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
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
alyse_turns_pages's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
-historical fiction
-strong character development
-forbidden love
-grief
-two cultures at odds with moments of understanding, grace and peace.
A journey following Naomi and her family to California via the Oregon Trail.
Reading about the dangers travelers faced while making this trek gave me anxiety. From Cholera, to giving birth, inclement weather, and wagon malfunctions…so many things can and often didn’t wring for these people.
My favorite part of this book is near the end and I won’t give spoilers but the tenderness, compassion and understanding that was given to these characters at the end was touching and meaningful.
I will say the beginning of this book was a tad slow. Setting the scene and building momentum. Once I hit about 60% I knew I was hooked in until I finished it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Violence, Rape, and Racism
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
fionab_16's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
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
maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Having grown up in Northern Nevada along the California Trail, I love stories about it’s history and the people that forged my home. It is a sad, yet hopeful history.
I also love that this story is based on real people and events. There’s literary liberties, sure, but also a raw realness. Life was hard along the trail. Accidents happened. Cultures clashed. Death, grief, and hope was ever present.
I like the way that the Native American cultures were portrayed through multiple lenses-the military, the emigrants along the trail, different tribes along the way, etc.
Heavy topics including death, murder, scalping, rape, and grief are addressed in a tasteful way-with enough description to understand the heartache and tragedy without going overboard.
I also love that this story is based on real people and events. There’s literary liberties, sure, but also a raw realness. Life was hard along the trail. Accidents happened. Cultures clashed. Death, grief, and hope was ever present.
I like the way that the Native American cultures were portrayed through multiple lenses-the military, the emigrants along the trail, different tribes along the way, etc.
Heavy topics including death, murder, scalping, rape, and grief are addressed in a tasteful way-with enough description to understand the heartache and tragedy without going overboard.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
lostinpaper's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
So sad and heart wrenching but a really good read. Loved having John and Naomi's points of view. Seeing how hard life really was crossing the Oregon and how real it was brought it to life.
“The more you love, the more it hurts. But it’s worth it”
“The more you love, the more it hurts. But it’s worth it”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Child death, Kidnapping, Rape, Violence, and Death of parent
teacupsandfirereads's review
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is my first book from Harmon. I have heard such great things about her books. I definitely enjoyed learning about a different history than the wars. I appriciate the characters and story. However, I was not emotionally drawn to it. I found it rambled along in a way that often lost me. The ending did leave me with a feeling of satisfaction that I cannot explain completely, so I headed a half star for that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Kidnapping, and Sexual violence
engelkat's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Rape