading.
There were things I enjoyed. Harmon's prose is lovely and easily digestible. While I have complaints about this book, I never felt the reading was hard going. I also feel Harmon did a good job describing many of the trails people faced when traveling on the Overland Trail.
My problems fall into three categories. First, I felt that the narration had its problem. Like so many novels, this is told through the alternating viewpoints of the two main characters, Naomi and John. This is fine, but my issue was the two voices were indistinguishable. Naomi sounded exactly like John and vice versa. Many times, I realized as I was reading that I was seeing things through the wrong set of eyes.
Secondly, the structure of this book does not do it any favors. We begin with a prologue with a "big event," then travel back in time to the beginning of the characters' journey with the first chapter. By doing this, Harmon robbed the narrative of any anticipation for me. I knew what would happen because the author flat-out told me before the story even began! Instead of wondering what would happen, I was impatient for what I knew would happen.
Finally, I was uncomfortable with some of the depictions of Native Peoples. While some of the Native characters were portrayed in a positive light, others were not. I'm not saying that Native characters always have to be heroes. Still, the ways the antagonistic Native characters were portrayed were very reminiscent of how Native characters appeared in early and mid-twentieth-century Western films, which is not good. Harmon is a non-Indigenous author, and when non-Indigenous authors carelessly portray Indigenous characters, it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.
So, no, this book was not for me. However, I recognize it is obviously for many other readers. I can only say that readers should know what they will and will not accept in historical fiction before starting this one.
I admit that I am clearly in the minority here. I also admit that expectations may have greatly affected my disappointment. Not only is this book very highly rated by readers, but it is also (incorrectly) about the Oregon Trail, and I am looking for the great Oregon Trail novel!
First things first, this book is not actually about the Oregon Trail. It's about the Overland Trail, which is the sections of the Oregon and California trails that overlap. The families in this book are headed toward California, not Oregon. While this was not a big deal to me, I feel it is important to say as the marketing materials are misleading.
There were things I enjoyed. Harmon's prose is lovely and easily digestible. While I have complaints about this book, I never felt the reading was hard going. I also feel Harmon did a good job describing many of the trails people faced when traveling on the Overland Trail.
My problems fall into three categories. First, I felt that the narration had its problem. Like so many novels, this is told through the alternating viewpoints of the two main characters, Naomi and John. This is fine, but my issue was the two voices were indistinguishable. Naomi sounded exactly like John and vice versa. Many times, I realized as I was reading that I was seeing things through the wrong set of eyes.
Secondly, the structure of this book does not do it any favors. We begin with a prologue with a "big event," then travel back in time to the beginning of the characters' journey with the first chapter. By doing this, Harmon robbed the narrative of any anticipation for me. I knew what would happen because the author flat-out told me before the story even began! Instead of wondering what would happen, I was impatient for what I knew would happen.
Finally, I was uncomfortable with some of the depictions of Native Peoples. While some of the Native characters were portrayed in a positive light, others were not. I'm not saying that Native characters always have to be heroes. Still, the ways the antagonistic Native characters were portrayed were very reminiscent of how Native characters appeared in early and mid-twentieth-century Western films, which is not good. Harmon is a non-Indigenous author, and when non-Indigenous authors carelessly portray Indigenous characters, it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.
So, no, this book was not for me. However, I recognize it is obviously for many other readers. I can only say that readers should know what they will and will not accept in historical fiction before starting this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Murder, and Rape