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a_kira's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
justicepirate's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I read this book to my sons. We have read a few books from that era, but only a couple about traveling by wagon across land and towards Oregon. This one was the most realistic one, as they showed the true hardships many people suffered while on the road. There were some who got sick and died in this book, so in case you have small children, this may not be something they are ready for. There was a use of the "n" word which I did not read/say, but explained to my sons why it is wrong to say it, which the book also talked about, as a character explained a little about it. This book is set in pre-Civil War era and one family had complained that they had to do things themselves without their slaves. I think that for the most part this book was good, but I was a bit bored in the first quarter of reading the story.
Mary Ellen lives in Arkansas with her father, step-mother (her mom died), two sisters, and John (a teen boy who helps out and doesn't really have caring parents). They all decide to go to Oregon to have land to live off of. Mary Ellen doesn't want to leave her grandmother who lives nearby, but she has to do what her father tells her to.
I read this book to my sons. We have read a few books from that era, but only a couple about traveling by wagon across land and towards Oregon. This one was the most realistic one, as they showed the true hardships many people suffered while on the road. There were some who got sick and died in this book, so in case you have small children, this may not be something they are ready for. There was a use of the "n" word which I did not read/say, but explained to my sons why it is wrong to say it, which the book also talked about, as a character explained a little about it. This book is set in pre-Civil War era and one family had complained that they had to do things themselves without their slaves. I think that for the most part this book was good, but I was a bit bored in the first quarter of reading the story.
Mary Ellen lives in Arkansas with her father, step-mother (her mom died), two sisters, and John (a teen boy who helps out and doesn't really have caring parents). They all decide to go to Oregon to have land to live off of. Mary Ellen doesn't want to leave her grandmother who lives nearby, but she has to do what her father tells her to.
wordyanchorite's review against another edition
4.0
Competent historical fiction for educational purposes. That is not the same thing as a thrilling story or excellent literature. This isn't a bad book; it just isn't a great book. It fills a very particular educational niche.
samanthamurk's review against another edition
3.0
Historical Fiction, Children's, Oregon Trail
I don’t remember much of the plot, aside from it being about the Oregon trail. I went through a phase of reading a lot about the Oregon trail and all the stories were very similar so they all blend together.
I do have a vivid memory of reading this book while playing on the old yellow swing set we used to have in the backyard, I’m not sure why I remember doing that specifically with this book cause I did it a lot but, I guess it means this must be a good book lol.
- July 2022
I don’t remember much of the plot, aside from it being about the Oregon trail. I went through a phase of reading a lot about the Oregon trail and all the stories were very similar so they all blend together.
I do have a vivid memory of reading this book while playing on the old yellow swing set we used to have in the backyard, I’m not sure why I remember doing that specifically with this book cause I did it a lot but, I guess it means this must be a good book lol.
- July 2022
peterparkerslabpartner's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It was beautifully written and painted a good picture of a young girl traveling The Oregon Trail.
aklibrarychick's review against another edition
3.0
Good descriptive narrative of a young girl's trip to Oregon in the 1850s. Based on a true account. Mary Ellen, at nine, is the oldest of three girls. Her father and stepmother are taking them to Oregon, along with John, a fifteen year old neighbor boy whose family cannot keep him.
What really comes through is the travelers' patience, common sense, determination, and quiet faith. When things get tough, time and again they turn to God for comfort. As in all pioneer stories, I'm always amazed at their ingenuity, their ability to create something from nothing. These people had amazing courage to leave their familiar world on what was known to be a very long and difficutl journey. This is a newer book (1994) so the situation and predicament of Native Americans is dealt with in a sensitive and compassionate way, none of that "bloodthirsty savages" nonsense you sometimes see in older western/pioneer stories.
What really comes through is the travelers' patience, common sense, determination, and quiet faith. When things get tough, time and again they turn to God for comfort. As in all pioneer stories, I'm always amazed at their ingenuity, their ability to create something from nothing. These people had amazing courage to leave their familiar world on what was known to be a very long and difficutl journey. This is a newer book (1994) so the situation and predicament of Native Americans is dealt with in a sensitive and compassionate way, none of that "bloodthirsty savages" nonsense you sometimes see in older western/pioneer stories.
arguhlincozzi's review against another edition
3.0
Phew. So. When I was probably in the third grade, I think I received my copy of this book. Without a doubt, I devoured it, cover to cover, and then proceeded to reread this book regularly throughout my childhood. I was a big fan of the idea of going West, striking out and, yes, "settling" the land, back when it was "empty." I loved playing the Oregon Trail on my computer, and reading other books set in this time period. If it weren't for the fact that my parents were also avid readers and fairly comfortable reading books well beyond my age group, books like this one might have been my only understanding of Manifest Destiny (prior to approaching it in history class, of course).
However, I'm a geographer, anti-racist, and I believe the United States is established on stolen land from indigenous people. I say all of this, because this book was once a beloved tale for me, and now, it represents something far darker. I decided to give this a reread because scenes from the book kept popping up in my mind and I wondered how I would view it through the lens I have now. My review follows.
First, it must be said, that Van Leeuwen retold this true tale of Mary Ellen Todd's trek across the country to Oregon with detail and care, and fluid writing. The scenes I recall stick so well in my head because the voice of Mary Ellen Todd is strong, with her personal concerns for leaving her family and everything she knows, her frustrations of losing her biological mother and adjusting to her THIRD (gosh being a woman in this time!) mother, all coming through with clear voice.
However, the depictions of Native American and enslaved people is something to be disputed. Without a doubt, young adult and children's fiction have at least improved since the 90s in the diversity of options available that tell the actual stories of Native Americans and Black people in these times. So, from that perspective, this book is outdated, and potentially even unsuitable for kids, given the language used (the N-word). Native Americans are depicted from both a neutral and fear-inducing standpoint. They can't speak English, they make attempts to raid the wagons Mary Ellen and her family are in several times, and in several encounters Mary Ellen has with them, they are distinctively described in negative ways as they are attempting to kidnap her.
Were these likely her actual experiences? Sure. We know that kidnappings happened, we know that this area was in violent flux because of the disputes between Native American tribes, the U.S. Army antagonizing and harming Native Americans as well. Each of these negative descriptions and experiences is lightly countered by Mary Ellen's beloved father reminding her that the "Whites" have stolen the land from Native Americans, and they have a right to be upset. But, yet, Mary Ellen's father is still making this trip, still going to "settle" the same land that has been stolen. He may have understanding for the fury of Native Americans, but not enough to do much about it. Mary Ellen feels sympathy and empathy as well throughout the book for Native Americans - she's struck with a wish to be able to speak the same language as Native Americans so she can know what they think and feel. She sees a large number of dead Native Americans from smallpox and is horrified (of course) by the dead bodies (though I don't consider this description kindly myself). So there are attempts, from a white settler perspective, to stoke understanding in the reader for Native Americans, but it remains from a white settler perspective, not meant to really challenge the current times and structure of the United States.
Slavery is similarly treated, though with clearer opinions of which perspective has the higher moral ground. It turns out (I forget this every time) that Mary Ellen's aunt (Mary Todd Lincoln, hello!) married Abraham Lincoln, who at the time in this book, is still a lawyer stirring up interest in a campaign, and calling for freeing enslaved people. This argument is brought into the microcosm of Mary Ellen's life as she listens to her father and one companion (anti-slavery) argue against two other companions (pro-slavery, one being a former slave owner) about slavery. The N-word is used here. Mary Ellen hears the word and notes that her father would never allow her and her sisters to speak this way. Later, Mary Ellen and the daughter of the former slave owner argue about who is right. Mary Ellen argues that her father reads the Bible and knows that he's right - slaves should be freed. Her friend argues that her father has owned slaves and knows what he's talking about and they should "never" be freed. They don't speak for a day. But the argument dissipates, as it lacks little relevance to life on the trail, and eventually, the group separates along these lines (but for unrelated reasons) and Mary Ellen contemplates how she'll miss her friend.
Do I expect a 9 year old to never speak to someone again in times of slavery for enslaving people for their own economic gain and at the complete determination to not only keep people against their wills, but sell their family members and friends and harm them if it suits their interests? Well, it would be nice, but Mary Ellen also isn't from a slave-owning family. Her father discusses these issues only when they are brought up, so I suspect she doesn't fully understand the harm induced by slavery. But she is anti-slavery in that she believes they deserve their freedom, and that's a start.
I can see why this book would have been widely accepted and brought into schools and homes, especially by those who agreed with its messages - no doubt, it probably helped some students at least start on a track I don't disagree with. I can't say to what level it influenced my understanding of Native Americans, slavery, and other issues of settlement and racial tensions. Not only was I reading this book, I was reading the very adult [b:Independence!|616590|Independence! (Wagons West, #1)|Dana Fuller Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1176354272l/616590._SY75_.jpg|603023] Wagon's West! series, the book [b:Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule|839698|Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule|Harriette Gillem Robinet|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349081653l/839698._SX50_.jpg|825251], [b:Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison|42466|Indian Captive The Story of Mary Jemison|Lois Lenski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388337198l/42466._SX50_.jpg|1560636], and many, many, many more books about the Civil War and westward expansion time periods. I was a big historical fiction fan. So, certainly, I had a lot of perspectives offered to me, problematic as they may be, to help push me in the direction I am now.
So, is this book problematic? Yes. I don't think I agree with the use of the N-word, even if it's for "historical accuracy of the discussion," a decision made by a white author writing a book from the perspective of an - albeit, young - early white settler. However, if read along with a child, or a class, in conversation with other books from other, more nuanced and complex perspectives, this would be an interesting book for setting up the clear white settler perspective, and then leading into discussion. Which, I think was Van Leeuwen's hope all along.
However, I'm a geographer, anti-racist, and I believe the United States is established on stolen land from indigenous people. I say all of this, because this book was once a beloved tale for me, and now, it represents something far darker. I decided to give this a reread because scenes from the book kept popping up in my mind and I wondered how I would view it through the lens I have now. My review follows.
First, it must be said, that Van Leeuwen retold this true tale of Mary Ellen Todd's trek across the country to Oregon with detail and care, and fluid writing. The scenes I recall stick so well in my head because the voice of Mary Ellen Todd is strong, with her personal concerns for leaving her family and everything she knows, her frustrations of losing her biological mother and adjusting to her THIRD (gosh being a woman in this time!) mother, all coming through with clear voice.
However, the depictions of Native American and enslaved people is something to be disputed. Without a doubt, young adult and children's fiction have at least improved since the 90s in the diversity of options available that tell the actual stories of Native Americans and Black people in these times. So, from that perspective, this book is outdated, and potentially even unsuitable for kids, given the language used (the N-word). Native Americans are depicted from both a neutral and fear-inducing standpoint. They can't speak English, they make attempts to raid the wagons Mary Ellen and her family are in several times, and in several encounters Mary Ellen has with them, they are distinctively described in negative ways as they are attempting to kidnap her.
Were these likely her actual experiences? Sure. We know that kidnappings happened, we know that this area was in violent flux because of the disputes between Native American tribes, the U.S. Army antagonizing and harming Native Americans as well. Each of these negative descriptions and experiences is lightly countered by Mary Ellen's beloved father reminding her that the "Whites" have stolen the land from Native Americans, and they have a right to be upset. But, yet, Mary Ellen's father is still making this trip, still going to "settle" the same land that has been stolen. He may have understanding for the fury of Native Americans, but not enough to do much about it. Mary Ellen feels sympathy and empathy as well throughout the book for Native Americans - she's struck with a wish to be able to speak the same language as Native Americans so she can know what they think and feel. She sees a large number of dead Native Americans from smallpox and is horrified (of course) by the dead bodies (though I don't consider this description kindly myself). So there are attempts, from a white settler perspective, to stoke understanding in the reader for Native Americans, but it remains from a white settler perspective, not meant to really challenge the current times and structure of the United States.
Slavery is similarly treated, though with clearer opinions of which perspective has the higher moral ground. It turns out (I forget this every time) that Mary Ellen's aunt (Mary Todd Lincoln, hello!) married Abraham Lincoln, who at the time in this book, is still a lawyer stirring up interest in a campaign, and calling for freeing enslaved people. This argument is brought into the microcosm of Mary Ellen's life as she listens to her father and one companion (anti-slavery) argue against two other companions (pro-slavery, one being a former slave owner) about slavery. The N-word is used here. Mary Ellen hears the word and notes that her father would never allow her and her sisters to speak this way. Later, Mary Ellen and the daughter of the former slave owner argue about who is right. Mary Ellen argues that her father reads the Bible and knows that he's right - slaves should be freed. Her friend argues that her father has owned slaves and knows what he's talking about and they should "never" be freed. They don't speak for a day. But the argument dissipates, as it lacks little relevance to life on the trail, and eventually, the group separates along these lines (but for unrelated reasons) and Mary Ellen contemplates how she'll miss her friend.
Do I expect a 9 year old to never speak to someone again in times of slavery for enslaving people for their own economic gain and at the complete determination to not only keep people against their wills, but sell their family members and friends and harm them if it suits their interests? Well, it would be nice, but Mary Ellen also isn't from a slave-owning family. Her father discusses these issues only when they are brought up, so I suspect she doesn't fully understand the harm induced by slavery. But she is anti-slavery in that she believes they deserve their freedom, and that's a start.
I can see why this book would have been widely accepted and brought into schools and homes, especially by those who agreed with its messages - no doubt, it probably helped some students at least start on a track I don't disagree with. I can't say to what level it influenced my understanding of Native Americans, slavery, and other issues of settlement and racial tensions. Not only was I reading this book, I was reading the very adult [b:Independence!|616590|Independence! (Wagons West, #1)|Dana Fuller Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1176354272l/616590._SY75_.jpg|603023] Wagon's West! series, the book [b:Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule|839698|Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule|Harriette Gillem Robinet|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349081653l/839698._SX50_.jpg|825251], [b:Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison|42466|Indian Captive The Story of Mary Jemison|Lois Lenski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388337198l/42466._SX50_.jpg|1560636], and many, many, many more books about the Civil War and westward expansion time periods. I was a big historical fiction fan. So, certainly, I had a lot of perspectives offered to me, problematic as they may be, to help push me in the direction I am now.
So, is this book problematic? Yes. I don't think I agree with the use of the N-word, even if it's for "historical accuracy of the discussion," a decision made by a white author writing a book from the perspective of an - albeit, young - early white settler. However, if read along with a child, or a class, in conversation with other books from other, more nuanced and complex perspectives, this would be an interesting book for setting up the clear white settler perspective, and then leading into discussion. Which, I think was Van Leeuwen's hope all along.
penpencil22's review against another edition
5.0
This used to be my favorite book as a kid. I was obsessed with it and read it every month, haha.
annascottcross's review
3.0
Meet Mary Ellen Todd. She is traveling almost a thousand miles to move to Oregon with her family. On the way, she meets many new friends, meets with Indians, faces sickness, gets a new baby brother, and has many other adventures before they finally reach their destination.
This was an interesting book. Written more on a 3-5 grade level, we get a peek into the lives of the pioneers. Mary Ellen was the daughter of Abbot Todd, Mary Todd Lincoln's cousin, which was interesting.
The other thing I loved - Mary Ellen grows up to marry John, which I totally called chapter one!
Overall a sweet story that gives a unique perspective of this significant time in history.
This was an interesting book. Written more on a 3-5 grade level, we get a peek into the lives of the pioneers. Mary Ellen was the daughter of Abbot Todd, Mary Todd Lincoln's cousin, which was interesting.
The other thing I loved - Mary Ellen grows up to marry John, which I totally called chapter one!
Overall a sweet story that gives a unique perspective of this significant time in history.
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